At 31 weeks pregnant, your baby is almost 3.3 pounds, and he or she may be 16 inches long from head to heel. Your little bundle of joy is quickly approaching his or her birth weight and length.
Your baby is busy plumping up at 31 weeks pregnant. Layers of fat are accumulating underneath his or her skin. In the next few weeks, your child's arms, legs, and body will start to fill out, and his or her skin will become less wrinkly.
At 31 weeks pregnant, your baby is still covered with lanugo and vernix, but once he or she gets more fat and meat on his or her bones, most of the vernix and lanugo will be shed.
Space in your womb is getting tighter and tighter. As your baby runs out of room to move about, you may find that every little kick is slightly painful or uncomfortable. Kicks and sudden movement changes may cause you to gasp unexpectedly, much to the delight and amazement of onlookers. Although your baby's movements should continue to be strong, they won't be as dramatic from 31 weeks pregnant and onward.
By 31 weeks pregnant, most babies have already flipped into the head down position – which is the best position for a vaginal delivery. An estimated 25 percent of babies are still breech (with their head up, and their feet or buttocks down near the cervix.) In most cases, your baby will turn by the time you go into labor.
Your little bundle of joy has an established sleep and wake pattern by pregnancy week 31. You'll be able to tell when your baby is sleeping, and he or she is awake and active.
At 31 weeks pregnant, your uterus will measure roughly 4.5 inches from your belly button. Since your belly is getting larger, you may have noticed that you're starting to waddle a little bit. Because pregnancy hormones soften and relax the ligaments in your pelvis, you may find that your hips are wider than before and you can't help but waddle everywhere you go.
Helpful Tip: At 31 weeks pregnant, it's time to nail down the details of how you'll deliver. If you plan on giving birth in a hospital, contact them and ask when you can pre-register. It will make your labor and delivery much smoother. No one wants to worry about filling out paperwork when they're giving birth.
With your huge uterus taking up a ton of space in your body, you may find that it's hard for you to catch a good breath now and again. Remember to take thing slowly and easily at 31 weeks pregnant. You don't want to overexert yourself.
If you've been exercising on a regular basis, it may be time to switch to a lighter workout. For example, prenatal yoga and stretching exercises are wonderful ways to exercise in the final weeks of pregnancy. Yoga is well known for preparing the body for labor, and helping to strengthen and relax the muscles and ligaments in the body.
At 31 weeks pregnant, your internal organs have shifted to make room for your huge uterus and ever-growing baby. As a result, you are going to feel uncomfortable and experience gastrointestinal problems, such as heartburn and indigestion.
Heartburn and indigestion can be very uncomfortable at 31 weeks pregnant, and it's caused the large size of your uterus crowding your abdominal cavity. This slows down your digestion, and it can make it harder for your body to digest large meals, or certain types of food. You may also experience heartburn (that burning sensation in your chest) due to your baby's huge growth. To minimize your discomfort from these third trimester pregnancy symptoms, make sure that you eat smaller meals throughout the day and avoid any foods that might trigger indigestion or heartburn.
Fun Fact: Colostrum is rich in antibodies and nutrients, and it can help protect your baby from dangerous infections and other complications in the first few weeks of life. It's also very beneficial for pre-term babies.
Breast changes, such as breast leakage, may become a problem at 31 weeks pregnant. In the third trimester, some pregnant women start to leak colostrum – which is the pre-milk that will nourish your newborn in the first couple of days after birth. Colostrum can be clear in color, or it may be slightly tinged with yellow. If your breast leakage bothers you, make sure that you invest in some nursing pads to soak up the fluid.
Blurry vision may be a symptom that you experience at 31 weeks pregnant. Water retention, hormones, and change in your blood circulation can affect your eyes and make you more nearsighted. These vision changes are normal, and your eyes should go back to normal after your baby is born.
Because eye problems can sign a problem when you're pregnant, you'll want to contact your doctor if you start to see spots or flashing lights, or if you experience double vision. All of these can be a sign of a more serious problem, like preeclampsia (high blood pressure).
It's amazing how much weight you've gained since you first discovered you were expecting. For the average-sized woman, her weight gain at 31 weeks pregnant is roughly 20 to 25 pounds – more or less. Some women may be lagging behind, while other pregnant women will have gained more. Don't expect your weight gain to slow down anything soon. You are probably going to gain at least five additional pounds before you deliver.
In the meanwhile, enjoy the last nine weeks of your pregnancy. Spend time rubbing your huge bump. You might be surprised to find out that your baby reacts to your rubs. He or she may even kick, or move in the womb at your touch. Remember to keep talking to your little bundle of joy; babies can hear your voice in the womb. In fact, it's their mother's voice that newborns immediately recognize after birth.
Along with your weight gain at 31 weeks pregnant, you may notice that your navel sticks out more now. If you have an "innie,” it may become an "outtie” when you're pregnant. This is an exciting experience for many women, so enjoy while you still can. After you give birth, your belly button will revert to its original appearance.
As you approach labor and delivery, you are probably starting to think about the method of delivery you will endure. While some women prefer to have a natural delivery, others prefer an induction or even a planned cesarean section.
Cesarean delivery on maternal request is a new and controversial women's health care topic. Some women feel that the risks of a vaginal birth may outweigh the risks of a cesarean delivery, thus they would rather opt for a cesarean. Can a woman choose to have a cesarean delivery? The answer is... YES.
As an informed mother, you have the right to assume the risks associated with cesarean delivery for the well being of your unborn child.
Women's health care rights are evolving and the definitions are changing. It is important that pregnant women actively participate in the decision making process during their pregnancy. This includes deciding the best route of delivery for their unborn baby. More and more physicians are accepting a woman's right to be involved in her healthcare and delivery decisions. In times of old, physicians bore the burden of making the majority of decisions related to their patient's health. However, more and more physicians are working intimately with patients to provide them with the information and resources they need to make sensible and safe decisions for themselves and their families.
If you do consider an elective cesarean delivery, make sure you discuss this option with your health care provider. There are many risks associated with a cesarean delivery. In some cases, it may be in your best interests to deliver vaginally. In others, you may benefit from delivering via cesarean section. Your healthcare provider can work with you to make this determination.
Some women consider the risks of cesarean more troublesome than the risks of a vaginal birth. All in all, it is important that the facts are explained to you, including the risks and benefits of a cesarean versus a natural delivery. You should know that the concept of maternal requests for a cesarean delivery is still a highly controversial and an emotionally charged issue. In many instances, your healthcare provider may decline your request. If you feel strongly regarding your decision, your healthcare provider can always refer you to another provider that is comfortable with the decision you have made.
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At 31 weeks pregnant, your uterus will measure roughly 4.5 inches from your belly button. Since your belly is getting larger, you may have noticed that you're starting to waddle a little bit. Because pregnancy hormones soften and relax the ligaments in your pelvis, you may find that your hips are wider than before and you can't help but waddle everywhere you go. 
At 31 weeks pregnant, your internal organs have shifted to make room for your huge uterus and ever-growing baby. As a result, you are going to feel uncomfortable and experience gastrointestinal problems, such as heartburn and indigestion. 
It's amazing how much weight you've gained since you first discovered you were expecting. For the average-sized woman, her weight gain at 31 weeks pregnant is roughly 20 to 25 pounds – more or less. Some women may be lagging behind, while other pregnant women will have gained more. Don't expect your weight gain to slow down anything soon. You are probably going to gain at least five additional pounds before you deliver.
As you approach labor and delivery, you are probably starting to think about the method of delivery you will endure. While some women prefer to have a natural delivery, others prefer an induction or even a planned cesarean section. 