Welcome To Week 30

Your Baby: Filling Out

Your baby continues to grow taller and fill out as you near the end of your pregnancy. By now, he weighs approximately 3 pounds (1400 g) and measures about 17 inches (38 cm) in total length. Your baby is continuing to grow rapidly now. In preparation for the journey to the new world, the baby is making movements that represent breathing even though the breathing inside remains the amniotic fluid. Sometimes at this point the baby may get hiccups and you may feel that happen!

Your Body: What's Better - Breast Or Bottle?

Chances are you have a lot on your mind as you settle into the last trimester. And like most pregnant women, you're probably pondering what's best for your baby food wise: breast or bottle? Truth be told, there is no one, right answer to that question. It's a personal decision that depends on you and your baby. Some mothers choose to breastfeed exclusively, while others are convinced the bottle is the only way to go. The most important thing is to be open-minded, take cues from your baby, and know the benefits and drawbacks of each.

Breastfeeding

Pluses

• Breast milk has antibodies that help decrease infections and other conditions
• Breast milk is extremely inexpensive
• Breast milk has enzymes that help with the baby's initial digestion
• Less time in preparation for breast milk

Minuses

• Sore nipples
• Requires planning for returning to work
• Must maintain pregnancy diet as many things crossover into the breast milk

Bottlefeeding

Pluses

• It may be more convenient for your lifestyle
• Your diet can include spicy foods and other items you like to eat

MInuses

• Baby does not receive all the antibodies
• Formula is expensive
• Longer preparation time

You may also consider having a plan that includes both breastfeeding and bottle-feeding. Some women choose to breastfeed for a short amount of time and then change over to bottle-feeding. Others will breastfeed some, but also bottle-feed as a supplement to the breast milk. There are many options including using a breast pump if you decide to breastfeed so that you may not need to be there even if breastfeeding. Talk it over with your doctor and your partner and come up with a plan that seems the most reasonable for you, your baby, and your partner.

On A Different Note: The Inner Sanction

Get a glimpse inside your swelling belly and see how babies grow and change with this ultrasound identifier visual tool. These dynamic images will show you what a fetus looks like at 17, 19, and 30 weeks. Just roll the curser over the different body parts, and presto!

Weekly Tip

If getting comfortable in bed at night is getting more and more difficult, bring on the pillows and props. You can put a maternity pillow (really any pillow will do) between your legs, under your belly, and behind your back. To relieve pressure on your hips from lying on your side, tuck a piece of soft egg-crate foam on top of your mattress and under the sheet, and to ease fluid retention in your legs and ankles, place a folded blanket under your feet to keep them elevated while you sleep.