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31 Weeks Pregnant: Your Baby, Your Body and What to Do
Your baby's senses are sharpening, and you may be feeling more breathless.
Before you use this guide: Pregnancy weeks are counted from the first day of your last period. Sizes are rough averages, and healthy babies vary. This is general information, not an individual medical assessment, so please confirm personal health decisions with your doctor or midwife.
How your baby is growing
All five senses are working. Your baby can see changes in light, hear your voice, taste the amniotic fluid and feel touch. The nervous system is maturing rapidly, and the brain is communicating more with the rest of the body.
Your baby is passing larger amounts of urine, which helps to keep up the amniotic fluid. There is less room to move now, so movements may feel more like pushes and rolls than sharp kicks, but they should not reduce.
How you may be feeling
You may be short of breath as the womb pushes up against your lungs, and you may need to pass urine more often because the baby presses on your bladder. Braxton Hicks tightenings are more common. Colostrum may leak from your breasts, and backache and sleeplessness may be getting worse.
Your to-do list for week 31
- Pack your hospital bag, with your notes, comfortable clothes, toiletries, snacks, and clothes and nappies for your baby.
- Arrange who will look after other children or pets when labour starts.
- Use extra pillows to support your back and bump in bed.
- Keep practising your pelvic floor exercises.
When to ask for help
Tell your midwife if you think you are leaking fluid, because it can be hard to tell from urine. If you think your waters have broken, do not wait to see if it settles. Phone your maternity unit.
For heavy bleeding, severe pain, fluid leaking, a severe headache with vision changes, or a baby who is moving less than usual, do not wait for your next appointment. Contact your midwife, doctor or maternity unit straight away. Our guide to pregnancy warning signs has more detail.
Not sure which week you are in? Use the due-date calculator to estimate your due date and current week.
Useful at this stage: pregnancy weight gain calculator, baby shower planner, baby movement counter and hospital-bag checklist.
Trusted resources to read next
These public health resources provide additional information. Guidance can vary by country, so prioritise advice from your own care team and local health service.
- NHS: Pregnancy — Pregnancy care, common symptoms, screening and complications.
- NHS: Week-by-week pregnancy guide — Pregnancy development and care by week.
This content is for general information only and is not medical advice. Every pregnancy and every baby is different. Always talk to your doctor, midwife or paediatrician about your own situation, and seek urgent care if you are worried.