Pregnancy Care Guide: Weeks 31

Pregnancy Care Guide

Pregnancy: Weeks 31 – 35

Changes in fetus • Over 13 inches in length from crown to rump • Roughly 5½ pounds in weight • Coordinated movements with arms and legs • More fat has accumulated under the skin • Skin on face is now much smoother • Major organs have developed • Gaining weight in preparation for birth • Eyes open and close often • Light changes are sensed through abdomen

Changes in you • Stronger, regular fetal activity • Increasingly heavy vaginal discharge • Braxton Hicks contractions • Mild swelling of ankles and feet • Protruding navel • Difficulty sleeping • Increasing clumsiness • Possible leakage of colostrum from breasts

Suggested reading for mother: Mayo Clinic Complete Book of Pregnancy & Baby's First Year, by Robert V. Johnson Suggested reading for partner: Fathering Right from the Start: Straight Talk About Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond, by Jack Heinowitz, Ph.D., and Wade F. Horn Suggested website for both: www.health.discovery.com
What to expect at your next office visit: Weight and blood pressure check Complete blood count Urine test for sugar and protein Fetal heartbeat Size and shape of uterus (determined by external palpation to see how it correlates to estimated due date) Height of fundus (top of the uterus) Discussion of symptoms you have been experiencing (particularly any unusual ones) Discussion of fetal size (you may get a rough estimate of fetal weight and position, based on palpation) Increase in number of office visits
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