Week 31: Five Senses Active
All five of your baby's senses are now working! They can see, hear, taste, smell, and feel. Baby is practicing breathing movements and can even cry silently.
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...
🍍 Pineapple!
👶 Baby Development
- ✓All five senses are functional
- ✓Baby can cry silently (tear ducts work!)
- ✓Practicing breathing movements regularly
- ✓Brain processing information from all senses
- ✓Fingernails have grown to fingertips
- ✓Fat continues to accumulate — baby is plumping up
💊 Common Symptoms
- •Braxton Hicks are more frequent
- •Leaking colostrum from breasts
- •Carpal tunnel syndrome
- •Frequent urination — baby pressing on bladder
- •Difficulty bending or reaching toes
- •Rib pain from baby's kicking
🩺Clinical Context — From a Nurse's View
Eight weeks to go for term. Fetal lungs are still developing surfactant, which is why babies born at 31 weeks usually need NICU support — they can survive (>95%) but typically need help with breathing. If you're at increased preterm risk, antenatal corticosteroids (betamethasone) given between 24-34 weeks reduce respiratory distress, intraventricular hemorrhage, and necrotizing enterocolitis — they're one of the highest-impact interventions in modern obstetrics. By now you should know your group B strep testing date (36-37 weeks). About 25% of women carry GBS asymptomatically in the vagina/rectum; if positive, you'll get IV antibiotics during labor to prevent neonatal early-onset GBS sepsis (ACOG 2020). Pelvic floor exercises (Kegels) are worth doing daily — they reduce postpartum incontinence and can shorten the second stage of labor. Quality matters more than quantity: 10 reps three times a day is plenty.
Written by Samantha L. Fox, RN, BSN, MSN — Emergency Department nurse, US Navy Nurse Corps officer.
🚨 When to Call (or Go to the ER)
- !Regular contractions more than 4-6 per hour — call
- !Vaginal fluid leak — call
- !Decreased fetal movement — call
- !Severe headache, vision changes, RUQ pain — call
- !Bleeding — call
✅ Normal — Even If It Feels Worrying
- ✓Colostrum leaking
- ✓Carpal tunnel-type numbness
- ✓Difficulty bending and reaching toes
- ✓Rib pain from kicks
✅ To-Do This Week
- Purchase breast pads for colostrum leaking
- Prepare your hospital bag for real this time
- Set up a phone tree/notification plan for labor
- Discuss pain management options with your doctor
- Practice labor positions with your partner
- Make sure car seat is properly installed
🩺 Questions for Your Doctor
- ?Is leaking colostrum normal at this stage?
- ?How often should the baby move?
- ?What are my options for pain management during labor?
- ?Is the baby head-down yet?
- ?When is the Group B Strep test?
- ?How big is the baby estimated to be?
📚 References
- [1]ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 234: Prediction and Prevention of Spontaneous Preterm Birth. Obstet Gynecol. 2021;138(2):e65-e90.
- [2]ACOG Committee Opinion No. 797: Prevention of Group B Streptococcal Early-Onset Disease in Newborns. Obstet Gynecol. 2020;135(2):e51-e72.
Editorial review: Samantha L. Fox, RN, BSN, MSN. Last reviewed: see footer.
Your baby is the size of a...