What to expect at thirty weeks pregnant. Everything you need to know about your body and your baby as you reach month 7 of your pregnancy.

At thirty weeks pregnant you’re now settled in to your third trimester and only have around two months left of your pregnancy. While it may feel as though the last few months have whizzed by, it’s also normal to start to become a little fed up with the whole pregnancy thing by week thirty.

As you hit your 7th month of pregnancy, your baby and your bump is continuing to grow and it might be increasingly difficult for you to move around. You may also notice it’s been a while since you last saw your feet.

Read on to find out everything you need to know at thirty weeks pregnant. 

Your Baby at Thirty Weeks Pregnant

Now safely into your third trimester, your baby is continuing to develop and grow stronger in your womb. At thirty weeks pregnant, crucial development to your baby’s brain is underway. Previously a smooth surface, grooves and indentations are now forming. These allow for an increased amount of brain tissue – so you’re little one can go on to be become the next Einstein.

At thirty weeks pregnant, an important change also occurs concerning your baby’s bone marrow. From now on, your baby’s bone marrow will take over the production of red blood cells, which was previously carried out by the spleen (and before that, tissue groups).

The Lanugo (the down-like hair covering the fetus’ body while in utero) is beginning to disappear as your baby’s brain and fat cells begin to regulate body temperature on their own accord.

Thirty Weeks Pregnant Baby Size

At thirty weeks pregnant, your baby now weighs about 3 pounds and measures at around 43cm (15.7inches). Your little one is approximately the size of a large cabbage or broccoli tree.

Your Body at Thirty Weeks Pregnant

By week thirty you will have experienced all manner of changes to your body, both externally and internally. As your baby and your belly continue to grow during your third trimester, you may experience higher levels of fatigue and exhaustion.

Thirty Weeks Pregnant Weight Gain

When it comes to weight gain during pregnancy, there’s no exact figure or goal weight. Every woman’s body is different, and every pregnancy is unique.

Your friends with children will all talk about how they carried or the different amounts of weight they put on during their pregnancies, so you shouldn’t compare too much.

As a rule, it’s suggested you should gain 2 to 4 pounds during your first three months of pregnancy, then 1 pound for every following week. However, this can vary depending on your weight and fitness levels before pregnancy.

At thirty weeks pregnant, your baby is growing and developing at a rapid rate. You may feel heavier than ever before and lugging around the extra weight and accommodating a growing baby may increase your appetite even further.

Thirty Weeks Pregnant Symptoms

Back pain

With a growing belly and baby, you’ll start to feel many more aches and pains. Back pain, neck ache and sore feet are common symptoms at thirty weeks.

Heartburn

Another common late pregnancy symptom is heartburn, as baby is pushing on your internal organs and disrupting the normal flow. To ease the discomfort you should pay attention to particular foods worsening the symptoms.

Mood swings

While you may have thought you’d left the fluctuating hormones and mood swings back in the first trimester, as you approach the final stages of your pregnancy you might experience some more mood changes. Whether its worries about labour, or just feeling a bit fed up with lugging this extra weight around with you, it’s normal to feel a little up and down at thirty weeks.

However, if you find you can’t shake the blues, or are frequently feeling anxious, you should consult your doctor or midwife.  Depression during pregnancy is a common complication and one which can easily be managed. Around 1 in 10 moms-to-be suffer from depression during pregnancy, so you are most definitely not alone.

Bigger feet

Your ligaments are relaxing to accommodate your growing baby, however, sometimes this means ligaments in the rest of your body relax, too. You may find your feet spread and enlarge – for some women this change is permanent, so you might find you need to invest in some new shoes!

For more information on development and milestones at every stage of your pregnancy, visit our pregnancy week by week guide.