30 Weeks Pregnant - what to expect
Now you're 30 weeks pregnant, this week is all about 'practice contractions', the best changing bags for dads and using public transport
Watch our video to see what your baby looks like this week
Properly clever stuff’s going on this week, as your baby’s brain surface starts changing from smooth to wrinkly. These new grooves and indentations free up more space to grow brain tissue and expand ‘thought’ pathways.
So what's happening to your body this week?
Oo er, what’s that tightening feeling over your bump? It can’t be the baby coming already, can it? Much more likely, it’s Braxton Hicks contractions – often called ‘practice contractions’ because people think it’s your uterus doing a bit of a dress rehearsal for labour.
You can tell they’re not the real thing (after the initial shock!) because they’re not regular, they’re pretty short and they often stop when you change position (such as sit down after walking about).
They shouldn’t be painful but they will probably feel more intense as you get closer to your due date. All getting a bit real now, isn’t it?
Our MFMer's 30-week bump of the week
Are you keeping track of your bump with weekly pics? Check out other MFMers' belfies in our 30 week bump gallery.
Did you know? Your baby's now the length of... 4 burgers
This week, your baby measures 39.9cm — the same length as 4 burger baps side by side.
And is around the weight of... a box of wine
Your baby now weighs around 3lb (1.3kg)!
3 things you might need to know this week
- Is your baby lying in the right position?
- 10 of the best changing bags for dads
- PEP or PUPP: why these letters may affect you
Tip of the week from our community
“I get so ratty and ranty. My back is just going to break and my hips are going to crumble and I'm going to die from heartburn (what a drama queen, eh?) But feeling my little baby kicking around in there makes it all so worthwhile. I think it's important to try not to worry about the weeks ahead. Although I wouldn't mind if they just hurried up a wee bit... ” said Donna, a member of our MadeForMums community.
Is it safe... to use crowded trains?
Yes, but best to be armed with a Baby on Board badge and wear it proudly. If no one jumps up and offers you their seat (shame on them), rub your lovely round tummy and sigh.
If that doesn't work, you're going to have to ask someone. It might not be the person you ask, but someone will move, we promise you.
And if you've started to get twitchy when faced with a ticket barrier, always use the extra wide buggy/luggage gate. It stays open for 30 seconds, twice as long as the normal barriers, so you don't need to worry about an unexpectedly closing barrier squishing your tummy.
Our preg recipe for week 30 - Citrus coleslaw
Why grapefruit is great for your growing baby
What’s the archetypal diet food doing as a pregnancy food of the week? Well, grapefruit’s got some serious benefits for a hungry woman with a bump (and no one’s expecting you to starve yourself of other food afterwards).
Rich in potassium and lycopene that can help regulate your blood pressure (important in later pregnancy), grapefruit can also neutralise stomach acid that could be giving you third-trimester heartburn.
And some people swear it’s brilliant for reducing water retention in our poor pregnancy cankles…
See the full recipe and get cooking...
Baby namer - what do you think of these unique names?
Bored with conventional names? Do even trendy names seem run-of-the-mill? How about these two one of a kind names?
Wylde
Wylde means untamed, out of control or wild in German. The unique name also gives a nod to Oscar Wilde — the exuberant author and playright.
Celeb baby-name-check: British model Lily Cole named her 1st daughter Wylde.
Skyler
Skyler means fugitive and is a unisex name from the Dutch word Schuyler. If you're a Breaking Bad fan, Skyler is Walter White's wife in the series.
Celeb baby-name-check: Rachel Zoe named her 1st son Skyler.
For more inspiration, take a look at our dedicated Baby Names section.