What is happening in week 31
Doctors count pregnancy weeks from the first day of your last period, so week 31 sits in the third trimester (week 28 until birth). That is about 9 weeks to go until week 40, and about 7.1 months by a rough conversion. In week 31 the baby is about 41.1cm long and very active.
Your baby
The NHS guide gives about 41.1cm, the size of a coconut. The baby moves, sucks its fingers and does the odd somersault. It is starting to recognise voices, and a final growth spurt is due in the next couple of weeks.
Your body
Braxton Hicks contractions, a painless tightening of the bump for 20 to 30 seconds, may start. Backache, heartburn, piles and leaky breasts are possible.
This week’s to-do
- Note the difference between Braxton Hicks tightenings (not painful) and real contractions.
- Talk to your bump; the baby can recognise voices.
- Ask about the baby’s position at your next check-up.
When to call
Call your doctor or hospital if contractions are painful or regular, which could mean early labour, or if you have any bleeding.
Chaitanya Hospital in Kadapa, near RTC Bus Stand, Simhapuri Colony, provides delivery and emergency care 24/7. Our antenatal check-ups team can answer questions about your own pregnancy.
Use the week-by-week guide to jump to your week, or the due date calculator to work out your dates. Timings for scans and tests come from NHS guidance in the UK and can differ from your doctor’s schedule, so always follow your own doctor’s advice. This page is educational and not a substitute for a doctor.
Sources
Text on this page is paraphrased from the sources above. Sizes are averages and vary between babies.