A calm and measured period began. A woman no longer needs to get up early in the morning, get to work or school, no longer need to rush. The woman meets 31 weeks of pregnancy at home, she went on maternity leave. Now I have more time for myself and preparation for the upcoming birth.
How many months is it?
The final - third trimester of pregnancy continues. 30-31 obstetric weeks correspond to 7 obstetric months and 3 weeks. In the usual calendar terms, 7 months have passed. According to Negale's rule, gestation is calculated in lunar months. In each of them - 28 days or 4 weeks exactly.
31 weeks is 29 weeks from conception and 27 weeks from the first day of missed periods. Labor can theoretically occur at any time, but there are still about 9 weeks left until the expected day of birth.
The date in the exchange card of the expectant mother does not at all mean that the birth will happen on that day. Only 5% of babies are born in the PDR, the rest choose a different time for themselves - before or after the specified date.
Feelings of a woman
By the 31st week, a woman has time to feel not only all the delights of pregnancy, but all its hardships. There is no longer the former ease, simple everyday tasks are given with great difficulty. A woman gets tired faster, she can be tormented by various pains. All systems of the body begin to “tune in” to a speedy birth, and everything that happens to the baby and mother at this time is somehow connected with this early preparation.
Stirring fetus
The beginning of the 31st week is usually marked by a decrease in the motor activity of the baby. The child becomes cramped, there is less and less free space in the uterus, now, without any special problems, only movements of the head and limbs are given to the baby. Complete coups are already limited by the walls of the uterus, they are almost impossible.
At the same time, the movements become stronger, the woman sometimes feels painful kicks and pokes. If the baby is in the breech position, movements are more often felt in the lower abdomen, and women already easily determine where the baby's head is, where is the priest, where are the legs and arms.
The kid obeys his daily routine. Of course, he spends most of the day in a dream. The periods of wakefulness may not coincide with those of the mother. Perturbations have long ceased to be ordinary movements, now it is the language of communication between mother and her child. The baby begins to move more actively if he does not have enough oxygen and nutrition, if his mother has taken an uncomfortable position. Often babies "knock" on their mother's palm, which is specially placed on the stomach. By the nature of the movements, the mother guesses about the well-being of her baby.
The kid shows high meteosensitivity. On clear days, it is more active than on cloudy and rainy days. He is also directly influenced by mom's emotions. If a woman is happy, she is happy, the baby receives the hormone of joy and becomes more active. If a woman is sad, worried, in a state of stress, the baby receives stress hormones and decreases activity.
Despite the cramped living conditions, the baby still continues to demonstrate its character. A child who is mobile and curious moves in the womb more often and stronger than a calm one who prefers to sleep.
All these factors should be taken into account by a woman when calculating movements, which at 31 weeks she should do daily.
How to count movements?
At 31 weeks, data on fetal movements are recommended to be entered into a special table, which is given in the antenatal clinic. If not given, you can draw it yourself or download and print it.
Counting movements is necessary in order to add up the most complete picture of the baby's condition, because any trouble immediately affects his physical activity.
Often women, when counting, make a gross mistake, considering each movement to be separate. Before proceeding with the calculations, it is necessary to remember that one movement is both a single movement and a whole series of movements. If the baby turned over, and then "kicked" the mother with the heel, this is one movement. If the baby just "kicked" the mother, and this was not followed by another movement, then this, too, is one movement.
Any of the existing methods can be used for counting. The most popular is Pearson's method, which is popularly called "Count to ten". Counting starts at 8 or 9 am. As soon as the woman mentally fixes the tenth movement, she marks the time at which it happened in the table, and does not return to counting until the end of the day. If before 21 o'clock, if the counting began at 9 am, or until 8 pm, if the woman started counting at 8 am, the baby will demonstrate 10 movements, everything is fine with him.
Cardiff Method also quite widespread among pregnant women. It differs from Pearson only in that the woman herself chooses when to count the movements. If her fetus is more active at night, she may well count movements at night, the main thing is that in 12 hours the baby also shows 10 movements.
