31 Weeks of Pregnancy (Your Baby & Pregnancy)
How big is my baby?
Fetal Size: crown-rump 28cm (11.2 inches), crown-toe 40cm (18 inches). Fetal weight: 1.6 kg (3.5 pounds).
The eyes are now fully formed and the eyelids have separated, allowing your baby's eyes to open. Once the eyes are open, your baby will start to see and focus (within a limited range).
Your baby now has a fully developed breathing rhythm and his/her lungs begin to prepare for breathing air in the outside world. Sucking and swallowing skills also continue to develop in preparation for feeding. Your baby passes about half a litre of urine into the amniotic fluid each day.
What pregnancy symptoms will I be experiencing?
Your uterus is now taking up a large section of your abdomen. Your weight gain up to and including Week 31 should be about 9.5-12 kilos (21 to 27 pounds).
You are now well along in your pregnancy and you will probably be feeling it. It's important to make sure you get enough rest and slow things down a bit - you'll need lots of energy for your labour and birth! If you are advised to slow down or take bed rest then do it! You don't want to endanger your health or the health of your baby when you've come this far.
You will probably be visiting your health care professional more frequently (about every 2 weeks) from this week on. During your last 4 weeks, you may start weekly visits. These doctors visits are important, as they are a means of carefully monitoring your health and progress, and the health and progress of your baby.
Your health care professional will also be able to identify any warning signs for problems or complications that might occur. He/she will be on the look out for weight changes, blood pressure changes and signs that your baby is not growing as well as it should. Regular antenatal visits will ensure early detection of any warning signs, helping to minimise serious consequences.
Your antenatal visits are also a good opportunity for you to get answers to any questions you may have as your labour and birth draw closer.
Resting and sleeping on your side is becoming more important in order to minimise fluid retention. You may notice swelling in your feet. You will also need to ensure that wearing tight clothing and tight jewellery, or crossing your legs when sitting down does not hinder your blood flow.
32 Weeks of Pregnancy (Your Baby & Pregnancy)
How big is my baby?
Fetal size: crown-rump 29cm (11.6 inches), crown-toes 42cm (18.9 inches). Fetal weight: 1.7kg (4 pounds).
Your baby has continued to grow, and his/her lungs and digestive system have also continued to mature. Your baby's senses are functioning, and by week 32 the mind may even have started to function. Your baby still needs more time in the womb to continue maturation, and the build-up of fat stores.
What pregnancy symptoms will I be experiencing?
Keep a list of questions to ask your health care professional or antenatal class instructor each time you visit. It's important to feel relaxed, so if anything is worrying you, or if you are unsure about anything to do with your labour and birth, it's best to ask questions now and put your mind at ease.
Apgar score - this is a general well being assessment used to scale a baby's fitness immediately following birth. The apgar score is carried out between one and five minutes after birth, and assesses the baby's heart rate, breathing, skin colour, muscle reflexes and response to stimulation. The score is from 1 to 10 and the higher the score the better.
What to do during the early stages of labour - there are many ways to take your mind off the discomforts of labour, particularly early labour, as it can often be quite some time (up to a few days) before labour establishes (regular contractions). Good distractions include long walks, completing any last minute shopping, talking to close friends and having warm baths. Heat packs, showers and rest are also very helpful. In early labour it is important to provide your body with energy and hydration, so you should eat small regular snacks and drink lots of fluids (preferably water).
Pain relief during labour - it is inevitable that you will seek some form of pain relief during labour, be it natural or synthetic. Walking, showers, baths, heat packs and massage can be used very effectively throughout labour as pain relief. Other forms of pain relief that may be available to you include nitrous oxide gas, pethidine injections, and an epidural. These are usually available in all hospital maternity units.
Nitrous oxide is a form of pain relief that is inhaled through a mask or mouthpiece during a contraction. It works quickly and has minimal side effects. Some women state that it can make them feel nauseous but you can be nauseated during labour anyway. Nitrous oxide generates a "happy" feeling and can cause temporary dizziness, but it may help you relax a little more between contractions.
Pethidine Injections are a synthetic narcotic given as an injection into the muscle during labour. Pethidine has a similar effect to the Nitrous oxide, but it is stronger and lasts longer. Pethidine can also cause nausea and is usually given with an anti-emetic (anti-nausea) injection. Pethidine may help to ease the intensity of contractions and encourage you to relax more (or sometimes even sleep) between contractions. Pethidine can also have a similar effect on the baby, but its effects are usually worn off before the baby is born. If pethidine is given too close to the birth, a reversal drug (Narcan) may be given to the baby to prevent any side effects.
Epidural is a form of local anaesthetic used as a pain relief in labour. It works by numbing the nerves that carry the feelings of pain to the brain. It is often used if a caesarean section is necessary, because it allows the mother to be awake while the baby is being born. A specialist doctor (anaesthetist) is needed to give an epidural. A needle is inserted in between the bones of the spine, and then a plastic tube is fed down the needle to an area just outside the spinal cord (the epidural space). The needle is removed and the tube is kept in place with sticky tape. The anaesthetic is injected down the tube and begins to work after 15 to 20 minutes. "Top ups" can be given by injecting more anaesthetic down the tube. Although this form of pain relief offers an almost pain free labour, there are risks and disadvantages. It can delay birth, as a woman is unaware of her own urges to push unless the epidural is allowed to wear off. Consequently, women who opt for an epidural have a higher rate of intervention, for example forceps deliveries. There is a small risk of getting a headache following the anaesthetic.
