PREGNANCY WEEK 30

• Your Body at Week 30 of Your Pregnancy

• Your Baby at Week 30 of Your Pregnancy

• Product Recommendations

Your Body at Week 30 of Your Pregnancy

Hemorrhoids

More than half of all pregnant women experience swollen, itchy veins in the rectum due to the bigger uterus pressing down as well as to increased blood flow to the area. Hemorrhoids can be painful and even cause rectal bleeding.

Constipation can aggravate them, so your best bet at prevention is to increase your fluid and fiber intake and to eat plenty of fiber-rich foods, like fruits, veggies and whole grains.

Varicose Veins

Some women develop Varicose Veins. They are swollen blood vessels, they pop up because your blood volume increases during pregnancy, your growing uterus is putting pressure on the pelvic veins and hormones are making your veins relax.

Some pregnant women find varicose veins painful, while others have no discomfort at all.

It is best to keep your circulation going by avoiding standing or sitting for a long time. Aim to get in some daily exercise.

Sciatica

Your baby's head and your growing uterus may rest on the sciatic nerve in the lower part of your spine. If that happens, you may feel sharp, shooting pain, tingling or numbness that starts in your buttocks and radiates down the back of your legs — known as sciatica. The pain of sciatica can be quite intense at times, and though it may pass if your baby shifts positions, it can also linger until you've delivered. Talk to your doctor about it.

Your navel may protrude

You're almost two-thirds of the way through your pregnancy and your uterus is about 2½ inches above your belly button. Beginning somewhere around the middle to end of your second trimester, your enlarging uterus swells enough to push your abdomen forward, making your navel pop out.

Change in Baby Movements

You’ll feel your baby moving every day now, sometimes with a punch or a kick! and some times with a wiggle or stretch. You can also expect more activity after you’ve eaten and when you’re lying down. You may feel fewer hard kicks at this stage. Always check with your doctor if you feel there are some other changes.

Swelling in Feet and Ankles

During pregnancy your body tissues accumulate excess fluid that is needed to support you and your baby, this may cause swelling in your ankles and feet. Because fluid tends to pool in the feet due to gravity. Reduce water retention in your feet by avoiding standing or sitting for long periods of time — and try to keep your legs elevated when you can. Also keep yourself hydrated.

Heartburn and Indigestion

If you’ve got a burning sensation from the depths of your stomach to your mouth after you eat, then you’ve got pregnancy-induced indigestion and heartburn. Avoid heartburn triggers like spicy or fatty foods and caffeinated drinks and ask your doctor about pregnancy-safe heartburn remedies.

Constipation

Hormones relax your bowel muscles, so they are not that efficient in moving the waste products out from your body. Add high-fiber foods to your diet, like fruits, vegetables and whole grains, along with plenty of fluids, too.

Pregnancy Brain

Your brain-cell volume actually decreases during pregnancy. Pregnancy-induced brain fog is a fact. You may forget stuff that you had no problem remembering earlier, like maybe why you walked in the kitchen, where you placed your keys and so on. Don't worry it will get better on its own.

Tingling sensation in hands

Swelling during pregnancy can put pressure on nerves in the wrists and cause the aching and tingling associated with carpal tunnel syndrome. If you work at a computer, take frequent hand-stretching breaks and make sure your wrists are straight and elbows aren’t higher than your hands when you’re at your desk.

Lower Abdominal Aches

As your uterus continues to expand, the ligaments that support it stretch, which may cause some pain. Occasional lower abdominal achiness is normal, but if the discomfort is accompanied by symptoms such as fever, chills or bleeding, call your doctor immediately.

Vision Changes

Your vision may seem blurrier and your eyes drier. Vision changes are common during pregnancy. Pregnancy changes in hormones, metabolism, fluid retention, and blood circulation can all affect your eyes and eyesight. These changes are usually minor and will go away after you have your baby. Sometimes vision changes can be caused by a more serious condition, though, so talk to your doctor if you have blurry vision, double vision, temporary loss of vision, or anything else unusual.

Migraines

If you find your headaches last for days, are severe and are sometimes accompanied by nausea or vision changes, they might be migraines. Inform your doctor and keep a journal of what you ate, where you were and what you were doing before you experienced each migraine so you can pinpoint the triggers — and start to avoid them.

Round Ligament Pain

The ligaments on the right and left side of your lower belly are stretching out and getting thinner. As your belly gets heavier, the weight pulls on the ligaments, causing sharp or dull pain — especially when you walk or turn to the side. Try to take some rest whenever you can.

Fatigue

Your growing baby is putting more demands on your body, and insomnia may be leaving you dead tired during the day. So ask for help and get help.

Your Baby at Week 30 of Your Pregnancy

How big is my baby?

Your baby is now laying down fat stores, which makes them look plumper and smooths out the wrinkles in their skin. They weigh about 1.3 kg. The fine hair, known as lanugo, that was covering their body is disappearing and more hair is growing on their head. By now, their toenails have developed.

Their reflexes are also developing, and they may be sucking their thumb or fingers.

Your baby can see dim shapes

Your baby may now be able to see dim shapes. His pupils are able to constrict and expand, allowing his eyes to let in more or less light.

Product Recommendations

We have created a list of our favourite Amazon products for you and categorised them for easy access.