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PREGNANCY TIMELINE: WEEK 30

You are in the final countdown. Ten weeks to go!

Sleeping may start to become uncomfortable now and you may be finding it difficult to find a comfortable sleeping position. The left side is the better side to sleep on. Your aorta and vena cava are slightly to the right of the center of your back, so laying/sleeping on your left side as much as possible ensures an unobstructed blood flow to your organs and extremities. You may be having some trouble sleeping now. Try one of the many maternity pillows or full-body pillows on the market. Sleeping in a recliner chair might also help, especially when the heartburn gets nasty.

You also may have been feeling some regular little spasms in your abdomen. Could be kicking, could be twitching, could be hiccups! Fetuses can get hiccups several times a day and it is nothing to worry about. Hiccups aren't nearly as uncomfortable for babies as they are for adults.

Week Overview

You may feel increased pressure on your lower abdomen as the baby is gradually dropping down. The baby is very aware of the surroundings. We tend to think of the uterus as a dark place, but the uterus actually can be light and dark depending on the mother's environment. You may be able to distinguish sleep and wake cycles in your baby (although it usually seems as if the baby wants to sleep while you are awake and vice versa at night.) This pattern is not indicative of a sleepless newborn.

If you are having Braxton Hicks Contractions, use them to practice what you've learned in prenatal classes. These contractions are simply a sign that your body is getting ready for labor. The baby notices the contractions, but is not adversely affected by them. Your baby now weighs a whopping 3 pounds and measures approximately 17 inches in length.

You may also notice shortness of breath. This commonly happens in the last two months of pregnancy. The baby is now taking up enough space to interfere with your air intake. Move more slowly and practice taking deeper breaths. If shortness of breath happens during sleeptime, try propping yourself up in order to reduce compression of the lungs. In the last few weeks, the baby will drop considerably and this will ease your shortness of breath. Do not worry about whether your baby getting enough oxygen even though you are panting while sitting down. Your placenta is supplying ample oxygen to your happy baby.

Nosebleeds often occur at this time. The delicate nasal lining undergoes increased circulation, as do other psrts of the body. Dry air may cause nasal vessels to become brittle and break, leading to a nosebleed. Violent blowing of the nose or other trauma to the nasal membranes can start a nosebleed. During a nosebleed, pinch the sides of your nose. DO NOT tilt your head back. Treat this like any other common cut - with constant pressure. If bleeding persists after constant pressure, consult your doctor. A humidifier usually works wonders towards preventing nosebleeds.

Baby's Physical Development

• Your baby now weighs about 3 pounds and is about 17 inches long from head to toe.
• Crown-to-rump, baby is 10.8 inches.
• The brain and nervous system continue their rapid development, and from this point on, it is just a matter of growing and fine-tuning.
• The early lanugo is disappearing.
• The eyelids open and close.
• Toenails are growing.
• The bone marrow is now responsible for red blood cell production.
• The digestive tract and lungs are nearly fully mature
• Skin becomes less red and wrinkled
• In boys, the testicles move from near the kidney through the groin en route to the scrotum.
• In girls, the clitoris is relatively prominent because it is not yet covered by the labia, which will happen in the next few weeks.
• Baby's nutritional needs increase the trimester. You'll need plenty of protein, vitamin C, folic acid, iron and calcium. About 200 milligrams of calcium is deposited in your baby's skeleton every day! Baby's skeleton continues to harden, with the continued maturation of the brain, lungs and muscles.

Your bellybutton is about 4 inches below your uterus. You may feel like you are running out of room as your uterus begins to grow up under your ribs. Your fetus, placenta, and uterus, along with the amniotic fluid, will continue to get larger. Average weight gain during pregnancy is 25 to 35 pounds.

Time to Start Thinking About

How will you get to the hospital? Who will care for other children? Plan ahead for calling a cab, a friend, or a relative. Work out a system - will you go to them or will they come to you? Develop a contingency plan too. You never know when you might have to revert to a back up.

Also, consider ordering baby announcements early. You can address envelopes these last few weeks and call from the hospital with your baby's statistics.

Multiples:

Familiarize yourself with the symptoms of pre-eclampsia which is more common in multiple pregnancies than in singleton pregnancies. If you experience severe headache; seeing "spots" or "flashing lights" while at rest; sudden increase in swelling especially of the face; abdominal pain; and nausea, vomiting and feeling sick, contact your doctor immediately.

Tips for Mom:

Your posture is still very important to your comfort. Maintaining a good posture is a good way to decrease the strain on your body as your center of gravity continues to change. One of the things that you can do to help maintain your energy levels and to increase your stamina for the birth is to exercise. It is important not to over do it, especially if you have not been exercising prior to this week. Try taking walks or swimming short distances. Getting out and stretching will help you have feel better and reduce the numbers of pregnancy related complaints.

Complications to Watch For

Most pregnancies occur without any complications or problems. But there are times when your physician should be contacted immediately. The following list contains symptoms to be aware of during pregnancy.

• Vaginal bleeding
• Severe swelling of the fingers and face
• Severe abdominal pain
• Loss of fluid from the vagina, usually a gush of fluid, but sometimes a trickle or continual wetness
• A big change in the baby's movements or a lack of movement
• High fever (more than 101.6F;38.7C) or chills
• Severe vomiting or an inability to keep food or liquid down
• Blurring of vision
• Painful urination
• A headache that won't go away or a severe headache
• An injury or accident, such as a fall or automobile accident, that causes you concern about the well-being of your pregnancy

Prenatal Care Checklist

• Lying on your left side with a firm pillow under your head will usually be the most comfortable position for sleeping. This position brings more oxygen to the baby and eases the load on your kidneys.
• Try a body pillow.
• Bath water should not exceed 100 degrees F. Saunas and hot tubs are off limits.
• Do not douche or use tampons. Take a warm bath or use pads instead.
• You should not be changing the kitty litter because harmful parasites may be present.
• Travel is okay as long as you don't travel far from home during the last month of pregnancy. Check with your doctor first if a travel emergency arises.
• Seatbelts will not harm your fetus.
• Use both shoulder and lap belts and make sure to place the lap belt under your belly, across the hips and thighs.
• Avoid contact with any harmful chemicals or fumes.

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