30 Weeks Pregnant: Baby is Getting Stronger

At 30 weeks pregnant, your baby is about the size of a large cabbage, measuring around 15.7 inches (40 cm) from head to heel and weighing approximately 3 pounds (1.4 kg). Your baby is getting stronger, their movements are more forceful, and they’re continuing to add fat that will help regulate body temperature after birth.¹

What’s Happening at 30 Weeks Pregnant?

You’re now 10 weeks (about 2.5 months) from your due date! The countdown feels very real now as you enter the final stretch of pregnancy. Your baby is growing rapidly, and you’re likely feeling every kick, roll, and stretch as space becomes increasingly tight.

Your prenatal appointments are now every two weeks, allowing your healthcare provider to monitor you and your baby closely. You may be thinking seriously about labor, delivery, and life with a newborn—all completely normal thoughts as you prepare for this major transition.²

Your uterus extends about 4 inches (10 cm) above your belly button, and you’ve likely gained 18-25 pounds if you started pregnancy at a healthy weight.³

How Big is My Baby at 30 Weeks?

Your baby at 30 weeks is about the size of a large cabbage, measuring approximately 15.7 inches (40 cm) from crown to heel.⁴

Your baby now weighs around 3 pounds (1.4 kilograms)—a milestone weight! Over the next 10 weeks, your baby will roughly double or even triple this weight as they prepare for life outside the womb.

Baby Development at Week 30

Significant development continues:

Fat accumulation: Your baby is adding fat rapidly, which smooths out wrinkled skin and helps with temperature regulation after birth. This fat gives babies their characteristic chubby cheeks and dimpled appearance.⁵

Brain maturation: The brain continues developing, with increasing surface area as folds and grooves (sulci and gyri) become more pronounced. Your baby’s brain can now control body temperature more effectively.

Bone marrow fully functional: Bone marrow has completely taken over red blood cell production.

Lanugo shedding: The fine hair (lanugo) that covered your baby’s body is beginning to disappear, though some may remain at birth, especially on the shoulders and back.

Lung development: Lungs continue maturing and producing surfactant. Babies born at 30 weeks have survival rates exceeding 95% with neonatal intensive care.⁶

Hand-eye coordination: Your baby can grasp, though movements are still somewhat jerky due to developing motor control.

Rhythmic breathing practice: Your baby continues practicing breathing movements with amniotic fluid, essential for lung development.

Taste and smell: These senses are well-developed, and your baby can distinguish different flavors in the amniotic fluid.

Common Symptoms at 30 Weeks

Physical challenges continue in the third trimester:

Fatigue: The demands of carrying increasing weight, coupled with poor sleep, can leave you exhausted.⁷

Heartburn: Often worsens as your baby grows and pushes your stomach upward.⁸

Shortness of breath: Your uterus pushes on your diaphragm, reducing lung capacity.

Back and pelvic pain: Your growing belly and loosening ligaments strain your back and pelvis.

Frequent urination: Constant bathroom trips continue as your baby presses on your bladder.

Swelling: Mild edema in feet, ankles, and hands is common. Severe or sudden swelling requires immediate medical attention.

Braxton Hicks contractions: Practice contractions may be frequent but remain irregular.

Trouble sleeping: Physical discomfort, frequent urination, and anxiety about labor can disrupt sleep.

Rib pain: As your baby runs out of room, they may kick or push against your ribs.

When to Call Your Doctor

Seek immediate care for: regular painful contractions, fluid leaking, bleeding, severe swelling with headache/vision changes, severe headache, decreased fetal movement, or severe abdominal pain.

Tips for Week 30

Continue monitoring movements: Track your baby’s kicks and movements. Contact your provider if you notice a significant decrease.⁹

Prepare your birth plan: Finalize your preferences for labor and delivery—pain management, support people, newborn procedures—and discuss with your provider.

Pack your hospital bag: Start gathering items—comfortable clothing, toiletries, phone charger, snacks, nursing bra if applicable, and baby’s going-home outfit.

Sleep strategies: Use multiple pillows to support your body, sleep on your left side, and consider a full-body pregnancy pillow.

Stay active: Gentle exercise helps with energy, sleep, and preparing your body for labor. Walking, swimming, and prenatal yoga are excellent options.¹⁰

Practice relaxation: Learn and practice breathing techniques, visualization, or meditation that will help during labor.

Address heartburn: Eat small frequent meals, avoid trigger foods, stay upright after eating, and elevate your upper body during sleep.

Plan postpartum help: Arrange for support after delivery—whether from family, friends, or hired help.

Tracking Your Final Weeks with Nooko

You’re in the final 10 weeks! Nooko helps you track your baby’s movements, prepare for labor, and count down to meeting your little one. Log symptoms, time Braxton Hicks contractions, and access week-specific information tailored to your third trimester.

When labor begins, use Nooko’s contraction timer to track timing and intensity, helping you know when to head to the hospital.

Download Nooko on the App Store | Get Nooko on Google Play

---

References

Footnotes

1. Cleveland Clinic. (2025). “Fetal Development: Week-by-Week Stages of Pregnancy.” https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/7247-fetal-development-stages-of-growth ↩

2. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2025). “Prenatal Care.” https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/prenatal-care ↩

3. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2025). “Weight Gain During Pregnancy.” https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/weight-gain-during-pregnancy ↩

4. BabyCenter. (2025). “30 Weeks Pregnant.” https://www.babycenter.com/pregnancy/week-by-week/30-weeks-pregnant ↩

5. Mayo Clinic. (2024). “Fetal development: The 3rd trimester.” https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-depth/fetal-development/art-20045997 ↩

6. Merck Manual. (2025). “Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Newborns.” https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/children-s-health-issues/lung-and-breathing-problems-in-newborns/respiratory-distress-syndrome-in-newborns ↩

7. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2025). “Exercise During Pregnancy.” https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/exercise-during-pregnancy ↩

8. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2025). “Problems of the Digestive System.” https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/problems-of-the-digestive-system ↩

9. Tommy’s. (2025). “Your baby’s movements in pregnancy.” https://www.tommys.org/ ↩

10. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2020). “Physical Activity and Exercise During Pregnancy.” https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2020/04/physical-activity-and-exercise-during-pregnancy-and-the-postpartum-period ↩