31 weeks of pregnancy: what happens to the mother and fetus at the 8th month?
It seems like yesterday that you bought a pregnancy test and today, however, thirty-one weeks have already passed. Your little one has been living and growing inside you for eight months now and, soon, you will finally be able to hold him in your arms! The growth of this last and your belly is proceeding at a brisk pace and now your pregnancy is there for all to see. Have you already started planning the bedroom? Have you prepared the bag to take with you to the hospital in anticipation of the birth? Have you bought everything you need for the baby? If you haven't done so yet, now is the best time to start. Furthermore, if you are curious to know what the 31st week means for you and for the baby, you are in the right place! Read this article and find out what happens inside you during the eighth month!
Before reading this, watch this video and find out some important information on nutrition to follow when pregnant!
How many months are thirty-one weeks?
If you are in the 31st week of pregnancy, it means that you have been pregnant for 8 months.
See also
What changes in the mother's body?
It's now official: you can no longer hide your pregnancy! The belly, in fact, grows more every day and with it the little one inside it. This weight could tire you and make even the simplest movements difficult, so it is important not to put too much effort in your condition. Also, remember that there is less and less time to give birth!
Good news! Over the course of the 31st week, your body begins releasing a particular hormone, better known as relaxin, which will help you give birth without much effort. This hormone, in fact, gives elasticity to the tissues and, in particular, to the pelvic floor, the part that will be contracted during childbirth.
After 8 months, you may see colostrum secretion from your breasts. This substance, which precedes breast milk, will be the main source of sustenance for the newborn in the first days of life.
One of the main symptoms of this week and pregnancy in general is swelling in the legs. This unpleasant sensation is very common among pregnant women and can be alleviated by adopting some precautions such as keeping them raised, for example with the help of a pile of pillows to rest them on, or a cold pedicure to stimulate circulation even in the lower part of the body. .
Sleepless nights due to an intrusive urge to urinate? Don't worry: it's normal! As annoying as it can be, pushing is of paramount importance during this time. As for lost sleep, try to make up for it by resting during the day.
The development of the child at 8 months
Inside an increasingly evident belly, a child is hiding who can't wait to go out and discover the world. After thirty-one weeks, the fetus weighs 1,500 grams and is approximately 44 centimeters long. To get a clearer idea of its size, we could compare it to an eggplant.
At 8 months, the skin of the fetus no longer shows the capillaries, but becomes stronger and takes on a rosy color. The formation of the bone skeleton proceeds regularly and, if you want your child to have strong and sturdy bones, we recommend that you eat as many calcium-rich foods as possible.
It is in the last quarter that eyebrows and hair become thicker every day, giving the baby an appearance more and more similar to what he will have once born.
If your baby were impatient to go out and were to be born prematurely, do not worry: the formation of the lungs, the immune system and the urinary tract is almost completely completed and their functioning takes place in an increasingly autonomous way.
Generally, it is after 8 months that the baby begins to turn around, putting himself in the "final" position, which is the one he will assume at the time of delivery. If this has not yet happened, do not worry: there is still time! Furthermore, the doctor can help him to assume the ideal posture thanks to specific massages that only a specialist is able to perform.
A curiosity about the thirty-first week? The fetus begins to regularize its sleep-wake cycle.
Have you already chosen the name? If you haven't done so yet, get inspired by our lists!
Toning the perineum: here's how
A part of your body that you absolutely must not neglect? The perineum! The muscles that make it up, being particularly stressed during pregnancy, will be put to the test at the time of delivery. Here is a useful exercise to tone it up and prepare you for postpartum rehabilitation.
Standing, with your back straight, put your hands under your belly, supporting it. Contract and relax the perineum (as if holding your pee) and the muscles of the buttocks. Relax for a few seconds, then repeat the exercise 10 times.
Back pain in the 31st week of pregnancy
The weight of the belly leads to an increase in lordosis, that is, the curvature of the lumbar spine towards the front. This phenomenon, associated with weight gain and changes in hormonal balance, can lead to compression of the intervertebral discs (the elastic pads that separate the vertebrae) and of the nerves that, starting from the spinal cord, exit the vertebral column. one of the symptoms most often encountered by pregnant women is back pain, associated with lower back pain and pain in the back of the legs and buttocks, due to compression of the sciatic nerve.
Here are some exercises to relieve back pain:
- Relax your back, kneeling down and, a little at a time, resting your forehead on the floor. Put your arms behind your body, with your palms turned towards the ceiling. Stay in this position for a few minutes, breathing deeply.
