What to expect at 31 weeks pregnant? Starting with week 31, your baby is heading into a growth spurt! Can you imagine that you’re just 9 weeks away from delivery? Your tiny human is gaining weight at a faster pace than he lengthens, and soon he’ll have those adorable chubby cheeks that you’ll absolutely love kissing. He’s around 14 to 16 inches long (head to heels), and weighs between 2 to 3 pounds (growing rates vary). Soon, he’ll run out of room as he piles on fat, and all his kicks and somersaults will radiate through your belly! The excitement will grow as D-day approaches. Below you’ll find what you need to know about week 31 of pregnancy.
Pregnancy Symptoms at 31 Weeks
How big is a baby at 31 weeks? Your little one is bigger than he was last week and baby's the size of a pomelo — he now measures 14 to 16 inches long (head to heels), and weighs between 2 to 3 pounds. As fat accumulates under his skin, his body is starting to plump out and look chubbier. His arms and legs are in proportion with the rest of his body, which now has the appearance of a tinier newborn. The bone marrow is now producing red blood cells — a job that his small liver was responsible for up until this point.
His organs are still in the process of fine-tuning, including his bladder, which is now passing water through it. As his eyesight improves, your baby knows when it’s dark and when it’s light, and can even turn his head in response to light. His aerobics inside your womb are probably making it difficult for you to sleep — but the good part is that all these movements show that your baby is healthy and active. Your care provider or midwife has probably suggested you to keep a “kick chart” — basically, a chart that lists down how many kicks you feel in an hour. This is helpful for spotting changes in your baby’s activity — for example, a decrease in kicking means your baby doesn’t have enough energy.