Less common Sadowsky's method. But it can also be used - both separately and in addition to the Pearson or Cardiff method. A woman should record movements after eating. If, after a delicious dinner for an hour, the baby pushed 4 times or more, there is no reason to worry.
Counting movements allows a woman to quickly know that the baby is experiencing difficulties. For example, if the umbilical cord is entwined around the neck, the Rh conflict has entered the active stage, pathologies of the placenta have arisen, the baby may be at risk of hypoxia. Oxygen starvation is a dangerous irreversible process in the brain: a lack of oxygen injures the nervous system of the fetus. Hypoxia is a common cause of intrauterine fetal death.
If your baby is sharply activated, his movements become chaotic, frequent, painful and restless, the initial stage of hypoxia is not excluded. With severe and prolonged hypoxia, children, on the contrary, reduce physical activity in order to "save" oxygen. A woman may not count the required number of movements.
In case of deviation from the norm in one direction or another, a woman must definitely inform her attending physician about this. At this time, his diagnostic capabilities are wider - now he can prescribe CTG (cardiotocography) in addition to ultrasound with Doppler, which will determine the rate of blood flow in the uterine vessels.
In case of hypoxia, which poses a threat to the life and health of the baby, early delivery may be recommended by performing a cesarean section.
The mood of the expectant mother
The mood of a pregnant woman at 31 weeks becomes hormone dependent again. If in the early stages progesterone "dictated" changes in the psychological state, now estrogens influence the woman's psyche. The closer to the date of birth, the more of these hormones are produced in the body. They contribute to increased anxiety and suspiciousness, the emergence of fears.
Most often women this week complain of fear of childbirth. He can be so strong that a woman cannot think of anything else. It would seem that you need to rejoice at a quick meeting with the baby, but the woman is not happy about anything, and the more she reads materials about how childbirth proceeds, the stronger this fear becomes.
This fear is considered normal, and psychologists recommend that pregnant women learn to cope with it, so as not to overshadow the last months of pregnancy, neither for themselves, nor for the child, who already subtly feels the swings of mother's mood. In addition to the fear of possible pain, women are at a loss for the child's condition. Even if the ultrasound did not show any abnormalities, every expectant mother from time to time has the idea that she can give birth to a sick baby.
In addition, women in the third trimester are worried about their relationship with their husband, because there is almost nothing left of the waist, and clumsiness and weight gain do not contribute to active and easy sex. Women are afraid to give birth ahead of time, not to get to the hospital, they are afraid that they will have a cesarean section. All fears can and should be fought.
Psychologists recommend not reading about complications and difficulties during childbirth, stop communicating with people who talk about their own or someone else's negative experience of childbirth. Instead, it's better to focus on the enjoyable - buying baby clothes, toys, strollers and cots. And specialists will help prepare for childbirth without unnecessary nerves in courses for pregnant women, where it's time to sign up, if this has not been done earlier. There she will teach you how to breathe and push, tell you about the first signs of labor.
If at 31 weeks a woman cannot cope with her emotions, she is seized with anger, she is excessively tearful, you can consult with a psychologist who accepts free of charge in any antenatal clinic.
Pain
Mild pain is considered completely normal for this period, because the uterus has become large, the ligamentous apparatus is stretched, the load on the spine, muscles, and lower extremities is increased. Such pains do not indicate the beginning of childbirth and you just need to come to terms with them, because now they are unlikely to leave the woman until the very moment the baby is born.
The following symptoms indicate the onset of preterm labor at 31 weeks:
- cramping pains in the lower abdomen, increasing over time, recurring at regular intervals;
- outpouring of amniotic fluid;
- the appearance of bloody discharge from the genitals.
All other pains are considered physiological and should not greatly disturb a woman. The displaced center of gravity due to the large abdomen causes tension in the ligaments, muscles and the lumbar spine. As a result, the back hurts, pulls the lower back. The longer a woman is forced to stay upright, the worse the pain becomes. But they are not acute, rather they can be described as dull and aching.
