30 Weeks Pregnant | Belly, Baby Position And Ultrasound

You’re 30 weeks pregnant and in your 7th month of pregnancy!

That means there are only about ten or so weeks to go before your due date.

At this point, though, you might feel like that’s still ages away – especially when you remember your due date is a ‘guesstimate’.

30 Weeks Pregnant

Only 3-5% of babies are born on their expected date. But don’t worry, most babies are born within a week on either side of their due date.

It can be hard to deal with all the comments you’re likely to get from this point until the end of your pregnancy.

Some people will assume you’re ready to have the baby. Others will think you still have a long way to go.

It can be difficult to hear everyone’s opinions on your belly’s size and the potential size of your baby.

If you’re bothered by comments about your belly size, read 7 Reasons Why Belly Size Doesn’t Always Equate To Baby Size. 

Now’s the time to focus on getting together everything you need for labor and birth, and for when your newborn arrives.

Packing your birth bag and having things organized can also help you feel more ready emotionally.

Taking care of all the practical stuff allows you to focus on growing your newborn and preparing yourself for birth’s peak experience.

You might also think about buying some nursing or maternity bras for this last trimester.

They will last until you’ve had your baby and throughout your early breastfeeding days.

It’s a good idea to have a professional fit you, so you are comfortable now and have room to grow if necessary.

Read Nursing Bras – When Should I Get A Nursing Bra? for more information.

30 weeks pregnant – mood swings

Those pesky pregnancy hormone symptoms you experienced earlier on are back. You might be surprised to notice more mood swings these days.

It’s pretty normal to feel a little more emotional at this time in your pregnancy.

You might be worried about the arrival of your little one, or even wondering whether you’ll cope with parenthood.

Prenatal depression affects about 10% of women during pregnancy. You are at higher risk for postnatal depression if you have had perinatal depression.

Unfortunately, depression in pregnancy is on the rise and is becoming quite common, due to birth trauma and a general lack of support.

You must contact your doctor, midwife, or another healthcare provider if you’re experiencing depression during pregnancy.

30 weeks pregnant and your body

Many pregnant women start to experience pain in the rib cage during the last trimester.

This happens when the top of your expanding uterus puts pressure on your ribs.

Your baby can also stretch up and put extra pressure on your ribcage.

It can really reduce your lung capacity too, which might cause shortness of breath.

If this happens to you, check out Rib Pain During Pregnancy – 9 Tips To Relieve Sore Ribs for suggestions on how to ease this discomfort. 

30 weeks pregnant and heartburn

Heartburn could be especially bothersome between now and your baby’s arrival.

That’s because the same hormone that helps your muscles to relax, to allow your baby to fit through your pelvis, also relaxes the muscles of your esophagus.

This allows stomach acid and food to creep back up, causing that burning sensation.

Find out which remedies can provide relief from heartburn during pregnancy.

To reduce the risk of heartburn, avoiding eating too close to bedtime.

Heartburn is also more likely to happen when you are lying down.

If you aren’t able to get comfortable in bed, you might also be having trouble sleeping.

You’re more likely to feel tired at the end of the day, so it’s very important to make sure you get as much rest as possible.

A warm bath or a massage might help.

Also try different sleeping positions, to maximize your comfort at night.

30 weeks pregnant – what to pack in a hospital bag

Here are some things you should include for yourself:

• Comfy quality maternity bra
• Sanitary pads or postnatal undies
• Witch hazel for frozen pads (to ease that sore perineum)
• Comfy clothes to labor in and some to change into later
• Toiletries
• Your special pillow
• Snacks and drinks
• Camera or video recorder
• Phone and charger
• Breast pads
• Support garment
• Water bottle
• Lip balm

Here are items you might want to pack in your baby’s bag:

• Nappies – disposable or cloth
• All-in-ones or ‘onesies’ – in a couple of different sizes (weight and size are always a guess until we measure the newborn)
• Hat and booties
• Singlets
• Swaddle wrap/muslins
• Baby wearing garment

See more in BellyBelly’s article: Hospital Bag Checklist For Labor – What To Pack.

30 weeks pregnant birth planning

It’s a good idea to go over your birth plan with your midwife or doctor at your next prenatal appointment.

A plan is not a script of how you expect your labor or birth to go. Your birth plan shows that you are informed of all your options.

Remember, going with the flow is not a bad idea.

