Day 218 of 280, third trimester
You are 31 weeks and 1 day
If you listen to music while pregnant, your baby tunes in too, and it may even benefit her.
62 days until your due date
You may have noticed your baby gets more active when you listen to music. Unborn babies have been seen to move and even breathe in time to music, and some claim that certain types of music can boost brain development.
One study linked to a "Baby Mozart" product claimed the structure of certain Mozart pieces stimulated brain development more than other genres or composers. But this theory has been debunked. Some research found college students who listened to classical music showed a brief, temporary improvement in spatial intelligence, but it wasn't tested on children or babies, hasn't been repeated, and the results are open to different interpretations.
Whether or not it boosts your baby's intelligence, classical music can relax you, which is always good in pregnancy. And if you gently sway to the music, your baby may enjoy being rocked to sleep.
Focus on
Your body: Protruding navel
You may be surprised to find your belly button now sticks out, popped out by the pressure of your rapidly expanding uterus against your abdomen.
Some women find it unsightly and cover it with high-waisted skirts or pants, or a Band-Aid. It's a normal part of pregnancy and returns to normal a few months after delivery, although, like other parts of your body, it may sag a little more than before.
Ask a Doctor
What exactly is an "active birth"?
An active birth means staying mobile in the first stage of labor and staying upright, squatting, kneeling, or on all fours in the second stage, which can make labor and delivery easier and less painful. Working with gravity helps your pelvis open and encourages the baby's head to press on your cervix, helping it dilate.
To get active:
- Practice squatting. It takes time to learn but is an effective way to speed up labor; make sure you have support, from your partner for example.
- Relax by kneeling over a birth ball or beanbag.
- Use a birthing pool if you want to relax in water for a while.
- If you need an IV, for example because you've been induced, ask for one with a long tube so you can move around a little.
- Choose a "walking" epidural, which should let you stay active.
- If lying down makes your contractions stop, get up and move again.
Appointments and key dates around now
- Whooping cough vaccineUsually around 20 weeks, best before 32 weeks
- RSV vaccineFrom 28 weeks
Read the full 31 weeks pregnant guide
This is general information based on NHS guidance, not medical advice, and every pregnancy is different. Talk to your midwife or GP about anything that worries you. If your baby's movements slow down or change, or you have bleeding, severe pain or leaking fluid, call your maternity unit straight away. In an emergency, call 999.