Fetal development 31 weeks of pregnancy • hello healthy

When the womb reaches 28-31 weeks, you are already in the 7th month of pregnancy and starting the 3rd trimester of pregnancy. The space for the fetus gets smaller and smaller as its body grows. You can also feel the movements of the prospective baby getting stronger. For more details, here is a complete explanation about 7 months of pregnancy, starting from fetal development to your little one's nutrition.

7 months pregnant

Entering the 7 months pregnant phase, meeting you and your little one is getting closer. At 28-31 weeks of pregnancy, pregnant women feel swelling in the hands and feet and even knuckles as the size of the prospective baby grows.

For more details, this is an explanation about 7 months of pregnancy.

28 weeks pregnant: baby's head is down

When entering the 7 month pregnant phase, 28 weeks of pregnancy to be precise, the size is the size of an eggplant. The fetus can weigh up to 1 kg and be 38 cm long from head to heel.

On a routine obstetric schedule, the doctor will tell you if the baby is in the correct position. When viewed on the ultrasound scanner screen, the baby's head is normally under or toward the vagina.

If the position of the baby appears straight (legs or bottom down), this position is called a breech. If the pregnancy phase is 7 months until the time of birth, the fetus is in a breech position, the baby may need to be delivered by caesarean section.

However, the fetus still has 3 months to change its position. So, don't worry if the baby's position is still breech. Most babies will switch positions on their own.

In addition, at 28 weeks of gestation, babies can dream about their mother and father.

According to research published in the journal Plus One in 2017, the eyes of the fetus in the womb move quickly, especially when dreaming.

Brainwave activity, measured in a developing fetus, indicates different sleep cycles.

29 weeks pregnant: baby is about 38 cm long

Entering the 29th week of pregnancy, the development of the fetus in the uterus is about as big as a pumpkin.

The fetal weight is estimated to have increased to 1.1 kilograms and the length from head to foot is about 38 cm.

A healthy fetus will continue to actively kick and move in the uterus. Some pregnant women may not be accustomed to feeling the baby's movements that are starting to be active in the womb.

Make sure that the mother is watching the baby's kicks and observes the hours the baby is actively moving.

If you feel your baby's movement has decreased when you are 7 months pregnant, count the fetal kicks. Normally your little one should move at least 10 times in two hours.

If you feel reduced fetal movement at 29 weeks of gestation, consult your doctor to find out if there are any disturbances in fetal development.

30 weeks of gestation: the fetus can follow the mother's breathing rhythm

Entering the 30th week of pregnancy, the fetus's body in the uterus is about the size of a small watermelon.

The development of the fetus when the mother is 7 months pregnant weighs about 1.3 kilograms with a length of about 40 cm from head to heel.

Even so, the weight of the fetus in the womb will continue to increase until the day of its birth.

The layer of fat that surrounds the baby's body is also getting thicker. This happens so that the fetus's skin does not look wrinkled and can stay warm after he is born later.

One fetal development at week 30 of pregnancy that is no less interesting is its ability to mimic its mother's breathing pattern.

At this age, the fetus has started to practice repetitive breathing movements by following the rhythm of the mother's diaphragm.

In addition, the fetus in the womb can hiccup. Pregnant women can feel the hiccups when there is a rhythmic pulse in the stomach.

31 weeks pregnant: the fetus can urinate in the uterus

At the 31st week of pregnancy, the development of the fetus in the womb is as big as a coconut. The fetus weighs approximately 1.5 kilograms and the length from the legs to the head reaches 40 cm.

Entering the third trimester of pregnancy, the fetus in the womb can urinate on its own. The fetus can excrete 250 ml of urine a day which then mixes with the amniotic fluid.

Fetal brain development has also started to fully function when the mother is 7 months pregnant. The connections between the nerve cells in the brain are already formed.

This is what makes experts believe that the fetus can process information, track light, move more freely, and pick up signals from the five senses.

The fetus is also able to hiccup, swallow, breathe, and move its little hands and feet in the uterus. However, the fetus's sense of smell cannot work optimally because it is in the amniotic fluid of the uterus.

The shape of the fetus's face at 31 weeks of pregnancy has also begun to stabilize and carry over to birth.

What you feel when you are 7 months pregnant

The bigger the belly of the pregnant woman, the more things you feel and change in the body. Some of the conditions felt by 7 months pregnant women are:

Heartburn

The sensation of a burning stomach and hot chest (heartburn) often appears after pregnant women eat large portions or eat foods that are oily, spicy, or acidic.

Gastric acid problems experienced by pregnant women can make activities uncomfortable, and maybe even trigger insomnia.

If you feel heartburn when pregnant, try to pay attention to what was eaten before. First avoid foods that trigger stomach acid so that you can stay comfortable and the development of the fetus is not disturbed.

Spider veins

Entering the 7 months pregnant phase, you may see some spider veins on the skin during fetal development.

It is characterized by a small, red vein that spreads out and looks like a spider's web.

Spider veins during pregnancy can be caused by an increase in blood circulation. You can also see this condition on the face, neck, breasts or arms.

No need to worry, usually this condition will disappear a few weeks after giving birth.

The milk in the breast starts out at 7 months of pregnancy

Not only is the development of the fetus more perfect at this 7 month pregnant period, the mother's body will also perfect itself after giving birth later.

One of the processes of perfecting the mother's body is by removing the milk glands from the breast.

The mother's breasts may have started to produce colostrum, a pre-milk liquid that provides essential calories and nutrients on the first day of the baby's birth.

Colostrum is also produced a few days before the breast milk content appears. Colostrum generally has a watery and watery texture, but some are yellowish in color.

