What is going on with your baby during week 31?

Changes in you at this stage Week 31

• With heavier breasts start wearing a well-fitting bra night and day - good support will make you feel more comfortable.
• The extra inches and shift in gravity can make you more clumsy and prone to falls and knocks.
• Puffy face and limbs are considered normal if you do not have protein in your urine and your blood pressure is normal.

Good to Know in Week 31

• According to scientists music does have a calming effect on babies. Music mixed with womb sounds are the best - the whooshing blood and mother's heartbeat soothes fussy babies.

Myths about predicting Baby's Gender

• Ultrasound can always predict the baby's sex.
• If the woman is on top when the baby is conceived, it is a boy.
• If a pregnant woman gains weight in the face, it is a girl baby.
• A round belly means the baby is girl.
• A moody pregnant woman means she is carrying a girl child.
• If the fetal heart rate is fast means the baby is girl.
• If a locket dangled over a pregnant belly swings back and forth the baby is boy.
• Pink Drano means the pregnant woman is carrying a girl.

Wholesome Advice in Week 31

• Try sitting cross-legged when you can. Remember to keep your back straight. There are several situations where you may be prescribed bed rest such as pregnancy-induced hypertension, preeclampsia, or preterm labor. Find out from your health care provider on all there is know if you have to be in such a situation.

Your actions can impact your baby's growth at this stage

If you have Diarrhea

• During pregnancy your body is more reactive to toxins in foods and does its best to expel food as quickly as possibly to keep harmful stuff out.
• Mild diarrhea is nothing to worry about - it should go away after the offending stuff has been expelled
• Food poisoning and serious cramp and diarrhea can be dangerous because they cause your body to lose precious fluids bringing about electrolyte imbalance in your system.
• Your body is robbed of valuable nutrients.
• In the worst case scenario dehydration can cause the mother to have premature contractions
• If diarrhea doesn't go away after 24 hours contact your doctor. If you feel cramping and abdominal pain that you feel is not gas related, alert your doctor.

The Gassy and Bloated feeling

• With pregnancy your digestive tract tends to slow down to allow your body to absorb as much nutrition from your food.
• Your stomach enzyme takes its own time to process whatever you eat.
• This slowdown causes you to burp more, feel bloated and gassy.
• It is important to know what foods are causing you the problem; milk products can be a problem if you are lactose-intolerant. Certain vegetables are gassier than others. Eliminate or reduce its intake and seek other substitutes to balance things out.
• As your pregnancy advances, your growing uterus will put pressure on your stomach which will further slow down digestion making you feel more bloated and gassy.
• Check with your doctor on what OTC medications are safe to take.
• If your gassy feeling is more akin to abdominal pain or cramping or if there is blood in your stool, severe diarrhea or constipation or excess vomiting call your doctor right away.

Common Concerns in in Week 31

Will my lack of sleep harm my baby?

• Your baby can sleep when you are wide awake; your baby sleeps independently of you. Babies aren't bothered by the same sounds that keep their mothers awake - layers of skin and muscles and the amniotic fluid keeps baby insulated from external sounds and disturbances.
• However that doesn't mean that baby is cut off from the outside world. Loud sounds or sudden jerks can wake him and the mother may feel a sudden punch or kick as a result.
• Your baby's health is at risk if your lack of sleep affects your ability to function e.g. exhaustion causing the mother to suddenly fall

Weekly Nutrition advice in Week 31

• Your blood volume is increasing still so you need to be good with your iron and vitamin C intake.
• Your weight gain is higher now than at any other time of your pregnancy. Your body is preparing itself for breast-feeding.
• It is important to take in the right kinds of fat i.e. polyunsaturated - to obtain the essential fatty acids. Baby's brain is growing faster than ever. The brain cells are increasing at a rate of 100,000 cells a minute! 70% of the calories your baby receives are used for brain growth.
• When your baby is born, its brain weighs about 350g of which 60% is fat (20% of this is a long chain of polyunsaturated fatty acids or LCPs).
• There is evidence that DHA (an active form of Omega 3) help prevent pregnancy induced hypertension, reduce the likelihood of premature birth, increases a baby's birth weight, improves its IQ, visual and cognitive brain function and protects against heart disease.

ESSENTIAL DIETARY NUTRIENTS

Nutrient	Mother	Baby
Vitamin A This is a powerful antioxidant	For production of hormones for lactation and good immunity	For maintaining healthy mucous membranes
B Vitamins This is needed in increased amounts	B1 for energy production, B6 for protein metabolism, folate to make DNA and with B12 to make red blood cells	B1 for energy production
Vitamin E This is a powerful antioxidant	Speeds up wound healing, increases skin suppleness, may strengthen uterine muscles	For development of nervous system and heart
Other Vitamins K is developed naturally in the gut but not in baby's so may given orally at birth	C for iron absorption, hormone production and resistance to infection. K for blood clotting	K for blood clotting
Calcium Fetus takes up at a rate of 350mg a day	For prevention of preeclampsia and raised BP; (with vitamin D to ease labor pains)	For development of bones and teeth
Zinc Boys take five times as much zinc as girls; deficiency is linked to undescended testicles	For hormonal balance; may help prevent stretch marks	For development and growth of reproductive system
Other minerals Iron intake must be kept high because it takes 6 weeks to build up supplies	Iron for manufacture of red blood cells (vitamins C, B6, B12 and folate improve absorption)	Selenium for brain development, phosphorus for bone development