This week, many women will have their last ultrasound scan. With a bit of luck, you might catch a glimpse of your baby's face—the one you’ll hold in your arms in just a few weeks. Read on to learn how your child is developing now and what’s important for you at this stage.
How big is your baby in the 30th week of pregnancy?
Your baby is about 27 centimeters long this week, roughly the length of an asparagus stalk. The crown-to-heel length is approximately 38 or 39 centimeters.
30th week of pregnancy: What is changing for you
In the third trimester, your weekly weight gain is another 400 to 500 grams. This becomes noticeable, and daily life may feel more uncomfortable for many pregnant women. And even if you can hardly imagine it now, your baby bump will continue to grow in the coming weeks. Because the skin on your belly, thighs, breasts, and hips is being stretched significantly, you may experience itching. Try not to scratch the dry areas
to avoid injuring the skin. Instead, make sure to moisturize the affected areas regularly after showering and whenever they feel dry. Our LILLYDOO for mom pregnancy care oil is specially tailored to your skin’s needs during pregnancy: Rosehip oil cares for especially dry and damaged areas, while algae extract protects against dryness and supports skin elasticity.
The position of your uterus (fundus) is now at the level of your diaphragm. The increasing pressure on the organ may cause you to feel short of breath more often. Other common symptoms during this phase of pregnancy include circulatory problems, digestive issues, and back pain. Additionally, your body is secreting more progesterone this week. The hormone relaxes the muscles of the uterus to help prevent premature contractions. However, these hormonal changes can also make you feel more emotional and perhaps more tearful than usual.
The third ultrasound examination
Approximately between the 29th and 32nd week of pregnancy, you’ll have the next Preventive examination In addition to the items checked during each regular examination—such as blood pressure and weight measurement, and urine analysis for bacteria, protein, and sugar content—the last of the three scheduled ultrasound examinations also takes place. During this scan, your baby’s growth and heart function, as well as the position of the placenta, are monitored. The latter is especially important because the position of the Placenta may, under certain circumstances, influence the course of birth: if it is located in front of the cervix and blocks the birth canal ( Placenta previa ), a planned
Cesarean section is necessary. If the birth canal is only partially covered by the placenta, a natural birth may still be possible.
If you're lucky and your baby is in the right position, you may also catch a glimpse of their unique face during the ultrasound scan. A very special experience—especially when you consider that you’ll soon see their little nose, ears, and mouth in real life.
If you don't have an appointment for the preventive check-up yet, it’s best to take care of it now.
30th week of pregnancy: Development of your baby
Your baby is increasingly preparing for life outside your womb. The protective lanugo hair that has covered its body so far is gradually disappearing. Instead, its head hair is growing, and eyebrows and eyelashes are already fully developed. Your baby's skeleton is becoming stronger, and its internal organs are almost completely developed and functioning independently this week. Important lung maturation and the development of the digestive tract are also nearly complete now.
The iron you consume through your diet is now stored by your child's body as a reserve for after birth. This reserve will last until about six to nine months after birth, when your little explorer will gradually start with the .
As your baby needs more and more space in the uterus, the amount of amniotic fluid will decrease in the coming weeks until birth.
This is now important
Enjoy the time before the birth, get a good night's sleep, and take time to meet up with friends. Spending quality time with your partner is part of this, too. Tips on how you can enjoy closeness during pregnancy can be found in the article “ Partnership and Sex During Pregnancy “.
Even if exercise becomes more difficult, you should still incorporate regular movement into your daily routine to help counter pregnancy discomfort and keep your body fit for childbirth. Special yoga exercises that you can still do toward the end of pregnancy can be found on our YouTube channel in the video "Pregnancy Yoga – Exercises for the 3rd Trimester".
If you are unmarried, you and the child's father can now apply for paternity recognition at the youth welfare office along with a custody declaration. After the birth, this is also possible at the registry office. For same-sex couples, adoption after the birth ensures that both partners are also legally recognized as the child’s parents.
Tip from LILLYDOO pediatrician Ariane
You can start searching for a pediatrician now—the earlier, the better—because many practices only accept a certain number of new young patients. This doctor may accompany your child throughout childhood and adolescence, so it’s all the more important that your medical contact for the coming years is a good fit for you and your family. Ask around your circle of friends to see whether other moms and dads can recommend a pediatrician they trust. Local proximity and accessibility also play a role in choosing your future pediatric practice. Keep in mind that a longer journey with a feverish or unwell child can be exhausting and, especially with more than one child, can become a significant time factor. If you find a practice appealing and it’s ideally located near you, it’s worth calling now to ask whether they are accepting new patients and, if so, when you can register for the first check-up after the birth.
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