In the body of a pregnant woman, relaxin began to be produced several weeks ago. This hormone relaxes and softens the ligaments and bones of the pelvis. This is how the pelvis prepares for childbirth. These processes lead to the fact that the pubic bone hurts.
Unpleasant sensations will have to endure. But if the pain in the perineum becomes acute and unbearable, if it hurts so badly between the legs that a woman cannot sit and stand, walk, climb stairs and roll over from side to side, be sure to consult a doctor. This is how symphysitis is a dangerous complication, first of all, because natural childbirth can lead to a woman's disability. Often, with an established symphysitis, a cesarean section is performed.
Night cramps in the legs are a consequence of a lack of calcium in the maternal body. The baby's skeleton continues to grow, the bones are strengthened. For the same reason, a woman's nails can become brittle. If a tooth begins to hurt, now you can go to the dentist's appointment: most pain relievers are already allowed. However, the treatment is complicated by the inability to take an x-ray of the tooth.
Aches in the knees and ankles at 31 weeks are a natural consequence of significant weight gain.
Headaches are associated with a large load on the blood vessels and the heart, as well as with changes in blood pressure.
If your head hurts severely and often, you should definitely consult a doctor, because hypertension, like hypotension, is not the best companions for pregnancy in its third trimester.
The nature of the discharge
Discharge from the genitals is a special, delicate topic of conversation. At 31 weeks, there may be more of them, and there will be nothing pathological in this. Under the influence of estrogens, the vaginal secretion becomes more liquid, abundant, but normally it remains light or slightly yellowish, odorless or has a weak fermented milk smell.
If the amount of discharge worries a woman, you can use thin daily sanitary pads. It is strictly forbidden for pregnant women to use tampons, after all, the vaginal secretion should come out, and not accumulate in the genital tract.
If the discharge has changed and become white and thick, there is an itching in the perineum, the woman must consult a doctor - thrush, although it is a frequent ailment during pregnancy, must be completely treated by the time of childbirth.
Bloody discharge may indicate the onset of premature labor, placental abruption. You can't hesitate, you should immediately call an ambulance.
Green or greyish-dirty discharge with an unpleasant fishy odor is a sign of a bacterial infection. If a watery discharge appears, water may have come off. It is difficult to confuse the complete drainage of waters with anything else, but their partial leakage can go unnoticed for a long time.
Changes in the body
Sometimes a woman at 31 weeks may think that her stomach has nowhere to grow further, but this feeling is subjective and erroneous. The belly continues to grow. The woman's gait becomes heavy. It is difficult for her to put on her shoes on her own, it is almost impossible to bend down to pick something off the floor.
Uterus growth
The uterus has grown to the size of a large basketball. The height of the fundus of the uterus at 31 weeks is in the range of 29-32 centimeters.
The length of the cervix is normally more than 30 mm. A short cervix may indicate the threat of premature birth, because the baby is already heavy and presses on the cervix with all its weight from the inside.
A shortened cervix at this time requires constant monitoring. If earlier a woman had surgical sutures or an obstetric pessary, then she needs to visit a doctor once a week in order to notice in time possible signs of early cervical dilatation. Some are shown hospital stay.
From this time on, the uterus will somewhat slow down its growth rate. Now the baby is actively growing, it occupies almost the entire internal space of the uterus. Closer to childbirth, the height of its bottom will begin to decrease altogether, because the baby will begin to go down, take a "pre-launch" position, pressing its head tightly against the exit from the small pelvis.
Above the navel line, the uterus at 31 weeks rises by almost 11 centimeters. From the pubic symphysis to the upper edge of the uterus - more than 30 centimeters. The uterus weighs about 700 grams. It becomes difficult for a woman to breathe, she constantly lacks air, because the reproductive organ squeezes the diaphragm.
Shortness of breath and dizziness that occur with little physical activity are considered completely normal for this period.
