31 Weeks Pregnant: Preeclampsia in Pregnancy

You are 31 weeks pregnant! Your baby is starting to be able to focus her eyes but she still can’t make much out. Not that there’s much to see in there. She’s pretty much taking up all the space. She is over 16 inches long and almost 3 ½ pounds, about as heavy as a bag of oranges. But slightly less lumpy. Baby is filling out with more fat. She’s also drinking several cups of amniotic fluid every day, which means she’s PEEING a lot. Not to worry, your body completely replaces the amniotic fluid several times a day.

Sore boobs, sore belly, sore ego... the last weeks of pregnancy can be tough. You’re moving more slowly and less gracefully (“waddling” aptly describes it), and you may find yourself short of breath easily. Like a beached whale, you may have to rely on the kindness of others to help you along your way. Ask for a seat when you need one. Rest when you can. Explain to your other children, if you have them, and your hubby, if you need to, that you simply can’t keep up with your regular activities at the same pace and with the same gusto. Gusto? What gusto? You are counting the days until your maternity leave like a kid waiting for his birthday.

Let’s get serious for just a minute. If you are starting to see more than the usual puffiness in your face, any extreme swelling of your hands, feet or ankles, or if you suddenly gain more than 4 pounds in one week, you may have developed preeclampsia. Other symptoms might include vision problems, vomiting and headache. Preeclampsia is quite a serious (but not rare) disorder characterized by high blood pressure, edema, and protein in the urine. Preeclampsia usually happens late in pregnancy, after 37 weeks, but it can happen earlier. It can cause complications for you and baby and must be treated.

More Pregnancy Links:

• Join our Pregnant Moms Group
• Baby Girl Names
• Baby Boy Names
  

Our pregnancy calendar is researched & written by our Pregnancy Editor, Dara Duff-Bergeron. Although she rocks, she is not a health care professional. It's just for entertainment purposes and any recommendations or information provided should not be used as a substitute for the real deal - a trained medical professional.

About the Author
Dara is a women’s fitness expert and a pre and postnatal specialist. Visit Dara at Belly Bootcamp (www.bellybootcamp.ca)

About the Author Posted by EMVA in Pregnancy Calendar on March 23, 2010 More from this author  |