Development Week 31

Your baby's bones need calcium now more than ever as they are really starting to harden and grow, so be sure to ensure that you are getting enough calcium, along with iron and protein. Your baby's brain is starting to go through a rapid growth stage now and the only other major organ to fully develop is the lungs.

The Right Fluids
If you are having a baby boy, then his testes will start to drop from the body cavity to the scrotum. Your baby receives all the nutrients he needs through the placenta and the placental blood flow is what allows your baby to produce urine.

Your baby urinates approximately half a liter of urine a day into the amniotic fluid. She also swallows some of the fluid, which is completely replaced several times a day. Excess fluid in the amniotic sac (a condition known as polyhydramnios) may mean that the baby isn't swallowing normally or that she has a gastrointestinal obstruction. Not enough fluid in the amniotic sac (oligohydramnios) may mean that the baby isn't urinating properly, and could indicate a problem with the kidneys or urinary system. Your health care provider will measure your levels of amniotic fluid as part of your routine ultrasound.

Breast or Bottle?
Since you are already 31 weeks pregnant, now may be a good time to decide whether to breastfeed or bottle feed your baby. The milk glands in your breasts may start to make colostrum around this time. Colostrum is the thick, yellowish milk that will provide your baby with calories and nutrients for the first few days before your milk comes in if you plan to breast-feed. If you notice your breasts leaking colostrum, you can purchase disposable or washable breast pads that will protect your clothing.

Select a week of development to read detailed information:

Week 1	Week 11	Week 21	Week 31
Week 2	Week 12	Week 22	Week 32
Week 3	Week 13	Week 23	Week 33
Week 4	Week 14	Week 24	Week 34
Week 5	Week 15	Week 25	Week 35
Week 6	Week 16	Week 26	Week 36
Week 7	Week 17	Week 27	Week 37
Week 8	Week 18	Week 28	Week 38
Week 9	Week 19	Week 29	Week 39
Week 10	Week 20	Week 30	Week 40

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