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

This week your baby weighs around 1.5 kg and measures more than 41 cm from head to heel.

Your baby’s organs are continuing to mature. In just 6 weeks, your baby will be considered full-term and ready for life outside the womb. This week, the focus is on laying on fat and continued neurological development. Your baby will begin to recognise voices, so keep talking to your bump and encourage other important people in your life to do the same so that by the time your baby arrives they have already started forming a bond.

Your baby is building the tools they need to survive, further developing their five senses – touch, taste, sight, smell and hearing. What do you think their favourite smell will be? You, of course! You’ll already be familiar to them when they’re first laid in your arms.

You may be feeling worried when you look ahead to what you’re about to go through. One thing you’ll be thinking about a lot is where you’re going to give birth: you’ll want answers to questions about how safe it is for you and your baby as they come into the world. If you’re able to and you haven’t done so already, we recommend that you visit a few delivery units or birth centres and talk to the midwives who will look after you and your baby while you give birth.

Your thoughts revolve around your baby 

In week 31, you’ll be thinking more and more about the things you’ll need to get for your baby – and that may involve welling up at cute little babygros, jumpers, cardigans and shoes. Your friends and family are bound to have some things they can pass on to you, so it’s a good idea to create a wish list and send it out, whether online or the old-fashioned way. What you need for your baby will depend on whether they’ll be born in summer or winter, so bear that in mind.

Furthermore, don’t forget about things that you might need for when the baby comes – like nursing bras, and easy access tops if you’re planning to breastfeed. Whether or not you’re planning a hospital birth, you should pack a hospital bag so that you’re ready for every eventuality.

Your body goes on strike

Sometimes it’ll feel like your body has gone on strike. Your lungs groan under the load from your belly, your legs get heavy and sore and your back is tense. You’ll often be kept awake at night and will be tossing and turning in bed, trying to find a comfortable position that allows you to sleep – and as if that wasn’t enough, your frequent need to pee will mean you don’t get many peaceful nights at all.

There’s a higher chance you’ll get heartburn after meals, although you can minimise this by eating smaller meals spread across the day rather than larger ones at the usual times (this will also benefit your intestine, which is struggling as its usual rhythm has been disrupted by the pressure from your womb).

You’ll also find it increasingly difficult to sit down and stand up, and will instinctively hold onto your belly and back to support yourself in the process. Before too long, your partner will have to tie your shoes for you or you’ll have to start wearing slip-ons.

Incontinence

The pressure on your pelvic floor, and your baby’s head pressing against your bladder, means that your bladder muscles no longer hold in liquid as reliably as before. As a result, you might wet yourself a little when you laugh, sneeze or cough, especially when your bladder is full. This is common in the latter stages of pregnancy, and it will get better after the birth. You can accelerate the repair by practicing your pelvic floor exercises.

Belly button

Has your belly button popped yet? Some do, some don’t – but either way it’s nothing to worry about. The pressure from inside simply causes some ‘innies’ to become ‘outies’. Most will go back to being ‘innies’ again after the birth.

Growing a footballer?

When you first feel the flutters of baby movements inside you, it is absolutely magical. By week 31, though, you might be getting a bit fed up of being treated like a football. Hands under your ribs, a foot to your bladder, or just repetitive kicking against your side can all cause discomfort. If it’s all getting a bit much, try moving around – a good stretch or a bit of a wiggle might encourage your baby to move their hand or foot away from the area that’s causing you pain.

Sex during pregnancy

It’s safe to have sex throughout your pregnancy. You might feel more up for it than usual, or less – everyone is different. Either way, sharing your feelings with your partner is important to ensure those all-important lines of communication remain open, whether or not your sexual relationship has changed.

Rest assured, your baby won’t know you are having sex, nor will they be able to feel anything.

Continue with your stretches

Stretching will not only ease your discomfort, it will also help strengthen your muscles and give you the strong core you need to sustain good posture through the rest of your pregnancy and beyond, enable a swift recovery after the birth, and help prevent injury as you adapt to a new life that involves a lot of floor time!

Preventing varicose veins

Varicose veins are swollen blood vessels, caused partly by the increase in blood in your system and partly by the hormones that allow your veins to relax enough to cope with that increase. It’s made worse by your uterus pressing against blood vessels in your pelvic region that encourages blood to pool in your legs. You can’t entirely prevent the problem, but maintaining good circulation through regular exercise and not sitting in one position for long periods of time will help. Compression stockings may be useful, and try to elevate your legs as often as possible.

Thinking about feeding?

It’s a good idea to start thinking about how you’d like to feed your baby, so that you can prepare for their arrival.

Breastfeeding is convenient and free, and provides all the nutrients your baby needs. Though it is a wonderful, natural process, it can take a little time for both you and your baby to learn this special skill, so preparing yourself by doing a little research can pay dividends. If you’re attending an antenatal class, there will likely be a session on breastfeeding that will give you the basics you need to know before you try it yourself.

Not everyone is able to breastfeed, in which case formula feeding is a good alternative. Think about whether you want to prepare for either eventuality, or if you’d rather wait and see how breastfeeding goes before you invest in the equipment needed for formula feeding.

Preparing for birth

You might have already started your childbirth classes, or if not they will probably be starting soon. These classes aim to provide you with all the information you need about what happens during labour and delivery, as well as informing you about your different options on things like pain relief, birthing position, interventions during labour, etc.

Depending on personality type, some people like to do a lot of research so they know exactly what’s ahead of them, whereas other people prefer not to have too much detail and to just let things happen.

It is advisable to have some idea of the kind of birth you’d like to achieve, even if only so that your partner can advocate for you if the need arises. You can always talk to your midwife about your birth plan and ask for their advice to help you decide what you’d like.

Questions for your doctor or midwife

You should have an appointment with your midwife this week, during which they will monitor your blood pressure, check your urine and measure your bump to see if the baby is growing as expected. This is a good opportunity to talk about how you’re feeling, discuss any uncomfortable symptoms you’re experiencing, or worries you have. You can also talk to them about your birth plan.

Packing your hospital bag

Whether you’re planning a home birth, or intending to go to a hospital or midwife-led birthing unit, you will need to pack a hospital bag. This is because even with a planned home birth you could end up in hospital (and because babies don’t read birth plans!).

There are certain things you’ll need to have with you, for you and the baby, and even your partner might like to pack their own little bag so that everyone has what they need. We have written a helpful checklist you can refer to, but basically your hospital bag should include:

This is by no means an exhaustive list, but hopefully it’s a good start!

What pains are normal at 31 weeks pregnant?

In all likelihood, you’ll be feeling a lot of discomfort as your ligaments stretch, your gastrointestinal system protests, and your baby kicks the living daylights out of your uterus. However, severe pain – for example, severe abdominal cramps or blinding headaches – are unusual and warrant medical attention.

What position is baby in at 31 weeks?

When you see your midwife this week, see if they can tell you what position your baby is in. They will probably be able to tell by feeling around your bump. Whether or not your baby is head down and getting ready for birth, though, there’s still time for them to move – so it’s not worth worrying about at this stage.

Is it normal to feel weak and tired at 31 weeks pregnant?

Some people do feel pretty rotten at this stage. If it’s more than a lack of sleep, it might be that your body isn’t getting all the nutrients you need. Talk to your midwife. They might recommend a blood test to check for any deficiencies.

How much weight should you gain by 31 weeks pregnant?

At 31 weeks you have a sizeable bump – one to be proud of! The baby’s weight is, of course, just some of the weight you’ve gained over the last 7 months. You’ve got more blood, more fluids, the placenta, the amniotic fluid and, yes, more fat adding to the weight you might see if you step on the scales. This is all a normal part of growing a human, and shouldn’t be cause for concern. However, if you’re worried that you’re gaining too much weight – or not enough – you can check out our weight chart to see your ideal weight gain based on your BMI. You can also talk to your midwife, who will be able to advise if there is a problem.

What should I avoid at 31 weeks pregnant?

Generally speaking, pregnant women can go about their lives just like everyone else, but with a few caveats:

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.