Week 31 of pregnancy

By the 31st week of pregnancy, you are already halfway through the 8th month. Things are getting tight in your belly, and thoughts about the upcoming birth will increase. Read here how your baby is developing this week and what is happening to your body.

How big is your baby in the 31st week of pregnancy?

Your baby is about 28 centimeters long this week, comparable to a corn on the cob. The crown-to-heel length is approximately 40 centimeters.

Week 31 of pregnancy: What's changing for you

The shortness of breath you are probably experiencing lately persists and will accompany you over the next few weeks until your baby drops down just before birth. Especially during exertion such as climbing stairs, it becomes noticeable that your lung capacity is now significantly reduced. Therefore, take breaks whenever necessary and take your time to breathe deeply.

Slowly but surely, your body is preparing for birth; during this week, your pelvis begins to loosen. At the latest, most pregnant women’s breasts will start producing , the nourishing pre-milk that supplies your baby with energy immediately after birth. If you notice that your breasts are already secreting milk, you can use nursing pads in your bra as needed. But don’t worry if no milk is flowing from you yet. That doesn’t mean you won’t be able to breastfeed.

Week 31 of pregnancy: Development of your baby

The space available to your baby in your womb is decreasing, and it no longer has enough room to swim around in the amniotic fluid. As your child can move less and less, it will also become a bit calmer for you, and you will feel it less than you did in previous weeks. Additionally, your baby sleeps up to 20 hours a day. So don't worry if you suddenly no longer feel big somersaults in your belly. Also, in its position, your baby adapts to the cramped conditions: it presses more against the uterine wall and slowly turns its head, if it is already down, towards the birth canal.

The furrow structure of his brain, which has been developing for several weeks, continues to expand. In this way, your child's brain gains surface area without the size of his head having to increase. This keeps the head small enough for birth. This also relates to the development of the skull bones.
Aligned with your child's development: Between its skull bones are sutures covered only with connective tissue, allowing them to slide against each other as it passes through the narrow birth canal. Until the so-called Fontanelle has definitively closed off the child's head, it takes two years.

Hypnobirthing

The due date is approaching and you are increasingly contemplating what to expect. Many expectant mothers are mainly concerned about the pain associated with childbirth. One form of childbirth preparation is hypnobirthing. The goal of hypnobirthing is to promote a positive and relaxed birth through relaxation techniques, breathing exercises, and mental strategies. In a hypnobirthing course, pregnant women are not only thoroughly informed about the birthing process, but they also get to know their bodies and are guided to follow their instincts confidently in order to give birth intuitively and autonomously. If you are interested in this topic, you can learn more about the background of the concept and where you can access alternative childbirth preparation in the article "".

This is now important

• The lungs of your baby are developing more and more Surfactant , the substance that prevents the lungs from sticking together. Lung maturation is thus nearly complete, and the chances of survival in the event of a premature birth increase continuously.

• Maybe you've already noticed in the past few weeks that your sense of smell and taste have changed again. The exact reason for this is unknown – but trust that your body is telling you what is good for you and your baby right now.

• Your Maternity Leave! begins in one month. Now is the time to initiate the handover with your employer and apply for maternity benefits with your insurance.

With our pregnancy calendar, we want to accompany you through this exciting time and provide you with relevant information, which also in exchange with our