The internal organs of the woman are compressed and displaced. The uterus presses on the stomach, which is why a woman often has heartburn. Compression of the gallbladder leads to a violation of the outflow of bile and diarrhea, nausea.
Bowel loops, displaced back and compressed by the uterus, cause constipation and increased gas production. Pressure from the uterus on the bladder causes frequent urination. At 31 weeks, there may be unpleasant "surprises" - coughing or sneezing, laughter can cause a woman to involuntarily leak urine.
At a scheduled appointment, the doctor necessarily measures the height of the uterine fundus and the distance between the pelvic bones with a measuring tape. If the uterus grows at a slower rate, the doctor may suspect intrauterine growth retardation. An advance of the VSDM is a sign of a large fruit, as well as polyhydramnios.
Weight gain
Weight gain by 31 weeks averages 11-13 kilograms. And this weight is made up of the mass of the mammary glands, uterus, fetus, placenta, amniotic fluid, as well as the increased amount of blood in the woman's body.
The increase can be more or less. It all depends on what kind of life a woman leads, how she eats, as well as what her complexion was before pregnancy.
- By the 31st week, thin girls who had a low body weight can gain up to 12.3 kilograms.
- Women with a normal physique and no problems with excess weight - up to 10.5 kilograms.
- Women who had extra pounds or were obese to one degree or another - no more than 7 kilograms. Weight gain is considered normal within 400 grams per week.
Excess weight complicates the process of childbirth and does not contribute to quick recovery after them. All women know how difficult it is to get rid of those extra pounds afterwards. But the most dangerous are not exceeding the weight norm, but its sharp jumps - by a kilogram per week or more. They can be a sign of developing gestosis - late toxicosis.
The disease often develops in pregnant women with the first child, in women over 35 years old, with multiple pregnancies, but this complication is not uncommon in other women as well. If the edema is external, then the woman herself notices them. But the most dangerous are internal edema. They are sometimes manifested by jumps in weight.
If you don't have a bathroom scale in your home yet, it's time to get one. You do not need to weigh yourself every day; it will be quite enough to weigh yourself once a week on the same day, for example, on Thursday or Tuesday.
Weighing will also take place in the doctor's office at each scheduled appointment. If your data differs from the readings of the scales in the gynecologist's office, take your notes with you to the appointment to show them to the doctor.
Training contractions
Most women have training contractions at 31 weeks. They are manifested by a slight tone of the uterus, the woman feels that she is pulling the lower back, lower abdomen. Such contractions in some pregnant women happen once a week, in others every day. There are women who experience false contractions often, and there are those who do not experience them at all.
No one will answer the question of how many training fights should be normal during this period, because there are no norms in relation to them. They do not affect the dilatation of the cervix, do not bring the day of childbirth in any way, and they are called training ones rather conditionally.
The very fact of training the muscles of the uterus has not been proven, because in women who have not experienced a single training contraction during pregnancy, they give birth in no other way to those in whom false contractions occurred constantly.
Another common question is how long before childbirth such contractions appear. In primiparous women, false contractions appear earlier than in mothers with experience and experience. In pregnant women with a second or third baby, training contractions most often start for the first time shortly before childbirth - a few days or even hours.
Other changes
The breast of a woman who is 31 weeks pregnant is impressive in size and shape. A bluish mesh of blood vessels may appear on it. The breasts look full and colostrum may start to flow from the nipples. This nutrient fluid precedes the production of breast milk.
Women who have previously breastfed may have more colostrum due to weak nipples and dilated ducts. Right now, you need to pay special attention to nipple hygiene - rinse the mammary glands with warm water two or three times a day, do not squeeze out colostrum. If you are worried about leaks, you need to use special pads for the bra, which will prevent stains on clothes and underwear.
Pigmented spots on the skin, if they appeared earlier, persist and will not disappear anywhere until the postpartum period. But new spots will not form at this time. Nevertheless, a woman should be less likely to be in open sunlight, because her skin is now extremely sensitive to the effects of ultraviolet radiation.