Apart from the three things above, other conditions are also felt by women who are 7 months pregnant, such as:

Hard to breathe
Insomnia
Tiring easily
Heartburn and constipation
Pain in the hips, legs, hips
Swelling of the feet and hands
Feeling false contractions (braxton hicks)

Along with the rapid development of the fetus, which begins to enter the age of 7 months of pregnancy, many women feel tightening of the uterine muscles or are called false contractions or Braxton Hicks.

Braxton Hicks are false contractions that often last about 30 seconds, are irregular, and are painless.

In addition, these contractions occur occasionally, not always. These contractions do not interfere with fetal development

On the other hand, if these contractions occur too often, it is feared that they can affect fetal development. If the contractions often occur prematurely, it can be a cause of preterm birth.

Call your doctor right away if you have four more contractions in an hour.

Usually the symptoms of premature birth will be accompanied by signs of increased vaginal discharge or a change in the type of discharge that comes out of the vagina (for example, watery or bloody).

Things that need to be considered when consulting a doctor

If the swelling gets worse when you are 7 months pregnant, consult a doctor immediately. Excessive swelling may be a symptom of preeclampsia when it appears accompanied by several symptoms such as:

Sudden weight gain
High blood pressure
High levels of protein in the urine when tested

If your blood pressure and urine are normal (tested in antenatal care), you don't have to worry about preeclampsia.

To monitor fetal development at 28-31 weeks of gestation, pregnant women can report any symptoms they feel.

Generally pregnant women will often urinate and wet the bed. Sometimes, mothers cannot hold their urine when they cough, laugh, sneeze or when lifting heavy objects.

This is normal at this gestational age and will disappear after your little one is born.

The test you need to know when you're 7 months pregnant

To monitor the development of the fetus in the womb at 7 months of pregnancy, when check up the obstetrician will perform routine tests such as:

Measure body weight and measure blood pressure
Check urine for sugar and protein levels
Check fetal development
Check fetal heart rate
Check the size of the uterus by touching the outside to see how high the fundus is
Check for swelling that is feared as a symptom of preeclampsia

When checking or consulting a doctor, generally the doctor will ask how and how often the fetus moves when the woman is 7 months pregnant. If you feel less movement, tell the obstetrician.

Later the doctor will carry out examinations related to the condition of the fetus in the womb. If problems with fetal development are found, the doctor will recommend some supportive care.

Even if the condition is more severe, the mother may have to give birth prematurely.

Tips for maintaining health during 7 months of pregnancy

Given that the development of the fetus gets better when the mother is 7 months pregnant, you need to take care of her health during pregnancy for the sake of the baby and yourself.

Here are some of them:

Pay attention to the selected sport

Given that the stomach gets bigger at 7 months pregnant, you must choose sports for pregnant women that are safe. This is because the belly of pregnant women generally starts to get bigger.

If you are confused about which sport to choose, ask your gynecologist. Later the doctor will consider the conditions of pregnancy. Walking, swimming, or pregnancy exercises are generally still safe to do if the pregnancy is healthy.

Jogging the afternoon around the house is also still relatively safe. However, if a pregnant woman is diagnosed with placenta previa (a condition where the placenta covers the cervix), too much beating during exercise can cause bleeding.

Avoid wearing high heels when you're 7 months pregnant

Due to the various demands of appearance, sometimes pregnant women have to wear high heels or high heels. Wearing high heels (even those with wide heels) is generally not good and can pose a risk to pregnancy.

The risk of falling can occur because the weight of the pregnant woman increases with the age of the fetus.

Your body shape and point of gravity can change, making it more difficult for you to keep your balance and thus prone to falling.

Falling during pregnancy is very dangerous because it can hurt the mother's body and even the baby in the womb.

If you plan to wear high heels while pregnant, consider wearing lower heels.

Avoid all items that contain lead

Lead is a metal that can enter the body and create poisoning. You should avoid things that contain lead during pregnancy.

Lead can be found in electronic device batteries, make up or beauty tools, and even some household items. If the mother is exposed to lead during pregnancy, the development of the fetus when the mother is 7 months pregnant can be disrupted.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) explains that lead exposure during pregnancy interferes with the baby's neurodevelopment.

Lead exposure during pregnancy increases the risk of low birth weight in infants (LBW).

Choose safe and comfortable sports equipment

As the fetus grows, it is best to take some exercise classes to help prepare yourself physically during pregnancy.

Make sure pregnant women choose sports equipment that is comfortable and safe. For example, choosing shoes with soft stamping, sport bra soft, and a washcloth to wipe away the sweat.

No need to worry about shortness of breath when you're 7 months pregnant

When you are 7 months pregnant, the symptoms of pregnancy that can be seen are a large stomach and tightness because the fetus continues to develop. Many pregnant women are worried that the tightness they feel can irritate the fetus.

Shortness of breath can make the mother feel uncomfortable but not harm the baby. The fetus will still get enough oxygen so that pregnant women can practice good and correct breathing.

One way to practice breathing during pregnancy can be obtained from pregnancy exercise classes or from recommended breathing exercises by a doctor.

Kegel exercises for pelvic strengthening

At 7 months pregnant, it is important for pregnant women to do Kegel exercises which are basic pelvic strengthening exercises. In addition, Kegel exercises can also help prevent episiotomies or tears during childbirth.

Quoting the American College Obstetrician and Gynecologist (ACOG), how to do Kegel exercises is quite easy.

The movement is similar to wanting to hold pee, do it for 10 seconds then repeat slowly. Pregnant women can also do this during sex with a partner.