Fetal development at 31 weeks of pregnancy

The fetus is about 38.5cm long from head to buttocks, weighs about 1600g, the mean biparietal diameter is 8.06±0.60cm, the mean abdominal circumference is 25.78±2.32cm, and the femoral length is 6.03±0.38cm.

This week the growth rate of the fetus is not as fast as before. Some parts of it are still developing on their own, but the weight will continue to increase, just slower than before. His lungs and digestive tract have basically completed their growth and development. The baby's eyes are now beginning to change color, but the true color will not show until 6-9 months after birth. This is because the melanin in the eyes needs to be exposed to light to show its true color. The growth and development of his little brain has entered the final stage. Prenatal education is still very important. Listening to more music and chatting with the baby more can promote the growth and development of the baby's brain.

At 31 weeks of pregnancy, your weight has increased by about 8.1kg and your belly has become more prominent. The fetus grows and develops rapidly during this period, so you will find that your weight gain is also very fast, and your weight will continue to increase a lot in the next few weeks.

Now that your uterus has moved up to your diaphragm, you may find it harder to breathe, shortness of breath, and more frequent stomach bloating and pain after eating. However, after a few weeks, after the baby's head descends, this discomfort will gradually ease.

1. Chest tightness and shortness of breath: When you reach the 31st week of pregnancy, you may find it increasingly difficult to breathe and you may feel short of breath. This is because the fundus of the uterus rises to the diaphragm. This symptom will subside around 34 weeks when the fetal head descends and enters the pelvis. Don't worry too much, the difficulty is only temporary. If you find it difficult to breathe when you sleep, you may want to use a few pillows to raise your head, which may help.

2. Frequent urination and urgency: This week you may start to go to the toilet frequently like in the early stages of pregnancy. This is because the enlarged uterus is pressing on the bladder. This is a normal physiological phenomenon and you don't need to worry or treat it. Just be careful not to hold your urine. But if you experience pain when urinating or find that your urine is very turbid, you need to see a doctor, because this may be a urinary tract infection.

3. Decreased fetal movement: This week you may find that the fetus is not as naughty and active as before, and the fetal movement of the older baby is getting lower and lower. However, if you can sometimes feel his movement in your belly, you don’t need to worry too much. This is only because the fetus is getting bigger and bigger, his range of movement in the uterus has shrunk, and his hands and feet cannot be flexed and extended at will.

4. Contents of prenatal examination: The basic prenatal examination at 31 weeks of pregnancy includes blood pressure measurement, weight measurement, accurate measurement of uterine height, fetal abdominal circumference, fetal heart rate monitoring, etc. This week, you should focus on the baby's development, amniotic fluid flow, placental position, placental maturity, and whether the fetus has any deformities. You should also know whether the baby is developing properly, whether he will grow and develop prematurely, or whether his language development will be delayed.