Pregnancy Stages of Pregnancy Week by Week Pregnancy Week 30 Your baby is growing faster than ever now—learn all about his development now that you are 30 weeks pregnant. Also get tips on avoiding emotional overeating and protecting your job after the baby is born. By Parents Editors Updated on May 17, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email How Big is Baby? Your baby is the size of a large cabbage. She has cycles of sleeping and waking. After 30 to 90 minutes of snoozing, she may give you a kick to let you know she's awake. Baby's Length: 15.71in.Baby's Weight: 2.91lb. Mom's Changing Body As your skin expands to accommodate baby, stretch marks aren't always the only side effect. An estimated 20 percent of expectant moms also experience itchy skin. Your doctor may recommend antihistamines or ointments, but a calming lotion can also provide relief. As for those stretch marks? At least half of moms-to-be get them, usually in the sixth and seventh months of pregnancy. And no matter what the fancy-product pushers may have you believe, there's really nothing you can do to prevent them. The good news is that they will fade significantly over time, though they won't disappear completely. There are some prescription creams and in-office laser treatments that may help lighten them, but you're best off waiting until you're at least a few months postpartum (or until you're done nursing, if you want to try certain prescription creams) to weigh these options with a dermatologist. Baby's Development From this point on, your baby will gain about a half pound each week. All that baby weight is for more than filling out his chubby cheeks. Now that all of his major body systems are in place and functioning, he needs padding to protect and insulate his organs. His built-up fat tissue will also help him regulate his body temperature after birth and provide the energy he needs. Because your baby is adding fat and growing bigger, you might find his movements become less frequent—it's getting harder for him to maneuver. But if you're not feeling any jabs or the occasional kick, tell your health care provider. Read More Weekly Tip If you tap on your belly, your baby may kick or poke back at the same spot you touched. So neat—you can play with your baby well before he's born! When he kicks, try rubbing your tummy and talking softly or singing—you might just find that it calms him down. American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine - AIUM.org Week 30 Ultrasound This image shows how developed your baby-to-be's features have become. With his pouty lips and tiny nose, he looks much like he will at birth. Note the baby's hand in front of his eyes and forehead. Read More What Week 30 of Your Pregnancy Is Really Like Pregnancy Confidential Podcast What Giving Birth with an Epidural is Really Like Over the last couple weeks, we've covered exactly what you should expect from different kinds of births, from the unmedicated vaginal birth to the C-section, but at Week 30, as you start into your last 10 weeks of pregnancy, you might want to know a little more about the most common way to give birth: vaginally, with an epidural. It's no surprise so many women end up delivering this way—childbirth is painful and it is the 21st century after all, so why shouldn't we medicate ourselves? While it's a perfectly acceptable way to do it, of course there are pros and cons, which are worth weighing up before you make your birth plan. While we remind you that you should always expect the unexpected when you're expecting, it's still worth knowing your options. Subscribe on iTunes This Week's To-Do List Buy a car seat, stroller, and any other important baby gear that you didn't receive at your shower.Read More Count fetal kicks.Read More Pack your hospital bag and one for your partner.Read More Know the signs of premature labor.Read More Try exercises designed to help prepare your body for D-day.Read More This Week's FAQs Could I be at risk of developing preeclampsia? Must-Reads Newborn Essentials for Baby's First 6 Weeks The Best Exercises to Prepare for Labor and Childbirth 8 Delivery Day Decisions You'll Need to Be Prepared to Make Labor Tips for First Time Moms Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit