In the 30th week of pregnancy, the baby measures about 40 centimeters from head to toe and weighs about 1, 5 kg. In each of the remaining week the baby will add about 200-220 grams to his weight – finally reaching an approximate weight of 3, 5 kilograms. The lashes and the hair on the head are formed, but not entirely. He strikes often and powerfully, but also takes regular breaks for sleep – you can clearly tell whether the baby is awake or asleep. He has increasingly less space in the womb and this can irritate him and make him push and hit energetically the uterine wall. The stomach and lungs are now developed.
…and the future mother
In the 30th week of pregnancy, you can become increasingly impatient, but also anxious: you only have 9 or 10 weeks to reach towards the end of the road! If time seems to slow down and you worry too much, fill your time with fun but also useful activities: such as the necessary preparations and some study. Your uterus presses your bladder and you may end up a little too often during the night going to the bathroom (do not forget not to drink liquids an hour before bedtime). The increased level of hormones weakens the joints that are flexible, but also and vulnerable. In addition, the accumulated weight makes you slower and the sense of balance is disrupted – so move carefully. The modifying center of gravity gives you frequent back pain and the sleep difficulties and the added weight get you more and more tired. Your breathing can get suddenly cut at the smallest effort, but there is nothing abnormal about that.
What to do in the 30th week of pregnancy:
- Massage. Do not forget – the terrible back pains caused by the tummy’s weight can be improved through a gentle massage given by your husband. If he is not home, here’s a small useful trick: find a volleyball ball made of soft rubber. Sit on a chair without a back, with your back to the wall and put the ball between your back and the wall. Move circularly, so the ball “walks” on your back and massages the painful areas.
- Fatigue. It is necessary to rest as much as you possibly can, do not get tired with the domestic tasks and take a nap when you feel exhausted. Continue with exercises – but light: they give you energy. Take a walk, but not too far from home, do Kegel exercises and breathing exercises, light stretching exercises and swimming or aquatic gymnastics.
- Sleep. There is no solution for a guaranteed restful sleep: the slow breathing, excessive sweating and urination will bother you. But take care to find and maintain the comfortable and recommended sleep position – on the left side – and be sure to use pillows for support. Do not take any calming tea or pills but drink one hour before sleeping a glass of warm milk.
- Lamaze courses. If you have not yet registered, look quickly for a course to go, to adequately prepare you for labor, birth and baby care. No matter how many books you read, it’s best to go and learn by yourself all the useful things: breathing, positions, pain relief, relief etc.
- Careful planning. It’s time to talk to your husband and carefully plan the details after birth. Most importantly: how much do you want and how much can you afford to stay home with the baby? You can take care of the baby by yourself or you’d better call someone to help for a period of time until you get used with everything that needs to be done and you can handle it by yourself – maybe you can call one of the grandparents? If you return early at your job, do you take the baby to the nursery or hire a nanny? Find nurseries or nannies even before the baby is born – the really good ones are very busy. Think about what’s best for you and your baby and at the budget that you have.
- How to choose a nanny? If you have concluded that it is best to keep the baby home with a professional babysitter instead of going to nursery, be very careful in choosing them. Call a trusted agency – and it would be best to choose a nanny recommended by an acquaintance! Talk with more nannies on the phone and set face-to-face meetings. Check with her the details such as: training, first aid for babies, experience and motivation. Also ask concrete and practical questions: what if baby vomits? What if baby does not sleep? What do you do if the baby constantly cries? How do you spend the entire day with him? Etc. Not the experience is most important, but the reactions, kindness and love for children. Follow your instinct of future mother!
- Choosing a nursery? You should look for what options you have, long before the baby comes especially as places at best nurseries are very quickly occupied. Find and make a list of the most attractive nurseries, call and pay them a visit. Do not choose the first one, but see all the favorite nurseries – pay an unannounced visit to see what happens there and who takes care of little children. Also here, the recommendations of acquaintances can be very helpful.