- If you want to stretch your back and perineum, sit with your legs crossed, keeping your hands folded in front of your chest. Keep your back straight and raise your arms up over your head. Inhale deeply and slowly. Exhale, relaxing your arms. Repeat this exercise until your back is well "stretched".
- If you want to relieve lower back pain, squat down and put your hands on the inside of your thighs. Avoid squeezing your belly. Inhale deeply, as if you want to let air into your stomach and lower back. Drop your head forward and breathe through your nose at your own pace.
Our advice
Here are some tips to better face the last trimester of pregnancy and be ready at the time of delivery:
- Practice regular physical activity: prefer free body gymnastics and postural exercises for the back. Exercising will help you feel more energetic and supple, making you ready for delivery. In addition, motor activity stimulates blood circulation throughout the body, preventing episodes of swelling. If, on the other hand, you have problems with digestion, we recommend taking short walks after meals.
- Do not get too tired and, between one errand and another, try to rest and take some time for yourself. Too much stress, in fact, is not good for either the mother or the baby!
- Limit your exposure to the sun as much as possible, especially during the hottest hours. The combination of sun rays + hormonal changes could lead to the appearance of some unpleasant spots on the skin.If your pregnancy affects the summer period, remember to wear wide-brimmed hats and to apply a very high index (50+) protective cream over the whole body several times.
- Follow a rich and varied diet, eating healthy and balanced. Tasting very different foods will prepare the baby's taste buds to welcome ever new flavors. In particular, try to eat foods rich in magnesium (almonds, lentils and wholemeal bread), calcium (vegetables and fish) and iron (apples, parsley and nuts). Also, stock up on folic acid, a vitamin essential for your baby's regular development, found mostly in green leafy vegetables, legumes and whole grains.
- Avoid excessively fatty, spicy, fried foods and, in addition to alcoholic beverages, do without coffee. These foods, in fact, can cause irritation and consequent heartburn.
- Drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated and make it easier for your baby to form teeth. Plus, drinking heavily throughout the day will help prevent urinary infections, one of the most common symptoms of pregnancy. In this regard, be sure to always drink both before and after sexual intercourse and to practice proper intimate hygiene.
Staying in bed at the end of pregnancy
Has your doctor instructed you to rest until delivery? Then you have no choice, you will have to spend the next few weeks in total peace of mind! But why? If the contractions become numerous and repeated, if your cervix has changed, if your water has ruptured, if the placenta is previa (too low), you must stay in bed. Your doctor will ask you to stay totally or partially at rest, to prevent the weight of the fetus from weighing on the neck of the uterus. In addition, in the event of growth retardation or high blood pressure, staying in bed improves blood circulation between mother and child. In this way, the feeding process of the baby is also facilitated. Depending on the case, the doctor will make you different, more or less rigid recommendations. However, lying down all day can cause phlebitis, muscle atrophy or promote constipation, so we provide you with a series of tips to better enjoy this period of forced rest:
- Keep taking care of yourself. It will help keep your spirits up. Put on your make-up, dress up and be beautiful, don't stay in your pajamas!
- Pay attention to your diet and try to eat as many vegetables, fruits and fibers as possible in order to avoid the risk of constipation.
- Keep everything you may need nearby (phone book, telephone, medicines ...). Calculate your movements in advance, to avoid moving unnecessarily.
- Lie on your side, favoring the left side of the body: extend the left leg and bend the right, curled up. This promotes the reflux of blood to the heart.
- Make yourself comfortable, stay in a well-ventilated room, change the sheets more often. Also, try to rest your back and legs on large pillows.
- In case you need to be hospitalized, bring with you something that makes you feel "at home": some sheets, some photos, some music ...
The exams to be carried out in the third trimester
During pregnancy, ultrasound scans allow the mother to monitor the baby's health and growth rate. For this reason it is essential that the third and last ultrasound is performed between the 28th and 32nd week. This exam will allow you to evaluate the following values:
- the growth of the baby
- various measurements (eg skull diameter);
- the position of the placenta;
- the amount of amniotic fluid;
- the positioning of the fetus (perhaps it already has its head down);
- the estimated weight of the child (with an approximation of 10%);
- the presence of any malformations.
Some useful information: the ultrasound should be performed with an empty bladder, with an abdominal probe. An excellent quality ultrasound system is always used, with measurement and calculation programs. It is not annoying and lasts 15 to 30 minutes.
Also, to prevent the risk of gestosis, do a urinalysis. This examination will allow the doctor to identify any excess protein, which is often followed by the onset of this pathology.
