31 Weeks Pregnancy Video

Week 31 Welcome to Week 31 of the KidandParent Pregnancy show. It may be excitement at being so close to holding the baby in your hands, fear of delivery or tiredness, but sleep becomes a bit elusive during later stages of pregnancy. In this show, we will discuss sleeplessness and how to tackle it. We will also talk about on the job comfort and safety and how you can benefit from childbirth classes. Changes Taking Place in Mother You must rest as much as you can and slow down your activities as you may feel very tired sometimes.You may consult your doctor and try out yoga and some stretching exercises.You may start feeling breathless very often because of the pressure on your lungs.  Colostrum continues to leak from your ***. The hormone relaxin loosens your pelvis to make place for your baby’s birth. This may sometimes be painful but is very helpful during delivery. I have small nipples, how will I feed my baby ? Lots of women have small, flat or inverted nipples and they do manage to feed their babies adequately. If you are having trouble with breastfeeding, your doctor will be able to guide you in getting started. Once your baby learns to feed well, it will not be an issue. How is Baby Doing ? Your baby looks more like a newborn at this stage. His body parts are more proportionate to each other. He establishes regular patterns for sleep and other activities. He gains more weight and starts moving sideways in your womb. His movements become more prominent. Sleeplessness Sleeplessness occurs often during the last few months of pregnancy. You may find yourself deprived of sleep. If you are not able to sleep properly for many days at a stretch, contact your doctor immediately. Reasons for Sleeplessness 1. You get up often to go the bathroom. 2. Increasing size of the abdomen prevents you from finding a comfortable position. 4. You feel stressed and anxious about your labour. 5. The baby starts kicking. 6. You experience Braxton Hicks contractions. 7. You experience restless leg syndrome which makes you move around in bed to calm your legs. 8. Do not use medications for sleep without consulting your doctor. Some Ways to Prevent Sleeplessness 1. Sleep on your left side to enhance blood circulation and minimise swelling of feet. 2. Reduce small naps during different times of the day. 3. Go to sleep when you feel tired even if this means earlier than usual. 4. Cut down on your liquids intake at night to avoid bathroom visits. 5. Take a warm(not hot) water bath to put you in the mood for a good night's sleep. 6. Massage your pelvic muscles. This places the uterus in a better position. 7. Do not watch television in bed. Instead, you can play some soothing music that helps you fall asleep. 8. Eat the last meal of the day around 3 to 4 hours before you go to bed. This reduces possibility of your waking up due to heartburns. 9. Stretching your leg muscles before going to bed prevents leg cramps and minimises restless leg syndrome. 10. Use pillows to support different parts of your body such as back, stomach and legs. 11. Control your stress levels. Relaxation exercises may help to cut down your levels of stress and anxiety. If you want to sleep on your back, bend one knee, this will relieve the pressure on your low back. On The Job Comfort and Safety As your pregnancy advances, it becomes a bit difficult to manage every thing as before at workplace. You should take care to balance your worklife and your pregnancy carefully and ensure to get on the job security and comfort. Tips to Enhance Your Worklife Comfort 1. Eat nutritious snacks in between in breaks. 2. Do not sit or stand for long time, take breaks and stretch. 3. Do not leave things for last minute. 4. Try not to bring your work related tension home. 5. Drink plenty of liquids including water and juices. 6. Do not suppress the urge to use the bathroom. 7. Do not be in smoking area or smokers zone even for a break. 8. If your job involves travelling take extra care while travelling and take safely precautions related to travelling during pregnancy 9. If you work in a hospital and your job involves blood and other fluids, keep yourself immunized. 10.Works like construction, farming, dry cleaning, printing, painting, dying unit, factories dealing with chemicals are not considered to be safe for pregnant women. As the baby gets padded with fat, skin becomes pink from deep red. Child Birth Classes Child Birth classes cover many aspects of birthing. Check out in your locality if there are classes running. Your doctor will be able to guide you about this. Child birth classes will help you regarding breathing techniques, different methods of birthing, pain management, what all to expect during labor and life in general after birth. Talking to other parents during these classes gives you an idea about false and true labor, pain relief, relaxation techniques and warning signals in case of preterm labor. Have a nice week with this lovely thought. All mothers are working mothers. ~ Unknown