Pregnancy Guide for Couples: Week 30
It’s officially ten weeks away from your due date! This week, we will talk about baby’s movements and encourage you to write questions down for your doctor so you can ask them at your appointments.
What’s Going on with Baby
At Week 30, your baby is the size of a cabbage!
As your baby grows and takes up more space, less amniotic fluid will surround them. A pint and a half of amniotic fluid probably surrounds them this week, but that will diminish with time. With less space to move around, you may find they’re not moving quite as much. That said, you should still feel your baby move frequently throughout the pregnancy. Some ways to encourage or track movement include:
Sitting or laying still to pay attention to movement
Counting kicks (feel for 10 movements within 2 hours)
Staying hydrated
Eating a healthy snack
Changing positions
Playing music or applying gentle pressure
If there has been reduced movement and you still aren’t feeling baby after trying the above tactics, you should call your doctor immediately.
What’s Going on with Mom
Now that you’re beginning to attend your prenatal appointments every two weeks, now is an excellent time to think about your questions for your doctor or Midwife leading up to your due date. Here are some questions to get you started that you may want to ask:
What are signs that I’m in labor?
How can we incorporate my birth preferences into the birthing process?
Who will be present during the birth?
Based on my health history, are there any unique considerations or recommendations for my labor and delivery?
Write down your concerns or questions when you think of them. Parents often forget what they want to ask the doctor face-to-face. We have a handout of sample questions to ask your provider as a bonus in The Balanced Birth Class for Couples.
What’s going on with Partner
At week 30, scheduling a hospital tour and/or a birth class suited for couples is a good idea. Hospital tours are an excellent way for you and Mom to get comfortable with the hospital and areas you will stay during the birth of your baby. Some hospitals offer birthing room options to expectant mothers, such as naturally-focused birthing rooms with birthing tubs. Regarding birth classes, consider checking out The Balanced Birth Class for Couples, which includes:
Unbiased guidance regarding unmedicated hospital births, home births, inductions, and epidurals. Soon to cover c-sections and VBACs.
How to support Mom emotionally and physically and how to advocate for her
In-depth information about inductions (when to get one, what questions to ask, etc.)
Guidance covering the immediate postpartum period
RESOURCE OF THE WEEK
Become a confident birth team with The Balanced Birth Class for Couples.
In this on-demand, self-paced online course, you will:
Learn detailed information about all types of birth: unmedicated, epidurals, inductions, c-sections (and everything in between)
Understand the pros and cons, benefits and risks of all common interventions (and when they're actually needed)
Know the stages of labor and what your partner should do during each of them
Master proven techniques to cope with labor pain
Watch actual demonstrations of the best labor and pushing positions
Practice how to relax and breathe properly during labor
Know the essential breastfeeding and newborn care tips so you're ready for postpartum
Overcome your fear and anxiety
Create a birth plan that's clear but flexible
And best of all...
Grow closer to your partner as you discuss and interact throughout each module.
Now is the perfect time to begin preparing for your birth... together! Sign up now!
