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31 Weeks Pregnant

Your Pregnancy Week by Week

*Counting from the first day of your last menstrual period

Your Baby at 31 Weeks

Your baby is the weight of 4 navel oranges at 31 weeks pregnant - Pregnancy Week By Week Size: 16.18 inches (41.1 cm) - crown to heel
Weight: 3.31 pounds (1502 grams)

Try packing around four navel oranges - the big ones - and you will be close to the size of your little passenger. While your baby is busy packing on weight an ounce at a time, there will be an even bigger increase in the coming weeks as your baby gains an extra 3 to 5 pounds before birth.

The baby's lungs are developed and they are able to inflate and deflate as your baby practices breathing motions. Not really needed until after delivery, lung tissue is beginning to secrete surfactant - a necessary agent for elasticity and lung flexibility. Babies born with too little surfactant often suffer from lung stiffness that makes breathing very difficult.

Baby's hearing is now 100% completed and he or she can hear sounds and voices clearly inside the womb. Your baby's skin is pink at this stage of pregnancy and won't change too much in color before birth. Bones are hardening nicely and continuing to deposit calcium for strength later.

Now able to urinate, a baby may produce about a half a liter of urine every day, which is added to the amniotic fluid.

Mom at 31 Weeks Pregnant

Mom at 31 weeks pregnant - Pregnancy Week By Week The ligaments and muscles and supporting the back are becoming relaxed and loose to prepare for childbirth which add to your pregnancy swagger. You will also notice a change in your breast size as they prepare for lactation, so make sure that you have a supportive bra that fits well. Because the rib cage expands when you are expecting, you may need an extender for your bra to make it more comfortable.

Some women may begin to leak colostrum around this time during their pregnancy, while others never leak at all. No matter what your body does, it does not mean you cannot successfully breast feed. Just slip a breast pad into your bra if leakage is a problem.

Common Symptoms:
You may be noticing some tightening of your belly - and these could be Braxton-Hicks contractions. Some women feel these contractions back in the second trimester, and others never have them at all. These painless, irregular contractions have sent many women to the hospital sure they were in labor only to be sent home. If you think you are having contractions, make sure to contact your doctor and follow their orders.

Braxton-Hicks contractions are usually painless and irregular - meaning some may be three minutes apart, some six or seven and they never get closer together or get worse. These contractions are simply practice for the coming days and nothing to worry about.

If you have contractions that are regular or painful, or have a low back ache that is associated with any vaginal bleeding or mucus-like discharge, call your doctor to be checked for preterm labor.

Weight Gain:
Your weight gain is estimated at 21 and 27 pounds right now. You may be asking where it all comes from if the baby is still just a few pounds, and the answer is not only baby's weight, but also placenta, extra blood, water, the uterus itself, and amniotic fluid.

Tips/Advice:
Continue to use these quiet days to finish tying up those loose ends. Your desire to prepare and nest may be starting (though it often doesn't until days before delivery for some women) and you may want to shop, get baby's laundry washed and even make a list of items to include in your hospital bag when it's time to pack.

Twin Time (7-8 months):
If you are carrying multiple babies, there's no doubt by now that you are feeling pretty huge. Along with double babies, often comes double the discomfort as you do your best to manage the heartburn, backaches and fatigue that comes with supporting two lives. You may have gained between 25 and 30 pounds by now and that's okay - you will be expected to gain more.

Moms of multiples are also more likely to deliver early, so be watchful for signs of preterm labor.

Videos - 31 Weeks Pregnant

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** Note: Every baby develops at a different rate. The numbers provided are averages based on a "typical" pregnancy. Your baby's size and weight may vary significantly. Your healthcare provider is the best person to interpret information on your baby's size, weight, health and development during your ultrasounds and pregnancy.

Community Comments (13)

Comment from kate83 » Posted Aug. 27, 2012 5:06pm
yay im 31 weeks today, had a depressed moment last night, hopefully today will be better.

Comment from TriniGal3691112 » Posted Feb. 26, 2012 11:42am
I'm 31wks and 2dayz and My Lil Princess Kicks me Like a Soccer Player , Her head is down and she is getting ready to come out
I can't wait til she is born I get to have my body back and no more children for me , closing the shop tieing cutting and burning them tubes for good I don't need no more I have my set 2 Boyz & 2 Girlz I'm Done ! Jaaliyah Hurry up So mommy , daddy can meet u !

Comment from 2Beemee » Posted Jan. 25, 2012 12:05am
31 weeks!!! am loving every moment of my pregnancy! baby's movements are so STRONG and his sleep pattern is obvious.. such a playful baby. My bbs are HUGE and leaking colostrum since last week (sori tmi). i have written two ists of what i should carry to hospital. one for baby and one for me. am SO EXCITED! I PRAY MY BABY IS OK!


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