Canada's Largest & Oldest Cord Blood Bank
Just 10 more weeks to go (give or take)! You are three-quarters of the way through your pregnancy.
This Week’s Highlights
Your baby’s brain continues to grow
Your baby starts to loose the hair (lanugo) on his/her skin
You will keep doing your kick count
Your Baby at 30 Weeks
Your baby is the size of a cabbage, measuring about 15.7 inches (39.9 centimeters) long and weighing in at about 2.9 pound (1.3 kilograms). At this stage, your baby is almost done growing in length, but he or she will continue to put on weight.
Baby Development at Week 30
Around this time the small hairs on your baby’s skin (lanugo) starts to shed. This is because your baby’s brain is now developed enough to be able to regulate his or her body temperature. The ‘fur coat’ which kept them warm thus far is no longer necessary. You may still see remnants of these fine hairs on the shoulders, ears or the back of your newborn.
Your baby will remain covered in vernix a bit longer. This white, waxy coating protects your baby’s skin from the amniotic fluid. What’s more, vernix has antimicrobial properties, which keep the baby protected until the immune system matures.
You will notice that your baby will respond to light at this stage. If you shine a light on your bump, your baby may turn towards the light. Don’t worry if this trick doesn’t work this week. Wait a week and try again.
Pregancy Tip
Have you practiced your drive to the hospital yet? It’s always good to do a dry run with your partner, so they know exactly which route to take when you are in labour.
Your Bump at 30 Weeks
You have probably gained a fair amount of weight by now, which is quite normal for the last three months of pregnancy. Your belly may be the size of a bike helmet at this stage.
How Far Along are You?
30 weeks in, 10 weeks to go! You are three-quarters of the way through your pregnancy. Even though pregnancy is measured in weeks this means you are well into the seventh month of your pregnancy.
How Your Body is Changing
In your third trimester, some of the early symptoms from pregnancy may return, including frequent bathroom visits, soar breasts, heartburn and fatigue. On the other hand, if you are lucky, you may still feel fantastic even this far along. Remember every pregnancy is different and all of these symptoms will disappear after birth.
If you are finding it difficult to fall asleep, try propping up with a few extra pillows, or a relaxing bath before bedtime. If you can’t sleep, remember not to into your nesting urges and start cleaning in the middle of the night. Instead, have a snack, listen to some music, or relax with a book.
Aches and pains are normal at this stage, but be mindful of Braxton Hicks contractions. There is not need to worry, these practice contractions are not powerful enough to push out the baby. They have an irregular rhythm, you feel them more in the front of your body, and do not increase in intensity overtime.
Braxton Hicks contractions also disappear when you change positions. So, if your contractions disappear when you change positions, they are likely just Braxton Hicks. If you are ever in doubt, don’t hesitate to contact your healthcare provider.
Umbilical Cord Stem Cells Enhance the Survival Rates in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients
According to a small clinical trial, patients on ventilators due to COVID-19 are 2.5 times more likely to recover following umbilical cord stem cell treatment.
The researchers focused on survival rate as their primary outcome, since their study included one of the most severely affected COVID-19 patient populations. Ten of the 20 patients who received UC stem cells recovered from COVID-19, while only 4 of the 20 patients from the control group survived. This means that patients who received stem cell treatment were 2.5 times more likely to survive than patients who only received standard care. Read More →
Diet at Week 30
Your baby is going to do a lot of growing this trimester. You will need to up your daily intake by an extra 452 calories to keep up with your little ones nutrient requirements. You can add these extra calories in as snacks throughout the day or increase the portion size of your meals.
If you are vegetarian, you will want to make sure your diet consists of enough iron and calcium. You don’t want your baby to deplete your iron and calcium stores, which increases your risk of anemia.
Pregnancy Symptoms at Week 30
Swollen feet and ankles– Swelling of feet and ankles (edema) is caused by increased water retention. This is the result of increased blood flow to you and your baby, and the fact that the blood returns to your heart slowly. A relaxing footbath or resting your feet by putting them up every so often can help.
Stuffed up sinuses – You may notice that your nose is more congested, making it feel like you have allergies or a cold. About 65% of expectant moms experience sinus congestion, and the hormone progesterone is behind it. Progesterone increases blood circulation. Increasing the blood supply to the mucus membrane of the nose causes them to swell, leading to irritation and inflammation.
Stretch marks – As your belly continues to grow, you may notice the development of stretch marks. Stretch marks are small tears in the inner layer of your skin. Some moms are proud of their stretch marks, while other do not want to talk about them. Rapid weight gain is often behind stretch marks. So, making sure your weight gain is gradual is one way to control your chances of getting stretch marks.
Carpal tunnel – If you notice pain, burning, numbness or tingling in your wrists, hands or fingers, you may have carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel often affects moms who engage in activities that require repetitive motion such as sewing and typing. Swelling of joints associated with pregnancy and sluggish circulation are behind this pregnancy symptom. You may also notice that these symptoms worsen at night-time. Frequent stretching, investing in an ergonomic keyboard, wearing a wrist brace and acupuncture may be useful for relieving symptoms.
Why Preserve Your Baby’s Stem Cells?
- Available for a lifetime
- A perfect match for baby
- Compatibility to family
- Access to future therapies
