Baby is the size of a pineapple
👶 Baby's development
All 5 senses are working. The baby can dream — REM eye movements have been recorded.
💛 How mom feels
Maternity leave is soon! Book a hospital tour. Prepare your maternity documentation.
📖 Tip of the week
All five senses are functioning. Space in the uterus is decreasing — movements feel different, more jabbing. If the baby's activity suddenly decreases, contact your doctor immediately.
🔬 Detailed baby development
- The fetus's five senses are all functional — sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch
- Brain connections (synapses) are forming at an enormous rate, processing sensory information
- The irises can now dilate and constrict in response to light
- The fetus may settle into a head-down position (vertex presentation), though it may still turn
- Fingernails have grown to the tips of the fingers
- The fetus is about 41.1 cm long and weighs approximately 1,500 grams, roughly the size of a coconut
🤱 What mom may feel
- Leaking urine when coughing, sneezing, or laughing (stress incontinence)
- Braxton Hicks contractions become more frequent
- Backaches and hip pain intensify
- Shortness of breath continues — your lungs have less room to expand
- Trouble finding a comfortable position while sitting or lying down
🏥 Tests and check-ups
Biweekly prenatal check-up with standard measurements. If you have gestational diabetes, blood sugar monitoring and dietary management continue. Your provider may begin checking fetal position (head down, breech, transverse) at each visit.
💡 Tips for this week
- Practice pelvic floor exercises (Kegels) daily to help with stress incontinence
- Use a belly support band during the day for additional back and belly support
- Start preparing freezer meals for after the baby arrives
- Discuss your birth preferences with your partner and healthcare provider in detail
❓ Frequently asked questions
Is it normal to leak urine?
Stress incontinence is very common in late pregnancy due to the baby's weight pressing on the bladder and pelvic floor muscles stretching. Kegel exercises can help strengthen these muscles. This usually improves after delivery.
What if the baby is not head-down yet?
Many babies settle into a head-down position between 32-36 weeks. If your baby is breech closer to delivery, your provider may suggest exercises to encourage turning or discuss an external cephalic version (ECV) procedure.
What should be in my freezer meals?
Prepare nutrient-rich, easy-to-reheat meals like soups, stews, casseroles, burritos, and pasta sauces. Focus on protein and vegetable-rich options. Having meals ready will be invaluable during the postpartum period.
📝 Week 31 of pregnancy: preparing for birth
At 31 weeks, your baby weighs roughly 1.6 kg and measures about 41 cm — the size of a large coconut. All five senses are now functioning: your baby can taste the amniotic fluid (which is flavoured by what you eat), hear your voice and external sounds, and respond to light. The brain is producing billions of neurons and the connections between them are multiplying rapidly. Your baby’s immune system is also developing, with antibodies crossing the placenta to provide early protection after birth.
You may find the third trimester brings a wave of nesting instinct — a strong urge to prepare your home for the baby’s arrival, which is perfectly normal. Physical symptoms at this stage often include shortness of breath as the uterus presses against the diaphragm, though this should ease slightly at around 36 weeks when the baby engages into the pelvis. Carpal tunnel syndrome — tingling and numbness in the hands and wrists — affects many pregnant women due to fluid retention; wrist splints worn at night can help. If you experience sudden or severe swelling in the face, hands, or feet alongside headaches or visual disturbances, seek medical advice promptly as these can be signs of pre-eclampsia.
Your midwife appointment at around 31 weeks will continue to monitor your blood pressure, urine, and fundal height. Ensure your birth preferences document is drafted and discussed with your midwife or obstetrician — consider including your preferences for delayed cord clamping, skin-to-skin contact, and vitamin K for your newborn. If you are planning a water birth, confirm availability with your chosen unit. Now is also a good time to research registering your baby’s birth — in the UK, births must be registered within 42 days.
Good nutrition remains essential — focus on protein-rich foods to support your baby’s rapid growth, including eggs, pulses, lean meat, fish, and dairy. Try to stay well hydrated, aiming for 6 to 8 glasses of water per day, which also helps prevent urinary tract infections, more common in pregnancy. Gentle pelvic floor exercises (Kegel exercises) should be practised daily — they help support the weight of your growing baby and speed recovery after birth. If you are planning to breastfeed, attending a breastfeeding preparation class before the birth can significantly increase your confidence and success.
⚠️ When to see a doctor
- Vaginal bleeding
- Sudden decrease in baby movements (fewer than 10 in 2 hours)
- Severe headache or seeing spots
- Swelling of face, hands, or sudden leg swelling
- Leaking or gushing of amniotic fluid
- Regular contractions before 37 weeks (every 10 minutes)
- Fever above 38°C (100.4°F)
Sources
- WHO recommendations on antenatal care (2016)
- ACOG Practice Bulletins
- Williams Obstetrics, 26th Edition
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