At thirty-one weeks pregnant, you are in the third trimester, and you are probably getting antsier and antsier about the baby’s arrival, and you cannot wait to meet your little sunshine!
But, on the other hand, your baby is very active inside your belly, and its brain is getting increasingly more active as each day passes.
Keep reading to learn more about what you can expect during the thirty-first pregnancy week, for both you and your baby’s development.
Physical Symptoms During The Thirty-First Pregnancy Week
Around the week thirty-one of your pregnancy, some of the main pregnancy symptoms that will keep you occupied during the day are going to include:
Dry, brittle nails
During the third trimester of your pregnancy, many pregnant women report their nails breaking, and becoming drier and brittle, thanks to pregnancy hormones.
Using moisturizing cuticle oil can help improve your nail appearance.
Shortness of breath
If you are having more trouble catching your breath when talking or walking around, do not worry; it is a typical and expected symptom of the third trimester.
However, if this happens, it is best to avoid pushing yourself too much, take a break, and catch your breath. And do not worry; your pacing will be back to normal once the baby arrives.
Braxton Hicks contractions
At this point of your pregnancy, Braxton Hicks practice contractions are expected.
So get familiar with them, advise your healthcare provider, drink plenty of water, and change positions often to make yourself more comfortable.
A need for frequent urination
The baby that is growing inside of you is pressing on your bladder, which makes the need for urination much more frequently than usual, which can give you some trouble sleeping through the night.
Unfortunately, all you can do is take more bathroom breaks in your daily routine and plan your outings accordingly.
Leaky breasts
A little bit of breast milk, which is called colostrum, leaking from your breasts is normal at this point, although it might catch many women by surprise.
The leaking colostrum is one of the signs that your body is preparing for the baby’s arrival.
Backaches, back pain, and general discomfort
The load of the expanding uterus that you are carrying is putting a lot of pressure on your back, which can cause backaches, back pain, and general discomfort in the lower back area for the most women.
Keep stretching to ease the discomfort and pain, try practicing prenatal yoga, and find the most comfortable position for sleeping and sitting.
What Happens to The Baby During Week Thirty-One of Pregnancy?
At thirty-one weeks pregnant, your baby is about 16.2 inches long and weighs about 3.3 pounds, which is about the size of a coconut.
At this point of your pregnancy and baby’s development, your beloved baby is getting plumper and becoming very active, sucking their fingers, moving around, and doing the odd somersault.
Your baby has been able to pee from the first trimester on, and the amount of amniotic fluid surrounding your baby is increasing due to that.
Your baby is still working on their breathing skills as their lungs mature as each day passes.
The thirty-first week is the last week of the very preterm category, and the chances of survival without disabilities related to prematurity get better as each week passes by.
For example, at 31 weeks, the survival rate is up to 99% with the provided special care in the NICU for at least a few weeks.
Pregnancy Checklist During Week Thirty-One
To stay safe and well-prepared during your pregnancy, you have to stay on top of certain tasks to keep up with the journey and make sure you are keeping up with your and your baby’s needs.
The list of things you need to complete during your thirty-first week of pregnancy will include:
Invest in nursing pads
If you have never been pregnant before, your leaking boobs are probably freaking you out right now.
If you are experienced with pregnancy, you probably know that nursing pads are a lifesaver for this issue.
You can use either disposable or reusable nursing pads to keep your bras from getting messy.
Start labor training
Your delivery day seems a bit far away right now, but it will come much sooner than expected and being prepared never hurts anyone.
Now is the perfect time to start practicing breathing techniques that will help you stay relaxed during labor.
Prep your pets for the baby
If you have fur babies, the arrival of your baby is going to be a surprise for them, and it will take some adjustment.
Make sure to watch some YouTube videos or speak to your vet about the best way to introduce your pets to your baby.
Cut back on tea or coffee
You may love enjoying your steaming cup of ambition in the morning or getting that pick-me-up sweet treat in the middle of the day, but it is wise to cut back on your caffeine intake at this stage of your pregnancy.
Drinks that contain caffeine, such as coffee, tea, or sodas, can act as diuretics, causing you to urinate more often.
What To Avoid or Begin to Avoid?
It is essential to avoid potentially dangerous and harmful things and activities to protect you and the baby during your pregnancy.
During your thirty-first pregnancy week, make sure to stay away from:
- Smoking, doing drugs, drinking alcohol, and being exposed to toxic substances.
- Sleeping on your tummy.
- Performing demanding workouts and carrying heavyweight.
- Wearing strappy and tight shoes and high heels.
- Touching kitty litter or cat feces.
- Drinking an excessive amount of caffeine and carbonated drinks.
- Getting tattooed as it poses a risk of infection.
- Eating junk food, deli meats, raw or undercooked meat, eggs, cheeses from unpasteurized milk, unpasteurized dairy foods, high mercury fish, and unwashed fruits and vegetables.
- Having close contact with anyone with rubella, chickenpox, or the Zika virus.