The likelihood of an allergic reaction increases, and therefore you should not use new cosmetics, unverified brands.
A woman can pay attention to the fact that her vision is slightly reduced. This is a natural consequence of changes in blood pressure in the intraocular vessels. It is not necessary to treat such myopia, it is considered physiological and goes away on its own after childbirth.
Most women emphasize that insomnia begins to torment them at 31 weeks. It is very difficult to choose a comfortable position for a night's sleep, because among all the variety of positions a woman has a poor choice - either the right side or the left.
Fetal development
A baby at 31 weeks pregnant looks well-formed and ready for birth. Of course, he is still thinner than full-term babies, but overall he looks very much like a newborn.
In size, the crumb resembles a large melon. Its height is now in the range of 40-42 centimeters, and its weight is up to 1600-1800 grams. Boys are slightly heavier than girls.
In appearance, hereditary traits are already well traced: the baby can be tall or short, plump or thin.
The position of the fetus at 31 weeks of gestation is in most cases what it will be at the time of delivery. If the baby is now sitting on the priest in a breech presentation or is across the uterus in a transverse presentation, the doctor will advise the pregnant woman special gymnastics and standing in the knee-elbow position so that the baby has a chance to turn around correctly. This possibility still exists, but it is small. If the baby does not turn around, then a planned cesarean section will be prescribed 1-2 weeks before the expected date of birth.
The overwhelming majority of babies are now in the correct position - the head. Their head is still high above the entrance to the small pelvis, if the head starts to descend at 31 weeks, doctors speak of a high probability of premature birth.
Appearance
The kid was no longer red. His skin has taken on a delicate pink hue. The skin became denser, a layer of subcutaneous fat appeared. There is still not so much of it as is needed so that the baby's body can independently keep warm in conditions outside the mother's womb, but not so little that the baby looks like a thin "goner".
The skin is smoothed out, and all the folds and wrinkles that made the baby look like a wrinkled old man gradually disappear. Quite cute and chubby cheeks appear, legs and arms have recovered, a tummy is growing and there is already a small butt.
If the baby is destined to be born a burning brunette or brown-haired, now his hair begins to darken, a pigment is formed that dyes it. Eyelashes and eyebrows have grown, all facial features have fully formed.
If the baby is destined to be born with dimples on the cheeks, then, believe me, they already exist. The auricles become harder and almost stop sticking out. However, the cartilage is still quite soft. If the baby is now born, it is by the degree of softening of the ears that the doctors will judge the degree of his prematurity and immaturity.
The pose in which the baby is now is the only possible one. Considering that he felt cramped in the uterus, he took a flexion position, pulled his legs to his tummy, brought his arms to his stomach, and his chin to his chest. This position allows the baby to "save" space in the uterus. The proportions of the body are leveled, the head has an almost regular shape, the legs are longer than the arms. At 31 weeks, the process of getting rid of lanugo - blond hair that covers the entire body and holds the original lubricant - is in full swing.
The lubricant itself also becomes less. Soon it will remain only where mechanical rubbing is possible: in the groin, under the armpits, in the elbow folds on the arms, in the popliteal ones - on the legs and under the chin.
If you look at a baby on a three-dimensional or four-dimensional ultrasound, then at the 31st week of pregnancy it will be possible to say with great accuracy who he looks like, besides, the baby will definitely show a lot: he already knows a lot.
Development of the nervous system
The process of differentiation of the cerebral cortex at 31 weeks comes to an end. The grooves and convolutions of the cortex are practically formed. Now the processes of formation of nerve connections are in the first place.
The electrical potentials of the brain at week 31 are not only recorded, but also become quite regular.
About a quarter of a million neurons are produced per minute, and each of these nerve cells has its own application. Neurons underlie all the processes that take place in the nervous system, at the basis of all reflexes that the baby has already acquired and is acquiring these days.
