Fetal Development Week by Week – Week 31
Your baby now weighs about 3.3 pounds and measures about 17 inches. Growth will begin to slow down now, but the average weight of babies at birth is around 7 pounds.
Baby is opening and closing their eyes this week. A brain scan would show that your baby is probably having dreams now. Lungs are quickly developing now, getting ready for full time work after birth. White fat is now being deposited beneath the skin, which helps make baby’s skin look pink.
By now you should be seeing your health practitioner every two weeks. Your doctor or midwife will be checking your blood pressure and any swelling in your arms and legs, measuring the baby, asking you about how the baby is moving around and keeping close tabs on you and the baby in general. They’ll start paying attention to what position the baby is in now, as the birth gets closer. About 96% of babies born are born head first. The rest are born breech with the buttocks or feet coming first. Having a breech birth does not mean an automatic cesarean section, but be sure and talk with your doctor or midwife if you are concerned. It’s probably time for you to remove your rings, if you have not already done so, because with swelling it can become very hard to remove these later.