Your Baby's Development: Week 31

Week 31
You are 30 weeks pregnant and now, more than ever, your baby needs calcium. This is because baby's bones are beginning to grow and harden. So make sure that you are getting the correct nutrition for a healthy pregnancy, especially calcium, iron, protein and protein acid.

During this week of your pregnancy, your baby's brain undergoes rapid growth. The lungs are now the only other major organ that must still fully develop. If you are pregnant with a boy, his testes are beginning to drop down from the body to the scrotum.

Your baby is receiving all of her nutrients through the placenta, while the placental blood flow enables your baby to make urine. In fact, your baby urinates about half a liter of urine each day. Baby also swallows some of the amniotic fluid and this fluid is completely replaced a few times each day.

Checking Levels of Amniotic Fluid
If there is too much fluid in the amniotic sac (this is called polyhydramnios), it could indicate that the baby is not swallowing normally or that she could have a gastrointestinal obstruction. On the other hand, insufficient fluid in the amniotic sac (oligohydramnios) could indicate that the baby isn't urinating properly. This may be a signal that the baby has a problem with his kidneys or his urinary system. Your health care provider will ensure that your levels of amniotic fluid are measured as a routine part of your ultrasound.

Planning on Breastfeeding?
Since the milk glands in your breasts are beginning to produce colostrum, you may want to read up on breastfeeding now. You may notice that your breasts are starting to leak colostrum. Simply buy disposable breast pads or washable breast pads to protect your clothing from staining.

Colostrum is thick, yellowish milk that your breasts make during the first few days after giving birth. Colostrum is easy to digest. It is full of antibodies and is also packed with important nutrients for baby. Around the third or fourth day after birth, your breasts will start to produce greater quantities of mature milk.

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