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Women’s Services   

  Women’s Services

Your Pregnancy at Week 31

This week, your baby is as big as a asparagus.

Explore your pregnancy at Week 31

Week 27
Week 28
Week 29
Week 30
Week 31
Week 32
Week 33
Week 34
Week 35

9 Weeks to go!

The following information was reviewed by Katherine Cheng

At A Glance

Week-31

Share the same taste with you 

Your baby can smell and taste the food you eat through the amniotic fluid. Studies have shown that when the fetus is still in the womb, it can have different facial expressions depending on the food ingested by the mother. 

Baby brain? 

Does pregnancy really make pregnant women's memory worse? During pregnancy, the physical and emotional changes can cause symptoms such as dizziness, tiredness, poor sleep quality, and psychological stress. These symptoms can make recall more difficult but this is not a direct consequence of pregnancy. 

Baby Development at 31 Weeks

Baby-sleep

Baby sleeps a lot

As the baby grows, the space in which they can move becomes more restricted. Consequently you will noticed movements more obviously and be able to tell when the baby is awake, exercising or resting. Longer periods of movement normally leads to longer periods or rest. 

Brain-Development

Rapidly developing brain 

Your baby's brain is working hard and developing faster than ever. Billions of nerve cells are being creating enabling your baby to process information, track light sources and perceive all signals from their five senses.

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Your Pregnancy Symptoms at Week 31

Leaked colostrum

It is normal for mothers-to-be to have colostrum in the late pregnancy. These light yellow liquid has a high density of nutrients, antibodies and antioxidants to build a newborn baby's immune system. It is the initial state of breast milk and is thicker than ordinary milk. Although it is normal to have some leakage before birth, if the colostrum oozes blood, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. If there is a little too much colostrum leaking, you can wear a cotton breast milk pad to prevent leakage. 

Muscles in the uterus sometimes tighten 

As your baby grows, your lower abdomen may experience sudden contractions for 20 to 30 seconds, and then relax again (should not feel painful), this phenomenon is called false contractions (Braxton-Hicks contractions). Don't worry, these conditions are harmless to the body and occur so your body can practice childbirth. However, if you have painful contractions, or if your contractions are regular, this could be a sign of preterm labor and contact your midwife or obstetrician immediately.

Advice from OT&P Obstetricians

At 31 weeks of pregnancy, your baby has come to the final stage of development. It is suggested that you:

  • Choose to take maternity leave 2 to 4 weeks before the expected date of delivery. Taking maternity leave early ensures that you can prepare your mind, body and home to welcome your baby into the world.
  • During prenatal checkups, pregnant women can discuss with obstetricians and midwives to confirm and understand their choice of delivery process. This can include comparing caesarean section and vaginal delivery to see which is more suitable for your circumstances.

Tips for 31 Weeks Pregnant

  • Get your "hospital bag" ready
  • Do more simple stretches to prevent varicose veins
  • Wear cotton breast pads to protect clothing
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