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🌳Third Trimester•Weeks 28-40
Week 30 of Pregnancy
Your baby is the size of cabbage
📏
Length
15.7 inches
⚖️
Weight
3 pounds
🍎
Size Comparison
Cabbage
👶 Baby Development
- •Lanugo (fine downy hair) is gradually disappearing from most of baby's body
- •Baby is getting noticeably plumper as fat continues accumulating
- •Bone marrow is fully in charge of producing red blood cells
- •Tiny toenails are now visible and growing
- •Head hair continues growing and may be quite long
- •Brain is developing billions of neurons with increased folding
- •Eyes can distinguish between light and dark
💭 Common Symptoms
- •Noticeable swelling (edema) in hands, feet, ankles, and possibly face
- •Intensifying backaches from carrying extra weight and shifted center of gravity
- •Leaking colostrum (early breast milk) from nipples
- •Mood swings and emotional changes as you approach motherhood
- •Strong nesting instinct urging you to clean and organize
- •Increased Braxton Hicks contractions
- •Difficulty breathing and shortness of breath
🥗 Nutrition Tips
- •Reduce sodium intake to under 2,300mg daily to minimize swelling
- •Eat calcium-rich foods (1000-1300mg daily) for final bone development
- •Include vitamin C-rich foods (85mg daily) for tissue repair and iron absorption
- •Stay hydrated with water which paradoxically helps reduce water retention
- •Eat potassium-rich foods to balance sodium
- •Include protein at every meal and snack
- •Consider smaller portions as your stomach has less space
✅ To-Do This Week
- •Elevate your feet above heart level several times daily to reduce swelling
- •Continue tracking baby's kick counts daily
- •Wash all baby clothes, blankets, and linens in gentle detergent
- •Research breastfeeding basics and consider taking a class
- •Interview lactation consultants if planning to breastfeed
- •Remove jewelry if fingers are swelling
- •Wear compression stockings to reduce leg swelling
💡
Did You Know?
Your baby's brain is developing deep grooves and wrinkles (convolutions) to maximize surface area and hold billions of brain cells! The brain will triple in weight from now until birth.