Your baby continues to grow and develop inside of you. Measuring
15.7 inches long, she weighs 3 lbs. She now almost fills up your entire
uterine cavity and her arms and legs have grown much plumper, thanks to
the continued growth of subcutaneous fat.
By 30 weeks, her eyelids open and close. She'll keep her eyes closed
for most of the day though. When her eyes are open, she will be able to
track light inside of your womb, though her vision isn't "perfect" or
20/20. Lunago, or fine hair that once covered her body, will start
falling off this week.
In the coming weeks, the volume of amniotic fluid in your belly will
decrease as your baby continues to gain weight and take up more space.
Mom
Something that you will need to decide is how you will deliver your baby in regards to anesthesia, or lack thereof.
Natural childbirth is
childbirth without the use of pain medication. If you are interested in
learning more about the methods of delivering your baby naturally you
should look into the Alexander Technique, the Bradley Method, Lamaze,
Water Birth, or Hypnosis.
Some women opt to receive narcotics
during labor. The goal of narcotics is to reduce anxiety and to help
women cope with contractions. Once you decide whether or not you would
like to receive narcotics, it's a good idea to include this information
on your birth plan.
Some women prefer local
anesthesia to help cope with the pain of contractions. Local Anesthesia
includes a pudendal block, spinal block or an epidural.
What's a doula? You have probably heard doula's
mentioned, but who are they? Doula's are private labor coaches who you
can hire to assist you during labor and delivery. Their fees usually
include the delivery as well as home visits to prepare for the birth,
then follow-up visits after delivery.
Hospitals don't usually provide doulas so you will have to hire
someone on your own. Try asking around, you may be surprised to find
that doulas are becoming increasingly common and a friend or family
member may even be able to suggest someone to you. You can also look
online or ask your healthcare provider. The most important thing when
selected a doula however, isn't always a recommendation. Since this
person will be with you during one of the most important times of your
life, it's most important that you are comfortable working with her (or
him).