The baby has sucking and swallowing reflexes, a grasping reflex is developed, he can react to touching the skin, is repelled by his legs from obstacles. By the 31st week, the respiratory reflex is almost formed, the baby's chest makes breathing movements, although there is no full breathing yet.
The eyes distinguish between light and darkness, the baby knows how to squint, blink, he has a reflex photosensitivity. The brain takes control not only of the motor functions of the baby's body, but also of his senses.
The kid reacts to loud sounds from the outside. The baby is already accustomed to internal sounds (mother's heartbeat, breathing, etc.), but the external sounds that reach him scare him.
Internal organs
The internal organs of the baby are fully formed and now they only grow and increase in size. The most developed is the small heart, it began to work one of the first as early as 5-6 weeks of pregnancy and now provides all the organs and systems of the baby with blood, pumping more than 20 liters of blood per day.
About half a liter of urine per day is produced by the kidneys of the child. The digestive organs have practically "rehearsed" the interaction. The intestine is regularly contracting, villi have appeared in it, the accumulation of the original feces "meconium" continues, which consists of lanugo particles, epithelial cells and impurities of bile, which enters the intestines. Due to her, meconium has a dark green, almost black color.
Maturation of lung tissue continues. Small, hollow alveolar bubbles accumulate surfactant. This substance after the birth of the baby will not allow the alveoli to stick together and will provide the ability to breathe on their own. An insufficient amount of surfactant after birth can cause the development of acute respiratory failure and the death of the child.
Viability
Babies born at 31 weeks survive overwhelmingly. They are already quite viable, although they cannot boast of great weight and height at birth. A baby who is born at the 31st week of pregnancy will definitely need the help of doctors.
A premature baby cannot effectively retain heat and often has trouble breathing spontaneously. That is why such babies are placed in resuscitation incubators, in which there is oxygen supply, feeding through a tube, and also the required temperature and humidity are maintained.
The task of doctors is to help the baby grow up to 2 kilograms. A child with such a weight no longer causes concern among doctors, he retains heat well, eats, breathes. After this succeeds, the woman will be discharged home under the supervision of a local pediatrician and neurologist, because premature babies often have problems with the nervous system.
Kid on ultrasound
A planned third ultrasound is usually scheduled for 32-34 weeks, and there is still time before it. There is no compulsory ultrasound examination at 31 weeks, but it can be prescribed for a woman with a severe obstetric history, isthmic-cervical insufficiency, and risks of premature birth. In all other cases, an ultrasound scan can be performed at the discretion of the expectant mother in any clinic that provides such diagnostic services.
If a woman wants to find out or clarify the sex of the baby, then no one can vouch for the accuracy of the "prediction" at this time. The position in which the baby is now makes it difficult to see his genitals. That is why it is believed that the best time to determine gender is the second trimester.
In addition to assessing the thickness of the placenta, the index of amniotic fluid, the number of vessels in the umbilical cord, fetometry is of great diagnostic importance. It is by the length of the bones, the size of the head and abdomen that the doctor concludes that his development is in line with the timing.
Fetometry rates of the fetus at 30-31 weeks of gestation
The baby's internal organs are well visualized, the doctor can examine each and draw conclusions regarding the absence or presence of malformations.
Dangers and risks
The likelihood of having a premature birth at 31 weeks is estimated at about 7%. It is higher in those women who expose themselves to physical exertion, are under severe stress, smoke and drink alcohol.
The risk of having a baby ahead of schedule is higher in those who carry twins or triplets, as well as in pregnant women over 35 years old. To reduce the tone of the uterus, a woman is prescribed "No-Shpu" or "Papaverine". Both of these antispasmodics reduce the tone of the smooth muscles of the uterus.
Another danger of 31 weeks of pregnancy is reduced immunity. From the very beginning of pregnancy, a woman's immunity is suppressed so that the embryo has the opportunity to develop and grow in the mother's womb. By the 31st week, the natural defense of the female body is so weakened that any virus and bacteria pose a very real danger to her.
