30 weeks pregnant: Baby’s development, symptoms and top tips

At 30 weeks, your baby is almost 40 cm long and weighs about 1.3 kg!

Your baby is developing their vision. Try shining a light on your belly and see whether your baby responds!

Brain development

Your baby’s brain is changing. It’s transforming from a smooth surface to the more typical wrinkly surface, which allows for more brain cells to develop. Cool, hey?

Bye bye, lanugo

The fine downy hair that was covering your baby is disappearing, though some patches might remain when your baby is born.

Red blood cells

Red blood cells are being produced through the bone marrow now – as they should be. It’s all part of getting the baby ready for the real world.

You’veprobably started collecting nursery equipment and buying some tiny outfits for your little one. (Baby clothes are hard to resist, aren’t they?) If you can, try to get prepared well in advance - going on a big shopping trip in the last few weeks of pregnancy is not much fun.

If you already have another child or children, you'll no doubt be getting them used to the idea of having a new baby in the family. It’s also a good idea to plan out who will look after the older child/ren if everything kicks off in the middle of the night, as it sometimes does!

If this is your first baby, enjoy the preparation – it won't be long now until you're bringing your baby home!

Right now, your main focus will be on minimising or avoiding the symptoms such as back and leg pain which affect so many pregnant women. You’ll find it harder to get around, and even climbing the stairs at home may leave you short of breath. This is partly because your lungs, like all the organs in your belly and chest, are being squeezed by your womb, but also simply because you’re carrying a much heavier load. Pregnancy is like a high-level sport for a woman’s body – that’s why it’s so tiring!

Itchiness and stretch marks 

You may sometimes notice itchiness as your skin becomes stretched. Dermatologists have demonstrated (and experience from other mums confirms) that rubbing cream or oil on a daily basis into the areas affected by your pregnancy is the best way to minimise this itchiness and reduce stretch marks, both in terms of size and appearance. However, applying cream to your skin won’t guarantee that you won’t get stretch marks, as it depends on your skin type and your genes.

Minor stretch marks will quickly disappear after the birth without leaving any unsightly scars.

More hair on your belly

You will have definitely noticed that your body has changed in lots of ways over the last few weeks. Your areolas (the areas around your nipples) may have got darker and there may now be a pregnancy line, called the linea nigra, running from your belly button down to your pubic bone. Other possible symptoms are patches of hair on your belly, caused by hormones your body is now producing. It’s thought that women expecting a boy are more likely to get this hair, and to get more of it, as it may be the result of the male sex hormone testosterone, which causes hair growth. Another theory is that this hair grows because your belly needs additional protection. We don’t know for certain.

The return of the early pregnancy symptoms

You might have thought you had said goodbye to nausea, only for it to return in the third trimester. This is likely a sad side effect of all the other chaos going on in your gastrointestinal system – your poor squashed stomach doesn’t have as much room in as you’re used to, which means you can’t manage the same portion sizes anymore. Try to eat little and often to alleviate these symptoms.

Other reasons for nausea can include hormone fluctuations, food intolerances, or even just tiredness. Try to rest, and if it’s a constant problem talk to your midwife. They might suggest a blood test to rule out anaemia.

Needing to pee more

There’s less room for your bladder, which means it’s going to feel full quicker and you’re going to find yourself heading to the toilet more often. If your baby is head down, or even if it’s just putting a lot of weight low down in your uterus, you might also find there’s more pressure on your bladder making you need to wee more.

Changes in foetal movement

It’s a myth that babies movements reduce as you near the end of your pregnancy, but you might find that the movements feel different as your baby fills out their space more and more. There’s more pressure to the movements as the baby pushes against the walls of your uterus, and you might even be able to make out the outline of a foot or an elbow when you look down at your belly.

Pregnancy pillows

If you haven’t already got a pregnancy pillow, you might want to get one to see you through these last few weeks. Pregnancy pillows can help you sleep more comfortably by providing support for your bump and lower back. There are a wide range of pregnancy pillows and some that double as feeding pillows for when the baby comes. For a full lowdown of the different types, check out our article on pregnancy pillows.

Dealing with water retention

A certain amount of swelling is normal during pregnancy. You can help combat the symptoms by keeping active, staying well hydrated and keeping your salt intake down. Support stockings can also help reduce swelling. If you’re concerned that your swelling is not normal, seek medical attention. Excessive swelling can be a symptom of pre-eclampsia.

Breathing exercises

Have you started thinking about labour and delivery yet? Getting your breathing right can help you manage your contractions and deal with pain. You might cover this in your antenatal classes, or even in pregnancy yoga, but here’s a top tip: try to control your breathing so that your ‘out’ breath is twice the length as your ‘in’ breath. Some people suggest breathing around the door, meaning you breathe in for as long as it takes your eyes to scan across the top of the doorway, out for as long as it takes to look down the right-hand side, and then the same for the bottom and left sides of the doorframe. This is a useful exercise because when you’re in labour you’ll almost certainly have something rectangular to look at, whether it’s a doorway or the bed!

Practicing your breathing might feel daft, but it’s a good idea so that you know what you’re supposed to be doing on the big day. If you’re trying hypnobirthing, you’ll also be taught useful ways to manage your breathing.

It’s important to keep an eye on your baby’s movements so that you’re aware if they reduce. Reduced movements can be a sign that your baby is in distress, so if you’re concerned you should always report to your maternity unit for monitoring.

Likewise, if you’re experiencing any symptoms of early labour, seek medical attention. For example, painful contractions, waters breaking, or severe backache would all be reasons to contact your midwife or maternity unit.

Watch out for signs of pre-eclampsia, such as blinding headaches, excessive swelling or blurred vision. Pre-eclampsia can be dangerous for you and your baby and requires medical attention.

Any severe abdominal pain or vaginal bleeding should also be checked out.

What do Braxton Hicks contractions feel like at 30 weeks?

Braxton Hicks are like practice contractions. You might feel them as a tightening in your uterus, which can feel quite intense. Alternatively, you might not notice them at all. During Braxton Hicks contractions your bump will feel harder than normal. They shouldn’t be painful, though the sensation can be uncomfortable.

What position is baby in at 30 weeks?

Your baby may be moving into a head down position, but equally they might not. Don’t worry – they’ve got plenty of time yet. Babies can move right up to and even during labour.

What should you not do at 30 weeks pregnant?

Everyone experiences pregnancy differently, so there’s no hard and fast rule about ‘what not to do’ when you’re30 weeks pregnant. If you are a very active person and have maintained high levels of activity throughout your pregnancy, there’s no need to stop now. On the other hand, if you’re not generally very active, now is not the time to take up weight-lifting. Talk to your midwife if there’s something out-of-the-ordinary you’re thinking of doing. They’ll be able to advise whether or not it’s a good idea.

Can my baby feel me rubbing my belly at 30 weeks pregnant?

Yes! Rub away – if they are positioned up against your belly, they will be able to feel you.

Is my baby fully developed at 30 weeks?

Your baby is fully formed at 30 weeks, but not fully developed – there’s still a lot going on in there! Your baby’s lungs will be developing right up until they are full term, and their brains are busy developing too. This last trimester gives your baby’s organs time to mature, and enables them to lay down enough fat to thrive outside the womb.

Got questions? At the HiPPBabyClub, we bring you real-world advice and support from HiPP parents, midwives, nutritionists and more. Join our Baby Club to find out more.