31 week of pregnancy from conception

What happens to the baby at 31 weeks

The baby is getting tighter in the mother’s stomach, so he begins to move less actively. But if he waves his arm or leg, it will be very noticeable.

Most often, by the 31st week of pregnancy from conception, the baby is already head down, but if your baby prefers breech presentation for now, you should not worry. There are still almost two months ahead, during which he can roll over.

In the crumbs at this stage, the skin brightens and smoothes, a layer of subcutaneous fat grows. The light fluff that covered his entire body is gradually disappearing.

The bones of the baby’s skull have not yet fused, since they must be mobile in order to pass through the birth canal. The bones finally grow together only by the beginning of puberty of the child.

The fetal heart is getting heavier, working harder. His lungs are improving. If a child decides to be born now, he will have many times less problems with breathing. The baby’s brain is also developing: new neural connections are formed in it. They allow the child to better feel his body, to make purposeful movements.

Although the chances of survival in the event of a birth at this time are quite high, the child still has too little fatty tissue. Simply put, in our world he will be very cold, so at first he will have to lie in an incubator. Therefore, mothers up to 35 weeks are advised to take care of themselves as much as possible. If the tone of the uterus suddenly rises and regular contractions appear, you should immediately call an ambulance.

Fetal ultrasound

Fetal ultrasound at 31 weeks of gestation is included in the mandatory third screening. It will give complete information about how the child feels.

During the procedure, the doctor will evaluate:

• development of the child, his organs and systems;
• the degree of his physical activity;
• the position it occupies in the uterus;
• the degree of maturity of the placenta and its condition;
• amount of amniotic fluid.

Some malformations appear precisely in the third trimester, when it is possible to clearly examine the face and head of the child. So, during an ultrasound of the fetus at 31 weeks, you can determine if the baby has a cleft lip or cleft palate.

During the ultrasound, another mandatory study is carried out – dopplerometry. In this case, the blood flow in the vessels of the uterus, placenta and umbilical cord is examined to understand whether the baby has enough oxygen.

Another diagnostic method used at this time is cardiotocography. CTG examines the relationship between heart rate and fetal motor activity. To do this, a special ultrasonic sensor is fixed on the pregnant woman’s abdomen, which generates a signal that is reflected from the fetal heart and returns back to the device. ⠀

It is pointless to conduct CTG before 30 weeks, since only by the current period is the relationship between the child’s motor activity and his cardiac activity formed.

Photo life

At the 31st week of pregnancy from conception, the weight of the child is already 1900-2000 grams, and the length of his body from the crown to the heels is 43-44 cm. In size, the baby resembles a large coconut.

– The tummy at this time is already clearly visible, the height of the fundus of the uterus is approximately from 31 to 35 cm, and the waist circumference is 85-92 cm. But the shape and size of the abdomen largely depend on the constitution of the woman and, of course, on the size of the fetus, – clarifies obstetrician-gynecologist Maria Volkova.

So it makes no sense for mothers to compare their belly photos with strangers – there will be little in common. But the pictures will serve as a reminder of this happy time, which will end in a couple of months, when the baby finally sees the world.

What happens to mom at 31 weeks

At the 31st week of pregnancy from conception, the mother needs to carefully monitor her weight, control the amount of fluid drunk and excreted in order to recognize hidden edema and kidney problems. At this time, the doctor may recommend that a woman pass a series of tests:

• measure weight and blood pressure;
• examine the fetal heartbeat;
• determine the level of sugar;
• check the presence of protein in the urine;
• determine the size and position of the fetus using an external examination;
• check limbs for swelling and varicose veins.

By week 31 – she is also 33 obstetric – a dark vertical line on the abdomen becomes more noticeable, the navel is stretched, but after childbirth everything will return to its usual state.

In addition, it is important for the mother at this time to monitor the number of fetal movements. You can consult your doctor on how best to do this, because there are several ways. For example, you can choose the most active time for the baby and calculate how many blows and pushes he will make. If in two hours ten movements are typed, then everything is fine. Sometimes you don’t have to wait half an hour to make sure the baby is okay. If you haven’t got ten movements in two hours, be sure to tell the doctor about it, it may be worth going for an ultrasound and checking if everything is fine.

What sensations can you experience in 31 week

In the third trimester, a woman experiences a whole range of sensations, but we will focus on the main ones.

– During this period, a woman begins to feel training contractions (Brexton-Hicks contractions), – explains obstetrician-gynecologist Maria Volkova. But not all pregnant women feel them. Also, some patients complain of heartburn. This is due to the growth of the uterus, which supports the stomach, reducing its volume. Some women note that the lower back began to hurt.

Due to the accumulation of fluid in the body, the mother may ache and numb fingers, wrists, hands. Try not to wear rings at this time and do hand exercises more often. With the approach of childbirth, the pelvic floor expands, which can also cause discomfort. ⠀

In addition, at 31 weeks of pregnancy from conception, sleep in women may become more restless. Many mothers begin to worry on the eve of an early birth, so the support of loved ones is especially important.

Monthly

– Bloody discharge from the vagina at this time should not be. If suddenly they appear, it is better to urgently consult a doctor, as this may indicate a number of unfavorable conditions: placental abruption, placenta previa, cervical polyps, vaginal pathology, and even the onset of childbirth, explains obstetrician-gynecologist Maria Volkova.

Placental abruption before delivery can threaten the life of the baby, so it is important to know its signs.

Secondly, the immobility of the baby will serve as a symptom. If he does not move for a suspiciously long time, call an ambulance.

Thirdly, the shape of the uterus changes, its muscles begin to contract.

With partial detachment, the situation can be corrected by bed rest and taking medication as prescribed by a doctor. However, if fetal hypoxia or a progressive condition is observed, rapid delivery is indicated.

Stomach ache

There can be many reasons for late abdominal pain. Here and undertreated diseases in the gynecological part, and problems that do not concern the genitals. Often in pregnant women worsen:

• appendicitis;
• cystitis, pyelonephritis;
• intestinal or renal colic;
• intestinal obstruction, etc.

With the appearance of acute pain in the abdomen, pregnant women are advised to contact the hospital, where advice and assistance can be provided not only by gynecologists, but also by related specialists.

An ambulance team should be called immediately if pain in the lower abdomen is accompanied by symptoms such as:

• dizziness;
• loss of consciousness;
• rapid heartbeat and breathing;
• sweating, chills;
• increased body temperature;
• nausea, vomiting;
• bleeding from the vagina.

Brown discharge

If brown discharge appears on the linen, even if it is meager, this is bad, since it cannot be guaranteed that blood does not bleed much more strongly in the uterine cavity.

Any discharge with an admixture of blood may indicate serious problems:

• placental abruption;
• placenta previa;
• polyp of the cervix;
• infection;
• vaginal pathology.

Colored discharge at any stage of pregnancy is a reason to see a doctor. In the third trimester, they can become harbingers of childbirth.

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