Mom & Baby at 30 Weeks Pregnant

Reviewed by James W. Brann, MD

Pregnancy Symptoms at 30 Weeks Pregnant

At 30 weeks pregnant, you probably cannot wait until you deliver your baby. Your third trimester pregnancy symptoms are going strong, including back and hip pain, restless leg syndrome, Braxton Hicks contractions, and swollen feet and ankles (edema).

Leaking breasts may begin to annoy you at 30 weeks pregnant. In the weeks before delivery, it's normal for your breasts to leak colostrum (thick, creamy pre-milk that will nourish your baby in the first few days of life). Although having leaky breasts is a nuisance, it's your body's way of preparing for breastfeeding. If the leakage bothers you, make sure that you use nursing pads to protect your clothes.

Difficulty sleeping becomes a way of life at 30 weeks pregnant. Your huge belly makes it hard for you to find a comfortable position to sleep. You can't sleep on your back, and even side sleeping might not even be that comfy. Plus, you're probably running to the bathroom to urinate every hour. Your dreams and nightmares are becoming more vivid and memorable.

If you're experience swelling (edema) in your feet and ankles, you may have noticed that you have a larger foot size than before you were pregnant. Some women even go up an entire shoe size, and unfortunately, unlike other pregnancy symptoms, your larger foot may stay with you even after your baby is born. During pregnancy, hormonal changes cause the ligaments and joints to listen. As a result, you have wider and slightly longer feet.

Mood swings should be expected at 30 weeks pregnant and throughout the third trimester. Since your belly is rather large, and you're feeling quite uncomfortable, it's no longer that you're feeling moody and irritable. On top of that, if you're worried about being a good mother, or you're nervous about childbirth, this can also cause you to be extra emotional. Remember that it's always important for you to voice your feelings and concerns with a loved one. It may help you feel better.

Weight Gain at 30 Weeks Pregnant

Your weight gain at 30 weeks pregnant is more than 20 pounds. In the third trimester, your baby is working on packing on fat layers, so he or she can be nice and chubby at birth. For the average-sized woman, in the next 10 weeks, try to only gain another 10 or 15 pounds so that you can stay within the recommended weight gain for your size.

Enjoy sporting that lovely, round belly of yours! Don't be shocked if random people start wanting to rub it. In some cultures, belly rubs are considered good luck.

Spotlight on Pain Relief Options During Labor

There are many pain relief options for the laboring mother. It is important that you know your options prior to delivery, so you can make an informed decision and birth plan before you deliver. Here is a brief summary of some of the more common forms of pain relief available:

Natural Birth - Just as it sounds, natural birth means no pain relief. Most 'natural' mothers prefer to use meditation and breathing and relaxation techniques to reduce their pain during delivery. Some mothers even choose to use alternative methods of pain control including hypnosis. Many laboring women decide on a natural birth, only to find that they need some form of pain control later in the labor and delivery process. Fortunately, modern technology has afforded women a lot of safe and reliable pain control options during labor.

Analgesics and Narcotics - These medications include butorphanol, fentanyl, meperidine and nalbuphine. They are injected right into a muscle, most commonly the buttocks, or they can be delivered intravenously during labor and delivery. The duration of the effects of these medications typically range between a few minutes to few hours. Unfortunately, they can't be administered in the final stages of labor when pain is most severe, because they may pass on to the baby, causing drowsiness or depressed respiration (slowed breathing) after delivery.

Pudendal Block - This is a medication that can be injected into the vaginal wall just before delivery, and it helps block pain between the vagina and perineum (the skin between the opening of the vagina and anus). It can help relieve pain associated with an episiotomy or tear. It is short lasting, generally lasting anywhere from several minutes to an hour. A pudendal block offers only local pain relief.

Epidural - This is the most common form of pain control used during labor and delivery. It can be given during active labor or just before a c-section. The medicine is administered into your lower back, into the area surrounding your spinal column, called the "epidural space." In a traditional epidural procedure, you will receive pain medicine at a continuous stream throughout labor. If delivery is not imminent, your doctor may opt to use a combined spinal-epidural (CSE) technique for early labor pains. A CSE will relieve pain quicker than a traditional epidural; you'll feel pain relief within five minutes of administration, but it only lasts for 90 minutes. As a result, CSE is often followed with a traditional epidural infusion.

Remember that regardless of the type of pain medication you decide to use, it is your choice and your decision. The most important thing you should consider is your individual risk factors and preference during labor and delivery.