If a woman now falls ill with the flu or ARVI, chickenpox or other infection, this will not cause much harm to the child: it is protected by maternal immunity. He has already begun to develop his own immune defense, although it is still very weak.
The placenta is a barrier. But it is she who can suffer in case of high temperature. Therefore, the treatment of a cold or viral infection, a runny nose or a sore throat must necessarily be under the supervision of a doctor. Self-medication is now more dangerous than the disease itself.
At the 31st week of pregnancy, due to the heavy load on the lower limbs and the pressure of the uterus on the vena cava, circulatory disorders may occur, which lead to the development of varicose veins and hemorrhoids. These unpleasant ailments should also be treated only with the means approved by the doctor. Many venotonics and hemorrhoid remedies are sold in pharmacies, but not all of them are indicated for pregnant women.
Analyzes and examinations
At 31 weeks of gestation, most women undergo CTG for the first time. Cardiotocography is done in the antenatal clinic. Two sensors, attached to the belly of the expectant mother, for a certain period of time (at least half an hour) record the baby's movements, the tone of the uterus and the baby's heartbeat.
The results obtained allow us to draw conclusions about the condition of the baby and his well-being. If the pregnancy is difficult, the doctor may perform CTG from this week every week or every two weeks. The number of examinations is individual.
If a scheduled appointment is scheduled for the current week, then the woman must undergo a general urine test. Protein in the urine at this time may indicate the development of gestosis. A blood test at 31 weeks is not prescribed, since his expectant mother took him a week earlier when drawing up documents for maternity leave. If a woman's hemoglobin is normal, her glucose level is not exceeded, she will take the next blood test before giving birth.
Recommendations for the expectant mother
Recommendations at 31 weeks remain standard: a woman is shown walks in the fresh air, a balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals, weight gain control, a moderately active lifestyle. Separately, the following useful tips can be noted.
- Wear a supportive orthopedic prenatal brace. It will help reduce stress on the spine, back muscles, lower back and legs.
- If your legs and arms are swollen, reduce the amount of salt in your diet, do not drink a lot of fluids just before bed.
- Sex is not contraindicated unless the doctor has a different opinion on this matter. Orgasm helps prepare the muscles of the uterus for childbirth, and male sperm contains prostaglandins, which help the cervix to mature. Sex should be gentle and positions should be safe.
- A flight at 31 weeks pregnant is possible, but a woman should definitely discuss her travel plans with a doctor. From him you need to take a certificate with the stamp of a medical institution: it is required by all airlines after 28 weeks of pregnancy.
- To quickly cope with a headache, a woman needs to lie down and rest in a darkened room that is well ventilated. Sleep with a special pregnancy pillow can help reduce nighttime pubic pain.
- Itching in the thighs, abdomen, chest is a sign of skin overstretching. If your stomach and hips itch at 31 weeks, your navel hurts, you can use warm vegetable oil. It is rubbed with gentle movements into the itchy areas after taking a shower.
- You should not neglect the opportunity to attend courses for expectant mothers, they work at every antenatal clinic. You can also do this with your spouse: it will also be useful for the future father to learn how to care for a newborn and how to help his wife in the early postpartum period.
Reviews of pregnant women
At the 31st week of pregnancy, many expectant mothers think about losing weight if it is overweight.
From this time on, you can arrange a fasting day, during which a woman will only take cottage cheese, fermented milk products or buckwheat porridge without butter and milk.
Many people this week are complaining about their lack of appetite. This mainly affects women who are carrying large babies, because the uterus strongly compresses the digestive organs and causes indigestion symptoms.
Many this week continue to buy children's things and toys: this sets women in a positive mood and allows them to think about good things. There are more and more women who do not consider the early acquisition of a child's dowry a bad omen.
Expectant mothers note that at 31 weeks the state of health improves slightly, and they associate this with going on maternity leave and the opportunity to have more rest and do what they want.
About what happens to the fetus and the expectant mother at the 31st week of pregnancy, see the next video.