33 Weeks of Pregnancy (Your Baby & Pregnancy)
How big is my baby?
Fetal size: crown-rump 30cm (12 inches), crown-toe 43cm (19.4 inches). Fetal weight: 2 kg (4.4 pounds).
Until Week 20, your baby spent most of its time in a wakeful state. Between Weeks 20 and 28, he/she started to have periods of activity and quiet. After Week 28 your baby started to experience active sleep (eyes and body moving, heart rate speeding up then slowing down, facial expressions changing, and changing breathing patterns). From Week 28 onwards, it is likely that your baby starts to develop a pattern of deep sleep and active sleep. During the active sleep periods, your baby's brain undergoes stimulation, which probably helps it to mature.
What pregnancy symptoms will I be experiencing?
Up to and including Week 33, your weight gain should be between 10 and 12.5 kilos (22-28 pounds). You may start to gain weight faster from this week on, as your baby also grows very rapidly at this time.
It's important to keep eating well, and to ensure that you don't skip any meals. You will probably need to eat smaller meals more frequently due to the lack of space in your abdomen and the incidence of heartburn.
At this stage of your pregnancy, you may find that your vaginal discharge has increased. You may also leak small amounts of urine due to increased pressure on your bladder. If you are concerned that you are leaking more fluid than you should be, or if you have had a gush of water, visit your health care professional to ensure that your membranes haven't ruptured.
As you become more uncomfortable, it's only natural to wonder about the comfort of your baby. Your baby will let you know if it is uncomfortable in the womb, probably by moving about and elbowing and kicking you! Other than a lack of space, your baby is probably quite comfortable in the womb, enjoying the warmth and muffled sounds in utero.
34 Weeks of Pregnancy (Your Baby & Pregnancy)
How big is my baby?
Fetal size: crown-rump 32cm (12.8 inches), crown-toe 44cm (19.8 inches). Fetal weight: 2.25kg (5 pounds).
Your baby is now perfectly formed and has the proportions of a newborn. Now it's simply a matter of your baby gaining some weight and doing some further maturing before he/she is ready to be born. It's becoming more cramped in your uterus as your baby continues to mature. Consequently your baby curls up more and starts to move a bit less.
Everything is mature except the lungs, which will continue to prepare themselves for breathing air after birth. Although the lungs aren't fully developed, almost all babies born at 34 weeks will survive, but will probably experience some breathing difficulties.
What pregnancy symptoms will I be experiencing?
Your health care professional will continue to check that you and your uterus are growing at the right rate to ensure that your baby is growing normally. Don't worry if you look different to other people at this stage in your pregnancy - everyone is different and there is no effective means of comparing yourself to others.
Ruptured membranes - or "waters breaking" is when the membranes of the amniotic sac (that has been holding the baby) break. It can either be a slow trickle or a sudden gush of fluid from the vagina. This can happen during labour or even hours before labour commences. Your health care professional should be notified if you think that your waters have broken and you should take note of the colour of the fluid.
False Labour - will sometimes happen before your real labour begins. You may believe you are in real labour because false labour contractions can be very painful. You may be able to identify false labour by observing your contractions and comparing them to what you should feel in real labour. False labour contractions may also be felt as discomfort in other parts of the body (back, lower abdomen and groin). They will be more irregular than real labour contractions, and are usually shorter (less than 45 seconds). Real labour contractions result in pain that starts at the top of the uterus then radiates outwards to the whole uterus, the lower back and into the pelvis.
Braxton Hicks contractions can be felt from early on in your pregnancy. If these irregular, painless contractions increase later in your pregnancy they are also considered to be false labour rather than real labour.
Now is a good time to start thinking about what you will need to take to hopsital. When preparing your bags for hospital, keep everything in one bag (to avoid rushing off and leaving one bag behind), but separate items within the bag as much as possible into:
Delivery bag:
Most hospitals will provide gowns if you need, but you may want to wear your own clothes.
Take two nighties or large loose shirts for the birth, plus an additional one to wear after your baby is born.
Underpants and Nursing Bra
Warm Socks
Toiletries Bag
Tissues or Hankies
Camera, film/storage card, charger
Mobile and charger
Your hospital will usually supply you with information on any other specific items you will need.
Hospital bag:
You will use your delivery bag during the time you are in the labour ward or birthing centre, but if you are staying in hospital for a couple of days, the following is a guide to what you will need for you and your baby.
Basics for you:
Comfortable nightwear that will enable you to easily breastfeed - nightshirts are particularly good.
Underpants
3 packets of super sanitary pads
Nursing bras
Nursing pads
Toiletries
Hairdryer (if required)
If you are staying in hospital for a few days, you may want to pack comfortable day clothes rather than wearing nightshirts during the day.
Phone cards come in handy as you cannot use mobile phones in hospitals.
Basics for Baby:
An outfit to take baby home in - including nappies and a wrap.
A carry cot to take baby home (your partner can bring this in when you are getting closer to going home)
Check with your hospital whether you will need any clothes or other items for the baby - most hospitals will provide clothes and nappies for baby while you are in hospital. If you plan to bottlefeed, check if you will need to bring your own bottles, formula and sterilising equipment. Remember you will need to have arranged a restraint for your car to get your baby home.
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