Week 31: Knowing the signs

All five of your baby’s senses are working now — they can see, hear, smell, taste and feel — and they spend a good part of the day practising breathing movements. About the size of a pineapple, they’ll put on roughly 250 grams a week from here.

You might feel breathless even at rest as your uterus presses upward, and Braxton Hicks can be stronger and more frequent. A full-length pregnancy pillow can be a game-changer for sleep around now.

It’s worth knowing the signs of preterm labour, just in case: regular contractions, persistent low back pain, pelvic pressure, or any fluid leaking before 37 weeks. If you notice these, don’t wait — go straight to your hospital or call 000. It’s far better to be checked and reassured than to sit on it.

It helps to know what’s normal versus what needs a call. Stronger, more frequent Braxton Hicks, pelvic pressure and breathlessness are all par for the course now. But regular, painful contractions, a gush or trickle of fluid, any bleeding, a bad headache with vision changes or sudden swelling, or a change in your baby’s movements all warrant contacting your maternity unit promptly — don’t talk yourself out of calling. Keeping the ward’s number in your phone makes that easier.

It’s also a sensible point to make sure your hospital bag is underway and your support person knows the plan, so the practical side is sorted well before you need it. Practising relaxation now genuinely pays off, too — these are tools you can lean on in labour, and they’re worth rehearsing while things are calm.

This is also a lovely time to practise the slow breathing and relaxation you might lean on in labour, and to keep iron-rich foods on your plate to support your blood for the weeks ahead.