What to expect at 31 weeks pregnant
Your baby
Baby is continuing to plump up this week as it prepares for a rapid growth spurt – while it now weighs about 1.5kg it will more than double its weight by birth.While the skeleton and bones continue to form, baby’s skull is not yet fused together and won’t be until after the baby is born, so that the head can fit through the birth canal during labour. The soft skull then allows for the rapid growth of the brain over the first few years of the baby’s life, with the posterior fontanelle usually closing up around 4 months of age and the anterior fontanelle starting to close from around 6 months but not fully closing until around 18 months.
How you’re feeling
Feeling clumsy or off balance? As your bump grows your centre of gravity changes and you might find yourself feeling a little less graceful than usual and this is especially true in the final trimester. With your bump making you front heavy, combined with the natural deterioration of your core muscles throughout your pregnancy, combined with general pregnancy tiredness – can mean you are less on your game than usual. Take it easy, don’t rush and wear sensible shoes (ditching the high heels as much as possible).
Sign up
Get tailored content based on your week of pregnancy
By signing up, you agree to receiving our Newsletters. Cancel anytime.
Weekly tip
Have you had a baby shower yet? You might want to think about it in the next few weeks before you get too big and too tired to enjoy it. Enlist some close friends and family to help you with the organisation – a baby shower, or even just an afternoon gathering at a pub or café, can be a good way to catch up with all the people that want to see you before you give birth, in one hit.
Sources
Baby Center, 31 weeks pregnant, May 2024.
Related Articles
- Baby shower games and activities that you will actually want to do
- Boy or girl? 10 fun gender predictions for guessing the sex
- Baby shower food ideas that your guests will love
Pregnancy Week by Week
- What To Expect At 1 Week Pregnancy
- What To Expect At 2 Weeks Pregnant
- What To Expect At 3 Weeks Pregnant
- What To Expect At 4 Weeks Pregnant
- What To Expect At 5 Weeks Pregnant
- What To Expect At 6 Weeks Pregnant
- What To Expect At 7 Weeks Pregnant
- What To Expect At 8 Weeks Pregnant
- What To Expect At 9 Weeks Pregnant
- What To Expect At 10 Weeks Pregnant
- What To Expect At 11 Weeks Pregnant
- What To Expect At 12 Weeks Pregnant
- What To Expect At 13 Weeks Pregnant
- What To Expect At 14 Weeks Pregnant
- What To Expect At 15 Weeks Pregnant
- What To Expect At 16 Weeks Pregnant
- What To Expect At 17 Weeks Pregnant
- What To Expect At 18 Weeks Pregnant
- What To Expect At 19 Weeks Pregnant
- What To Expect At 20 Weeks Pregnant
- What To Expect At 21 Weeks Pregnant
- What To Expect At 22 Weeks Pregnant
- What To Expect At 23 Weeks Pregnant
- What To Expect At 24 Weeks Pregnant
- What To Expect At 25 Weeks Pregnant
- What To Expect At 26 Weeks Pregnant
- What To Expect At 27 Weeks Pregnant
- What To Expect At 28 Weeks Pregnant
- What To Expect At 29 Weeks Pregnant
- What To Expect At 30 Weeks Pregnant
- What To Expect At 31 Weeks Pregnant
- What To Expect At 32 Weeks Pregnant
- What To Expect At 33 Weeks Pregnant
- What To Expect At 34 Weeks Pregnant
- What To Expect At 35 Weeks Pregnant
- What To Expect At 36 Weeks Pregnant
- What To Expect At 37 Weeks Pregnant
- What To Expect At 38 Weeks Pregnant
- What To Expect At 39 Weeks Pregnant
- What To Expect At 40 Weeks Pregnant
- What To Expect At 41 Weeks Pregnant
Related Articles
Loved this article?
Share with a friend
