What's happening with your baby at 30 weeks
At 30 weeks, your baby is roughly 39–40 cm long and weighs around 1.3–1.4 kg. From here, weight gain speeds up to about half a pound a week, right through to delivery.
Your baby's eyes can open and close now, and they're able to track light through the uterine wall. The brain's surface is folding rapidly this trimester, adding the grooves and creases that increase its surface area.
Bone marrow has mostly taken over red blood cell production from the liver, a job it will keep for life. Amniotic fluid is near its highest level and will gradually decrease as your baby takes up more room.
Common symptoms at 30 weeks
Fatigue often returns around now, even if you had more energy in the second trimester. Shortness of breath is common too, as the growing uterus pushes up against your diaphragm, and heartburn tends to stick around.
You may notice Braxton Hicks contractions — irregular, usually painless tightening of the belly — happening more often. Round ligament twinges, leg cramps at night, and mild swelling in the feet and ankles are also typical at this stage.
Sleep can get harder to come by: fewer comfortable positions, more trips to the bathroom, and sometimes restless legs. Side-sleeping with a pillow between your knees is the usual recommendation.
How often will you see your provider from 30 weeks?
Many providers move to appointments every two weeks starting around now, continuing until about 36 weeks, then weekly after that. Exact scheduling depends on your provider and whether your pregnancy is considered higher risk.
Visits typically check blood pressure, urine (for protein), fundal height, and your baby's heart rate. Your provider may also start talking through your birth plan and preferences over the next few appointments.
What to do at 30 weeks pregnant
This is a good week to start researching pediatricians and checking your maternity or parental leave paperwork, since some of it has lead times. If you want a birth plan, you can start drafting one — you don't need to finalize it yet.
Keep an eye on fetal movement daily so you know what's normal for your baby. If you haven't started thinking about your hospital bag, jotting down a list now (without needing to pack it) takes the pressure off later.
If a childbirth or newborn-care class fits your schedule, weeks 30 to 34 are a common time to take one — many wrap up before you're too close to your due date to want to sit through them.
When to call your provider at 30 weeks
A noticeable drop in your baby's movement is the main thing to watch for. Try a kick count — you're generally looking for around 10 movements within two hours — and call your provider if movement doesn't pick up or feels significantly different.
Call the same day for vaginal bleeding, a severe headache with vision changes, sudden swelling in your face or hands, fluid leaking, or severe abdominal pain. Regular, painful contractions before 37 weeks should also be checked out, since they can signal preterm labor.