Week 30: Development in Week 30

Your baby is now growing at a faster pace than before. Thus, it is very important that you continue eating the healthy choice of foods every day and enjoy a healthy lifestyle. He or she is now developing the insulating fat layers on his or her body to keep her well protected after birth.

This could be the week when your baby adopts the head down position that enables easy delivery. That is if he or she has not already. But he or she will definitely change position within the next two weeks or otherwise the doctor will have to turn him or her around later to avoid a 'breech' delivery. Breech babies are those that are delivered in the bottom down position.

Right now, your baby is probably curled up with his knees bent, arms and legs crossed as his or her chin gently touches the chest. As he or she is gaining weight at a rate of seven ounces or 200g. per week, he or she has grown quite large and has less space to move around. He or she should settle down quite a bit within the next two weeks.

Let us take a look at the developments that will be taking place in your baby by this week.

Baby’s Development in the 30th Week of Pregnancy

Here are some other developments of your little one this week.

• This is the time when he or she is practicing deep breaths and you can expect a rhythmic movement of his or her diapgram. You may expect some twitching in your body when this happens.
• His or her brain is still developing and expanding creating folds in the central part. These wrinkles are offering room for tissues that needs to expand in the future.
• His or her brain can now regulate temperature. He or she may be shedding his or her lanugo that has been offering all the warmth to him or her this while.
• If your baby has not yet, he or she will gradually position himself or herself with head down in your pelvic area. This is known as the Engaged position.
• You now have around a litre of amniotic fluid that shall reduce as your baby grows.

Bodily Changes during the 30th Week of Pregnancy

Along with development of your baby inside, you may also experience some of the physical changes. Take a look below:

• Do not be worried if you feel more tired than before. Your body is just fatigued carrying the extra weight for long. Your expanding baby is exerting pressure on your systems and organs.
• Your uterus is still expanding at the bottom.
• Your hormones are still soft and losing connective tissues and preparing for a childbirth. It is normal if you experience pain in your hip, lower back or on one side of your body. But you must inform this to your doctor.
• You might also suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome that result in swelling of your hands and palm. All these effects shall wear off once you have delivered your little one.
• If you are short of breath in the 3rd trimester, you need to rest a little more and take frequent breaks in between your works.
• Good posture often helps relieve breathing troubles. You can sleep with your head raised on a pillow to enjoy a better night's sleep.

Nutrition in the 30th Week of Pregnancy:

While this is the time when you are busier planning for the arrival of your little one, you find little time to pan for routine exercises and meal times.

In case you are bored with the foods you have been taking so long, you can try crisp baby carrots, grilled chicken, roasted almonds, pretzels, cashews, and yoghurt with fruits for a change.

Light exercises can be an effective way to combat the heaviness and pains. Yoga and Pilates practiced under the supervision of a certified trainer can be good choices that shall help you relax and keep your mind calm. However, difficult postures and high impact exercises should be completely avoided.

Your ligaments and joints are too losing now, which makes it more important for you to be more careful.

Engage in some “me time” now. You will get pretty busy and will be left with no time for yourself once your little one arrives. You can probably go for a haircut and choose an easy to maintain style. Pamper yourself and engage in safe and relaxing activities.