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Pregnancy at week 30

5-minute read

Your baby

Your baby is now laying down fat stores, which makes them look plumper and smooths out the wrinkles in their skin, preparing for life outside of your uterus. The fine hair, known as lanugo, that was covering their body is now disappearing and more hair is growing on their head. By now, their toenails have developed.

Their reflexes are also developing, and they may be sucking their thumb or fingers. Sometimes this may be spotted during an ultrasound.

Remember to keep an eye on your baby’s movements. This is an important signal that they are well. At any stage of your pregnancy, if you are concerned about your baby's movements, contact your midwife or doctor immediately.

Your body

As you gain weight and your baby grows, your ligaments are stretching and you might find it quite uncomfortable to sit in some positions or stand for a long time.

Many women develop backache during the third trimester. It’s important to have good posture and do gentle exercise. You may also want to consider wearing flat shoes from now on. You can support your back with a cushion when you’re sitting and may find wearing a maternity support belt helps. Take extra care with lifting.

You have twice the normal amount of blood in your body now. Your doctor or midwife will take your blood pressure at every visit. About 1 in 10 women develops high blood pressure while they are pregnant. Many women won’t have any symptoms, which is one of the reasons it is very important to attend your routine antenatal appointments. High blood pressure can also be a sign of pre-eclampsia, which is a more serious pregnancy condition.

Things to remember

Even if you’re feeling tired and uncomfortable, it’s still important to exercise. It will give you more energy and help you to stay fit in preparation for labour and birth.

As your shape changes and your ligaments relax, your balance may be affected and you may be at higher risk of injury. In the third trimester, it’s best to choose gentle exercises like walking, swimming or stationary cycling. Try to avoid activities on your back, or high impact jumping and bouncing exercises, since these can put more strain on your pelvic floor muscles.

Try also to exercise on most days of the week — up to about 30 minutes of moderate physical activity every 7 days. Talk to your doctor about what level of exercise is safe for you.

Resources and support

Speak to your doctor, midwife or obstetrician if you have questions about your pregnancy.

Pregnancy, Birth and Baby also has more information on:

Speak to a maternal child health nurse

Call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby to speak to a maternal child health nurse on 1800 882 436 or video call. Available 7am to midnight (AET), 7 days a week.

NEXT WEEK...YOUR PREGNANCY AT WEEK 31 — Learn about your pregnancy journey and what is happening to you and your baby.

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Last reviewed: August 2023


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Third trimester

The third trimester is the last 3 months of your pregnancy – an exciting time, but with some discomforts too. Learn more about what to expect before the birth.

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You are now in the third trimester and you'll probably be feeling many of the common discomforts of pregnancy, like a sore back, swelling, heartburn or cramps.

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As at the start of your pregnancy, you’re probably feeling tired and emotional. The baby doesn't have much room to move, but you might feel them kick and roll.

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Your baby's weight gain should slow down since they are now ready to be born. You might soon start to notice the early signs of labour.

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You'll probably be having lots of Braxton Hicks contractions by now. It's your body's way of preparing for the birth. They should stop if you move position.

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Your baby should weigh about 1kg by now and as your uterus pushes against your diaphragm and lungs, you might be feeling quite breathless.

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Your baby's brain and nervous system are now fully developed, and the baby is continuing to gain weight. You'll probably also be feeling sore and tired.

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Call us and speak to a Maternal Child Health Nurse for personal advice and guidance.

Need further advice or guidance from our maternal child health nurses?

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