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Gaining weight and brainpower
Week 30: Your baby's brain continues to expand and develop
During this 30th week of pregnancy, your baby continues to steadily add weight and important, insulating layers of fat to his body.
- At Week 30, your baby weighs about 3 pounds and is about 10-1/2 inches long from crown to rump, or about the length of a bunch of celery. (His legs and feet increase this measurement by many more inches.)
- From this week until week 37 of pregnancy, your baby gains an impressive half a pound a week.
- Your baby might be practicing breathing movements as he rhythmically moves his diaphragm. You might even notice a slight twitching in your abdomen when this happens.
- Your baby's brain continues to expand and develop, creating additional grooves and folds in the brain's surface. These wrinkles give your baby's brain tissue the needed room to expand as he develops and learns throughout his lifetime.
- Your baby's brain can now regulate his temperature, so he begins to lose the lanugo, which is the fine hair that has been covering his body for warmth.
Your Week 30 nutrition and health
Menu planning before baby's arrival
Your days are filling up with preparations for your baby's arrival, and you might find yourself with less and less time for menu planning. If you've found yourself reaching for convenience foods, work in these healthy substitutions during pregnancy.
| Instead of This | Try This |
|---|---|
| Ice cream | Frozen low-fat yogurt topped with granola, sliced berries, and a few dark chocolate shreds |
| Potato chips | Baked potato chips or low-fat soy crisps or veggie chips |
| Chocolate | Trail mix with equal portions of nuts, seeds, dried fruit, and chocolate-covered raisins |
| Cheeseburger | Low-fat turkey burger or veggie burger, topped with avocado, tomato, and lettuce on a thin whole-wheat bun |
Experiencing any numbness or tingling?
When you're 30 weeks pregnant, your growing uterus might press on nerves in your legs or arms, causing your legs, toes, or entire arms to tingle. This is normal for some women and will disappear after your baby's birth.
Keep learning about your baby's development every week
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