30th week of pregnancy: how the fetus develops and what happens in the body
The thirtieth week indicates that the eighth month of pregnancy has begun, which is already quite a long time. The expectant mother was already pretty tired, but the significant moment had become much closer. In the meantime, the baby continues its active development in the mother’s womb. Now that maternity leave is approaching, it’s time to devote maximum attention to yourself and prepare to meet your child.
Contents
30 weeks of pregnancy - what happens to the baby
Now the baby is all grown up. If in the first weeks of conception its size was less than a millimeter, now the baby’s height has exceeded 40 cm. Over the entire period of development, his body has already accumulated a little fat, and his weight is close to 1.5 kg. Now the baby’s lungs have learned to produce a special substance called a sufractant, which prevents the organ from sticking together during breathing. But this does not mean that the baby can live outside the mother; the respiratory organs still continue to develop and it is better for them to do this in a safe womb.
Meanwhile, the brain continues to develop, on which convolutions and grooves are still being formed. Little by little, the little person’s nervous system begins to connect, nerve cells begin to work, nerve fibers are formed, around which there is a protective myelin sheath.
The baby’s skin is still wrinkled, but is starting to slowly smooth out. Despite the fact that the baby is still in the vernix, the fluff is gradually starting to come off. True, some babies are still born with remnants of lanugo; it goes away on its own after some time.
During this period, the baby’s liver especially tries to work, constantly producing and accumulating iron, so that later, during the first year of life, “sponsor” the entire body with reserves. There is clarity and rhythm in the heartbeat. And here a very interesting fact is noted: in girls, the heartbeat is chaotic and fast, while in boys, on the contrary, it is regular and calm.
During this period of the perinatal period, the baby becomes somewhat cramped in the stomach. In most cases, by this time the babies have already assumed the position in which they will be born. Due to the fact that the space is minimal, the activity of the baby decreases. Therefore, if the mother feels the baby’s anxiety (for example, he is beating hard and sharply), this should be a cause for concern. During this period, the baby begins to actively make grimaces: he frowns, yawns, blinks and smiles. His eyes are already open, he reacts to the light on, which reaches him through his mother’s belly.
30th week of pregnancy - what happens to mom
The uterus continues to enlarge, and therefore begins to put more pressure on the mother’s organs, and this in turn leads to frequent constipation, heartburn and frequent urge to urinate. This week you may also experience slight dizziness, which is due to the pressure of the uterus on the chest with the lungs. Unpleasant sensations are also possible in terms of bloating, feelings of nausea and the appearance insomnia.
However, all these unpleasant sensations are brightened up by the understanding that a new life has arisen inside and now there is a little person in the stomach who is closer and dearer than anyone else in the world. This week the pushing will have a slightly different character, unlike the previous ones. Previously, the baby had plenty of space and felt free, so he simply pushed away from the walls of the uterus. Now, due to the lack of sufficient space, tremors will occur when the child touches the wall of the uterus with his elbows, heel or elbow.
It is best to monitor the baby’s motor activity in order to calculate in time if something goes wrong. You should be wary if the baby has become too active or completely quiet, this may indicate some problems. Most often, frequent and strong movements indicate oxygen starvation. But another factor must be taken into account, for example, in a similar way, the baby’s reaction can manifest itself to loud music, bright light and other irritants. As a guide, you can use the following standards: within an hour it is normal to feel up to six tremors, and within a day about 24.
Pain at 30 weeks of pregnancy
The pain that haunts a woman throughout pregnancy is often associated purely with internal changes. Something is constantly changing in the body, some kind of restructuring is taking place, which makes itself felt in the form of pain. For the 30th week, nagging lumbar pain is more typical, the cause of which is an ever-increasing abdomen, softening of ligaments and joints and a change in the center of gravity. The only way to protect yourself from such trouble is to maintain correct posture and give your spine rest more often.
Abdominal pain can also occur for several reasons, such as poor diet, which causes bloating. Therefore, during the perinatal period, it is better to completely eliminate foods that provoke this bloating: sweets, beans, cabbage, grapes, etc.
At week 30, you may experience headaches, which are similarly explained by internal changes. Considering that you cannot use medications indiscriminately, consult your supervising doctor about the selection of medication. And it’s even better to do without them altogether, simply by adjusting your routine - rest more, walk in the fresh air and eat right. As a last resort, you can apply cool compresses by placing a towel soaked in cold water on your forehead.
At this stage, the expectant mother begins to worry about swelling, which can be explained by the accumulation of fluid in the body. But you can also protect yourself from this by minimizing salt intake and drinking 1.5 liters of liquid per day. It is also worth “throwing out” all the harmful things from your diet: fatty, fried, spicy, marinades, soda - all this contributes to water retention. Buy and wear orthopedic insoles and shoes with “healthy” heels. Give your legs a rest every day by elevating them slightly so that they are slightly above heart level. If the swelling does not go away within 24 hours, be sure to talk to your doctor, since a similar symptom has a complication called “preeclampsia.”
Childbirth at 30 weeks of pregnancy
Thirty weeks is not at all the right time to give birth. However, some women are giving birth to their babies right now. In any case, such a process is called premature, but the baby is considered absolutely healthy.
Of course, it’s ideal when the baby goes through all its development while in the mother’s womb. But, as they say, you can’t go against nature. Here is such a curious and restless child who suddenly became bored sitting in the dark. The basic functions that help maintain life in the baby are developed. But despite this, doctors take such babies for constant monitoring of their health. After artificial gestation, the child returns to the mother.
