Women’s Services
This week, your baby is as big as a asparagus.
The following information was reviewed by Katherine Cheng
Your baby can smell and taste the food you eat through the amniotic fluid. Studies have shown that when the fetus is still in the womb, it can have different facial expressions depending on the food ingested by the mother.
Does pregnancy really make pregnant women's memory worse? During pregnancy, the physical and emotional changes can cause symptoms such as dizziness, tiredness, poor sleep quality, and psychological stress. These symptoms can make recall more difficult but this is not a direct consequence of pregnancy.
As the baby grows, the space in which they can move becomes more restricted. Consequently you will noticed movements more obviously and be able to tell when the baby is awake, exercising or resting. Longer periods of movement normally leads to longer periods or rest.
Your baby's brain is working hard and developing faster than ever. Billions of nerve cells are being creating enabling your baby to process information, track light sources and perceive all signals from their five senses.
It is normal for mothers-to-be to have colostrum in the late pregnancy. These light yellow liquid has a high density of nutrients, antibodies and antioxidants to build a newborn baby's immune system. It is the initial state of breast milk and is thicker than ordinary milk. Although it is normal to have some leakage before birth, if the colostrum oozes blood, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. If there is a little too much colostrum leaking, you can wear a cotton breast milk pad to prevent leakage.
As your baby grows, your lower abdomen may experience sudden contractions for 20 to 30 seconds, and then relax again (should not feel painful), this phenomenon is called false contractions (Braxton-Hicks contractions). Don't worry, these conditions are harmless to the body and occur so your body can practice childbirth. However, if you have painful contractions, or if your contractions are regular, this could be a sign of preterm labor and contact your midwife or obstetrician immediately.
At 31 weeks of pregnancy, your baby has come to the final stage of development. It is suggested that you:
Whether you’re planning for an addition to your family or are already pregnant, OT&P’s Maternity Team is here to help.