You're on a definite countdown to the birth now, with just 10 weeks to go! Moms expecting twins and multiples may be gearing up for delivery in just a couple of weeks and even though babies born now are very unlikely to suffer any major problems, with each week they stay in utero their lungs become more prepared to take unassisted breaths, so it's best not to encourage your little one to make a move just yet!
There's definitely no mistaking you're pregnant at 30 weeks, and you might notice that everyone and their dog has something to say. It can become tiresome when you're answering the same questions 50 times a day, but there's just something about a pregnant woman that fascinates people, even those who have experienced it themselves! Try not to lose your patience, it'll be good practice for when your little one arrives.
Baby: What's Happening?
Baby is now just cooking away nicely. He or she weighs about 3 lbs now and will continue to put on about 0.5 lbs per week until the birth. As a result of this weight gain, your baby's skin is becoming much less transparent, and much less wrinkly as the skin indents are filled out with fat. He or she also measures between 15 and 16 inches long and will only grow a few more inches before birth; the average length of a newborn is about 20 inches.
The lungs and the brain are doing some finishing touches. The lungs are practicing breathing with the help of the open nostrils, although no air is involved just yet. The brain is becoming more advanced, and is starting to control more of your baby's movements. For example, your baby can now move it's head and can grab onto objects even tighter than before, especially the umbilical cord. Don't worry, Baby may be strong, but he or she isn't quite strong enough to cut off the oxygen or nutrient supply!
Your baby takes up most of your uterus now, surpassing the placenta and amniotic fluid. This means it's getting a bit cramped in there, and Baby doesn't have much room to move. You may feel knees and elbows poking through as Baby tries to get comfortable, and you'll probably be able to tell what position your baby is in. The bum is one of the easiest parts to locate; it's big and round!
You: What's Happening?
With your uterus pressing on your lungs, you're probably feeling quite out of breath just getting out of bed, but it's important not to succumb to the callings of the couch potato. Participating in some gentle exercise (try antenatal yoga classes or swimming) can help keep your body healthy and strong, and may help with those awful backaches that are so common in the third trimester.
You might find you're a bit absent minded at the moment. Have you found your sneakers in the refrigerator? Or found your keys in the laundry pile? You're not the first, and won't be the last Mom-to-be to do so. Concentrating on everyday life is impossible when you're so close to giving birth. It's completely understandable that you're a bit forgetful.
You might be a little (or a lot) uncomfortable when trying to sleep, but you're used to that now. What you may not be used to is those infamous pregnancy dreams! No one is 100% sure why pregnancy dreams are so vivid and realistic (and odd!) but it's thought to be down to a combination of anxiety and hormones. Many women report dreams relating to birth or parenting, which backs up the anxiety theory.
Handy Hints
Towards the end of your pregnancy, sex might be the last thing on your mind, and for good reason! You're tired, you're uncomfortable, and you'd just have to pause the action to go and wee, but as unlikely as you may think it now, chances are you will resume a normal sex life after the birth (when you've had some time to recover, of course!). Therefore, it's not too early to be thinking about postnatal birth control.
You haven't had to worry about birth control for 30 weeks, but you should give it some thought now (unless, of course, you're eager for another baby straight away!). Midwives will usually discuss some options with you before you leave the hospital, such as condoms, the pill or the hormonal injection, but have you considered something more long term?
If you wanted a coil fitted, or even wanted to go as far as to be sterilised (this is only recommended for those who will have completed their family after the birth), these procedures can usually be arranged to take place while you're in the hospital, especially if you're planning a caesarean birth. Depending on your location, you may need to sign consent forms at least one month in advance of the procedure, so it's important to consider your options sooner rather than later.