We have no control over how labor and birth go. It’s up to your little one, all the way.

30 weeks pregnancy symptoms not to ignore

Symptoms of preeclampsia that you must not ignore:

• Headache with visual disturbances
• Constant pain in the abdomen or anywhere else
• Really sudden swelling in your legs, ankles, hands, feet, and face
• Mid sternum chest pain

Other symptoms you should watch out for:

• You feel your baby is not moving or has reduced movement
• You have vaginal bleeding
• Your water breaks; if it is clear or yellow or green, then baby poop (meconium) could be in the amniotic fluid
• You are having regular contractions

You must contact your doctor or health care provider immediately if you have any of these symptoms. It could mean your baby needs to arrive.

Can you feel pressure at 30 weeks?

Some women do not feel the pressure of the baby until the end of the third trimester. Others might feel it much earlier.

All women are different and so are their babies so that the pressure will differ for every individual.

As pregnancy progresses, the uterus puts more and more pressure on the lower body.

As the pelvic floor weakens, this pressure can cause a feeling of fullness in the vagina or generalized pain and pressure in the hips and pelvis.

Can a baby drop at 30 weeks?

It is not usual for a baby at 30 weeks to drop into the pelvis.

When a baby ‘drops’, we mean the baby’s head moves lower down into the pelvis, ready for labor.

It usually happens towards the third trimester of pregnancy.

Also called ‘lightening’, the baby dropping could sign the baby is getting ready to arrive.

What happens if you give birth at 30 weeks?

A baby born at week 30 will need an extended time in the NICU.

At this stage, a baby is not ready to arrive in the world and the lungs are not fully developed.

Your baby will need assistance with breathing and feeding and has a high risk of infection.

You will need to pack for a longer hospital stay.

Call on your support people for help. Having a baby is a big deal and having preterm is an even bigger deal.

Emotionally, this is very tough for everyone.

30 weeks pregnant – baby movements

Most women can feel the baby’s movements from around 20 weeks.

All babies develop an individual pattern of movement.

Some might move more in the evening, some in the morning. Some kick all the time and others not so much.

The pattern is different for each baby, but it should not change.

The key thing is if your pattern changes, or you feel reduced movements, you need to contact your doctor for an assessment.

There is some outdated information out there. You might hear, for example, that if you have a cold drink then the baby will move, or that your baby’s movements slow down in the third trimester.

This information is not correct.

Babies do sleep, though, and will not move as much at times. Some babies have extended periods of sleep, but it’s difficult to know whether your baby is sleeping for a long time or whether there is a problem.

Always check with your healthcare provider if you are concerned.

Read Baby Kicking – 9 Facts You Need To Know to find out what’s normal and how to keep track of your baby’s movements. 

30 weeks pregnant – your baby’s position

Your baby is likely to have completely settled into a head-down position by 30 weeks pregnant.

Usually, your midwife won’t bother to check your baby’s position until 30 weeks as there is plenty of time for this to happen.

Your care provider will be able to tell you where your baby is lying, by feeling where your baby’s head, back, and bottom are.

If your baby isn’t head down yet, it’s okay.

Don’t panic. You still have time for that to happen.

Check out our article on optimal fetal positioning for tips on how you can help your baby find a good position for labor.

Is your baby fully developed at 30 weeks?

The surface of your baby’s brain has been smooth until now.

At this stage, it’s developing those wrinkles we all associate with the way our brains look.

These wrinkles allow more space for brain tissue.

Because of her brain development, your baby can regulate her own body heat better now.

At 30 weeks gestation, your baby is also able to tell the difference between light and darkness.

She will start to shed the hair (lanugo) that has been covering her skin to keep her warm.

When your baby is born, she might still have some lanugo left on her back and shoulders.

Your baby’s hands are completely formed now. If you could see inside, you might see her grasping a foot or the umbilical cord.

The fetus’ fingernails are also growing; trimming your newborn baby’s nails can seem very daunting.

You can avoid doing this by using onesies with pullover mittens if the weather is cold enough.

Or you can use an emery board to file the nails gently so they aren’t sharp.

Your baby’s bone marrow is now making red blood cells.

At 30 weeks pregnant, your baby’s weight is about 1.6 kg (3.5 pounds) and she is about 38-42 cm (14-14 inches) long – about the size of a cucumber.

Your baby’s growth will continue and she will gain about 200 grams each week from now on.