Your baby is floating in the maximum amount of amniotic fluid they will have during this pregnancy—roughly 1.5 pints (800 ml). From this week onward, as the baby grows larger and takes up more space, the volume of fluid will actually begin to decrease to make room.
🍼 What's Happening With Your Baby
Now the size of a cabbage, your baby's eyesight is improving. They can focus on large objects and track the movement of a strong light source across your abdomen.
The lanugo—the fine, downy hair covering the baby's body—is beginning to shed. Most of it will disappear before birth, though some babies are born with patches on their shoulders or back.
The bone marrow is now fully in charge of producing red blood cells. The baby is also storing vital minerals, including iron, calcium, and phosphorus.
🤰 What You're Feeling This Week
The fatigue is real. Carrying around the extra weight is exhausting, and your sleep is likely fragmented by frequent bathroom trips, leg cramps, and the difficulty of finding a comfortable position.
You might notice mood swings returning. The cocktail of hormones, combined with anxiety about the impending birth and the physical discomforts of the third trimester, can make you emotionally volatile.
Braxton Hicks contractions may become more frequent and noticeable. They are your uterus's way of 'weightlifting'—building the muscle tone needed for the marathon of labor.
The Fluid Peaks
The ratio of fluid to baby is about to flip. The baby is growing so fast that the womb will soon feel like a tight embrace rather than a swimming pool.
✅ What To Do This Week
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Practice your breathing techniques — If you are taking a childbirth class, start practicing the breathing and relaxation techniques daily. Muscle memory will be crucial during the intensity of labor.
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Count the kicks daily — Make kick counting a non-negotiable part of your daily routine. Changes in fetal movement are the most reliable early warning sign of distress.
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Beware of preeclampsia signs — Continue monitoring for sudden, severe swelling, unrelenting headaches, or visual disturbances. Preeclampsia most commonly strikes in the third trimester.
"Ten weeks to go. The countdown is in the double digits. Your body is heavy, but it knows exactly what to do. The preparation is almost complete."
— A Note From Your Body, Week 30