31 Weeks Pregnant: The 3rd Trimester Glow…Before the Groans

Your Baby at 31 Weeks

Your little hitchhiker is three-fourths of the way to their destination!

Size of Baby at 31 Weeks Pregnant

Your baby is as big as a champagne bottle (and just as worthy of a hearty toast!). 

And, it’s starting to get a little snug inside your belly. They weigh 3 pounds (give or take a few ounces) and are as tall as a bowling pin (15” or 1-2” longer). During these final months of pregnancy, your baby’s brain and skinny little body will do some serious bulking up. They will be working on growing some chubby thighs and pudgy cheeks. They're still kicking a lot but have less and less room to do so. The bigger they get, the harder it will be to take a deep breath.

From now to 40 weeks, your baby’s brain will double in weight! In fact, their development has already made lots of progress. For example, their senses are totally clicking: They can taste, hear, see and feel. And when they're born, they'll even be able to recognize the distinct smell of their own mom. (Newborns put next to pads soaked with their mom’s milk versus the milk of another woman…prefer to turn to their mother’s milk! Now, that’s amazing!)

31 weeks pregnant is how many months?

If you’re 31 weeks pregnant, then you’re approximately 6 months and 3 weeks pregnant.

31 Weeks Pregnant: What to Expect

The early 3rd trimester continues that wonderful glow…it’s a happy time! But, some new complaints can also make their debut. One of the biggest, no pun intended, is pregnancy swelling. All that extra weight in your belly is pushing down and compressing the big vessels in your pelvis. That makes your lymph and blood back up into your legs and feet. Compounding that is the fact that your body is tanked up with quarts and quarts more body fluid than pre-bump. That’s why it’s common for every part below your belly button to balloon, including your genitals (eek!).

Swelling is even worse if your job requires that you stand for hours a day. So, wear compression stockings and—when you can—put your feet up. Also, it helps to cut back on salty foods (especially take-out and processed foods). And drink lots of water! That may sound counterintuitive, but water flushes extra salt out of your system. For full-body relief, find a pool for a little float time—the gentle pressure of the water on your body eases swelling and helps your circulation.

Those swollen veins can pop out causing 3-D wormy-looking varicose veins and hemorrhoids. (Any varicose veins you get now will likely improve or disappear completely after your baby is born.) If not, you can have them removed with laser therapy. Treat hemorrhoids with warm sitz baths, laxatives to avoid constipation and witch hazel wipes soothe the pain.

31 Weeks Pregnant To-Do List

• Research breast pumps: If you’ll be breastfeeding, you’ll want to get a pump—especially if you’ll be going back to work. Your insurance provider may ship you a breast pump for free. Just call them and ask for instructions. (Don’t start pumping before the baby comes…it can trigger early contractions!)
  
• Buy some nursing bras and a pumping bra: Along with the pump, breastfeeding parents should pick up at least one nursing bra and a pumping bra. A pumping bra will allow you to go hands-free while pumping—crucial for multitasking!
  
• Wash baby clothes and linens: You don’t need to wash every single thing you’ve bought for your baby just yet (you may decide to return some of it depending on how big they are), but you’ll want to have a few duds ready for their big arrival home.
  
• Plan your first-month support team: The early weeks are exhilarating and exhausting. The new-baby highs are high, and the lows can be pretty low. While you are spending so much time and energy caring for your baby…who is caring for you? Ask for help: enlist friends to bring you a casserole, do some cleaning ,or just to listen to your honest feelings. It will make you feel a whole lot happier! (The benefits of a postpartum doula)
  

Pregnancy Myth or Fact?

You must stop taking plane flights once the 3rd trimester starts.

Every pregnancy is different, but if you have had no complications and are not high risk, most doctors will okay flying until 34 weeks. Airlines, meanwhile, have their own policies—you can find a list of those right here. BTW, it’s not a bad idea to ask your doctor for any referrals in the area where you’re traveling…in case you have a problem while you’re away.

Pregnancy Quote of the Week

People always say that pregnant women have a glow, and I say it’s because you’re sweating to death. —Jessica Simpson

30 Weeks Pregnant | 32 Weeks Pregnant

Disclaimer: The information on our site is NOT medical advice for any specific person or condition. It is only meant as general information. If you have any medical questions and concerns about your child or yourself, please contact your health provider.