My Pregnancy Week 30
Baby
Your baby continues to grow and develop inside of you. Measuring 15.7 inches long, she weighs 3 lbs. She now almost fills up your entire uterine cavity and her arms and legs have grown much plumper, thanks to the continued growth of subcutaneous fat.
By 30 weeks, her eyelids open and close. She'll keep her eyes closed for most of the day though. When her eyes are open, she will be able to track light inside of your womb, though her vision isn't "perfect" or 20/20. Lunago, or fine hair that once covered her body, will start falling off this week.
In the coming weeks, the volume of amniotic fluid in your belly will decrease as your baby continues to gain weight and take up more space.
Mom
How are you feeling?
Something that you will need to decide is how you will deliver your baby in regards to anesthesia, or lack thereof.
Natural childbirth – Natural childbirth is childbirth without the use of pain medication. If you are interested in learning more about the methods of delivering your baby naturally you should look into the Alexander Technique, the Bradley Method, Lamaze, Water Birth, or Hypnosis.
Narcotics – Some women opt to receive narcotics during labor. The goal of narcotics is to reduce anxiety and to help women cope with contractions. Once you decide whether or not you would like to receive narcotics, it's a good idea to include this information on your birth plan.
Local Anesthesia – Some women prefer local anesthesia to help cope with the pain of contractions. Local Anesthesia includes a pudendal block, spinal block or an epidural.
What's a doula? You have probably heard doula's mentioned, but who are they? Doula's are private labor coaches who you can hire to assist you during labor and delivery. Their fees usually include the delivery as well as home visits to prepare for the birth, then follow-up visits after delivery.
Hospitals don't usually provide doulas so you will have to hire someone on your own. Try asking around, you may be surprised to find that doulas are becoming increasingly common and a friend or family member may even be able to suggest someone to you. You can also look online or ask your healthcare provider. The most important thing when selected a doula however, isn't always a recommendation. Since this person will be with you during one of the most important times of your life, it's most important that you are comfortable working with her (or him).
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