Pregnancy at week 31
4-minute read
Your baby
Your baby now weighs about 1.5kg. Their brain is developing, sending lots of messages to the body. Their eyes are open and they can focus. They can hear sounds outside the womb, and a loud noise might make them startle.
Their lungs are maturing but they still can’t make surfactant, the substance they need to breathe on their own.
Your baby at 31 weeks
| Length: | 27.5cm (head to bottom) |
| Weight: | 1.5kg |
Your body
Many women find they get more emotional in the third trimester. If you’re feeling sad, it might be because of your hormones, because you’re not getting a good night’s sleep, or because the thought of becoming a parent can stir up deep emotions.
It’s normal to feel tired and to lack energy at this stage. Anxiety and depression are common during pregnancy and after the birth, and it’s important to seek help. If you feel very emotional and stressed, have a chat to your doctor or midwife, or you can contact Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia (PANDA) on 1300 726 306 or beyondblue on 1300 22 4636.
You might notice your breasts are leaking more as the birth approaches. This is normal. You can buy breast pads from a supermarket or pharmacy to help you feel more comfortable.
Things to remember
It’s a good idea to organise a car restraint for your baby now. By law in Australia, babies under 6 months must have a properly fastened, rear-facing child restraint with an inbuilt harness.
Your car will need to have the correct anchorage points and have enough room to fit the child restraint properly. It’s best to have the restraint professionally fitted, and you will need to book this in.
If you’re buying a restraint, make sure it meets Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 1754 (this will be on the packaging or the seat itself). Alternatively, you can hire a restraint from your local council, private company or ambulance service.
All this can take a while to organise, so it’s a good idea to do it soon in case the baby comes early.
Read next
Your pregnancy at 32 weeks
Learn about your pregnancy journey and what is happening to you and your baby.
Speak to a maternal child health nurse
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Last reviewed: August 2020
