30weeks
pregnant

Highlights this week

Getting a good night's sleep may be becoming a struggle with more trips to the loo and heartburn and indigestion at night.

Baby development at 30 weeks

From now on, your baby will gain weight fast. Their lungs and digestive tract are nearly mature and they've probably been able to open and shut their eyes for a while now, so they can see inside you. If you shine a light on your stomach, your baby may even reach out to touch the moving glow.

Read more about your baby's development this week.
See for yourself how your baby is growing in our 3D video.
See other BabyCenter mums' baby bumps at 28 to 30 weeks of pregnancy.

Lots of movement is happening – a sign of a healthy baby
Your baby may turn their head toward a bright light aimed at your belly
Special skin cells are making pigments that give skin its colour

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Your baby is as big as a cabbage

length

39.9

head to toe

weight

1.3

Pregnancy symptoms at 30 weeks

You've probably gained quite a bit of weight this month. Gaining around 450g a week is quite normal during the last three months. Your baby's needs for nutrients are at their greatest in their final growth spurt before they're born. You may be perfectly happy with your increasing size. After all, if you're gaining weight healthily, you're doing a great job of giving your baby the best start in life. But if you're fed up and feeling huge, here are 50 reasons why it's great to be pregnant.

You could also give yourself a boost with our third trimester feelgood calendar. A simple treat each week can help in the countdown to your baby's birth, especially once you're on maternity leave.

Getting a good night's sleep can become more difficult again in the third trimester. As your bump grows, getting and staying comfortable is harder.

You may find pressure on your bladder means night-time trips to the loo make an unwelcome return. Dreams can also affect the quality of your sleep, leaving you feeling disturbed or inspired! Find out if your partner's having strange dreams, too.

Loosening ligaments in your pelvis may cause some pain or clumsiness

What you need to know

Itchy skin can be the sign of a liver-related condition that happens in pregnancy called obstetric cholestasis (OC). OC is rare, but if you're severely itchy, especially on your hands and feet, see your GP, obstetrician or midwife.
Get to know your Braxton Hicks contractions. Pay attention to how they feel and how often they happen. It may help you distinguish them from the real signs of labour.
It may be time to buy a car seat. You'll need one if you're having your baby in hospital and travelling home by car and it's a good idea to have it installed before your baby arrives.
Find out why varicose veins are more common in pregnancy and get some natural remedies you can try.

Pregnancy tip: easing varicose veins

"I was really worried about getting varicose veins. So I try to make sure I move around every half an hour or so during the day, and always put my feet up in the evening."
Heather

Danielle Townsend

Danielle Townsend is a content and communications specialist. She was an editor at BabyCenter for over a decade.

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