Third trimester · Pregnancy week by week
Week 30 of pregnancy
Baby is the size of a small cabbage. About 15.70 inches, 1320g.
Week 30 is when many providers begin frequent BP monitoring. Black women's preeclampsia onset is documented to peak between 30–37 weeks per ACOG. Source
What's happening with the baby
The fetus is gaining about 1/2 lb per week now. Eyes can focus. Skin is becoming smoother as fat fills out. Brain growth is rapid.
What's happening for you
Pelvic discomfort increases as the fetus settles lower. Heartburn often peaks. Sleep disturbance from frequent urination, restless legs, and discomfort. Some women feel increased emotional sensitivity.
Common (normal) symptoms this week
Pelvic pressure, heartburn, sleep disturbance, frequent urination, restless legs, mild edema, increased fetal movements.
Call your OB or 911 if
- Severe headache that won't go away with acetaminophen — preeclampsia.
- Vision changes — blurred vision, light flashes, vision loss.
- Severe right-upper-quadrant pain — HELLP syndrome.
- Sudden swelling of face, hands, or feet.
- Reduced fetal movement — fewer than 10 kicks in 2 hours.
- Vaginal bleeding, fluid leakage, or persistent contractions.
- Severe shortness of breath at rest or chest pain.
- Fever over 100.4°F.
- Seizure — eclampsia, life-threatening.
Why this week matters for Black families
The third trimester carries the highest Black-maternal-mortality risk in the U.S. obstetric data. Preeclampsia, HELLP syndrome, and preterm labor are most common here. The CDC Pregnancy Mortality Surveillance System repeatedly cites delayed recognition of severe symptoms in Black women as a contributor to preventable deaths. This is the window where you advocate hardest. If the OB's office tells you a symptom 'sounds like normal pregnancy,' ask: 'Can you document in the chart that I reported this and that you decided not to evaluate it further?' That sentence alone reverses outcomes in documented case reviews.
What to do this week
BP tracking is critical now. Continue Tdap if not done. Discuss postpartum plan — who will help, what childcare for older children, postpartum depression screening plan. Stock the freezer with prepared meals.
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References
- ACOG Practice Bulletin 222 — Preeclampsia.
- ACOG Committee Opinion 757 — Postpartum Depression Screening.
Last medically reviewed: .
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