Week 30: 10 Weeks to Go!
Only 10 weeks until your due date! Your baby is surrounded by about a pint of amniotic fluid, which will decrease as baby grows. Baby is gaining about half a pound per week.
Medically reviewed by Samantha L. Fox, RN, BSN, MSN
Nursing Informaticist · United States Navy Nurse Corps · Last reviewed
Your baby is the size of a...
🥥 Coconut!
👶 Baby Development
- ✓Baby gains about half a pound per week now
- ✓Bone marrow is producing red blood cells
- ✓Lanugo (body hair) begins to disappear
- ✓Brain continues rapid development
- ✓Eyes can focus now
- ✓Baby may be running out of room for somersaults
💊 Common Symptoms
- •Fatigue returns — growing a baby is hard work!
- •Mood swings and anxiety about labor
- •Heartburn after meals
- •Swollen feet — you may need larger shoes
- •Frequent bathroom trips, especially at night
- •Braxton Hicks increasing in frequency
🩺Clinical Context — From a Nurse's View
Ten weeks to go. Fundal height should be roughly 30 cm. Fetal movement counts continue daily. Around now or shortly, you may notice colostrum (yellowish first milk) leaking from your breasts — totally normal, and a sign your body is preparing for breastfeeding. Breast pads handle it. If you're planning to breastfeed, this is a good time to take a class; the AAP (2022) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months, but the practical reality is whatever combination works for you and the baby is a win. The brain is in its most rapid growth phase and will continue rapid growth through about age 2. DHA omega-3 (often part of prenatal vitamins, otherwise from fatty fish 2-3 times per week — salmon, sardines; avoid high-mercury fish) supports brain development. Discuss group B strep testing timing with your provider — it's done at 36-37 weeks via vaginal-rectal swab.
Written by Samantha L. Fox, RN, BSN, MSN — Emergency Department nurse, US Navy Nurse Corps officer.
🚨 When to Call (or Go to the ER)
- !Decreased fetal movement — call
- !Regular contractions, fluid leak, bleeding — call
- !Severe headache, vision changes, RUQ pain — call
- !Calf pain/swelling on one side — call
✅ Normal — Even If It Feels Worrying
- ✓Colostrum leaking
- ✓Fatigue returning
- ✓Heartburn after meals
- ✓Sleep frequently interrupted
✅ To-Do This Week
- Finalize the nursery setup
- Wash all baby bedding and clothes
- Prepare frozen meals for postpartum
- Research and choose a birth photographer if desired
- Write thank-you notes for baby shower gifts
- Start setting up a feeding station (nursing pillow, water, snacks)
🩺 Questions for Your Doctor
- ?Is the baby's weight appropriate for 30 weeks?
- ?How much more weight should I expect to gain?
- ?What is my risk of preterm delivery?
- ?Should I start Group B Strep testing soon?
- ?How do I know if I'm having real labor vs. Braxton Hicks?
- ?What are my pain management options during labor?
📚 References
- [1]AAP Section on Breastfeeding. Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk. Pediatrics. 2022;150(1):e2022057988.
- [2]ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 222: Gestational Hypertension and Preeclampsia. Obstet Gynecol. 2020;135(6):e237-e260.
- [3]ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 229: Antepartum Fetal Surveillance. Obstet Gynecol. 2021;137(6):e116-e127.
Editorial review: Samantha L. Fox, RN, BSN, MSN. Last reviewed: see footer.
Your baby is the size of a...