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Third trimester

30 weeks pregnant

At 30 weeks you are about three-quarters of the way through pregnancy. Your baby's brain is growing quickly and the lungs keep maturing, though they are not ready yet. Trouble sleeping, vivid dreams and breathlessness on the stairs are common.

This page covers 30 weeks 0 days to 30 weeks 6 days (30+0 to 30+6), counted from the first day of the last period. Check how far along you are

Enter it to see the calendar dates of your week 30.

Botanical illustration of a kabocha squash

About the size of a kabocha squash

Typical estimated weight 1.56 kg (3 lb 7 oz) at 30+0, about 1.72 kg (3 lb 13 oz) by 30+6. This is the 50th centile; healthy babies commonly vary by about 12.7% either way.1

A reference value, not a measurement of your baby.

How your baby is developing

  • Brain growth is rapid at this stage, and the nervous system can now manage some body functions.2,3
  • Your baby keeps gaining body fat, which will help after birth.3
  • The eyelids open and close. Vision keeps developing after birth, and newborns see faces best at close range.2,4
  • The lungs are making surfactant, which will help the air sacs inflate after birth, but they are not yet fully mature.2,3
  • Over the coming weeks, your baby's sleep and wake patterns become easier to notice.3

Changes you may notice

Everyone’s experience is different. You may notice some of these, or none.

  • Trouble sleeping and vivid or unsettling dreams are common. Hormones and worries about the changes ahead can play a part, and talking about them may help.4
  • You may get breathless on the stairs as your baby presses up against your lungs.4
  • Round ligament pain, felt as aches at the side of the bump as the uterus expands, is common, along with backache, heartburn and constipation.4
  • If you feel stressed, anxious or low, or have worries about money, housing or relationships, talk to your midwife or doctor.4

Care around this week

  • US: if you have not had Tdap yet, it is recommended during weeks 27 through 36 of each pregnancy, preferably in the earlier part of that window. UK: the whooping cough vaccine is ideally given before 32 weeks, so NHS guidance suggests contacting your midwife or GP this week if you have not had it.4,5,6
  • US: the maternal RSV vaccine (Abrysvo) is given at 32 to 36 weeks during September through January in most of the country, and most babies do not need both the vaccine and an infant RSV antibody. UK: the RSV vaccine is offered from around 28 weeks and can be given up until labor.6,7
  • Your baby's movements should continue right up to labor. If they slow down, stop or change from the usual pattern, contact your provider or maternity unit straight away, even at night, rather than waiting.8

Questions to ask your provider

  • Which childbirth or feeding classes do you recommend, and when should I sign up?
  • Are there safe ways to ease my sleep problems?
  • Will my 32 to 36 weeks fall during RSV vaccine season?
  • Which symptoms mean I should call you rather than wait for my next visit?
When to contact your provider straight away

Call 911 (US) or 999 (UK) in an emergency, such as heavy bleeding or bleeding with severe pain, a seizure, chest pain, or severe trouble breathing.9,10,11,12

These symptoms are not always serious, but each one needs prompt advice from your provider, midwife or maternity unit (or NHS 111 in the UK if you cannot reach them) rather than waiting for your next appointment, and it helps to tell them you are pregnant.

  • Vaginal bleeding or spotting at any stage of pregnancy. Call 911 or 999 if the bleeding is heavy or comes with severe belly pain, shoulder pain, or feeling faint or dizzy.11,13
  • Fluid leaking or gushing from your vagina, or discharge that is unusual for you. Get checked straight away if the fluid is greenish, colored or smells bad.11,12,14,15
  • Your baby moving less than usual, not moving, or a change in their usual pattern of movements. Call immediately, even in the middle of the night, and do not use a home Doppler to check yourself.8,11
  • A severe headache that does not go away with simple painkillers or gets worse, or sudden changes in your vision such as blurring or seeing flashing lights.9,11,12
  • Sudden swelling of your face, hands or feet, or swelling, redness or pain in a leg.9,11,12
  • Belly pain that is severe or does not go away after resting, or pain just below the ribs.9,11,16
  • Regular tightenings or contractions, period-type pains, or backache that is unusual for you before 37 weeks, which can be signs of preterm labor.15,16
  • A fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or feeling hot, cold or shivery.11,12,15
  • Shortness of breath that comes on suddenly or happens when you lie flat, chest pain, a racing or pounding heart, or dizziness or fainting.11,12
  • Very itchy skin, especially on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet, or itching that is worse at night.17
  • Being sick so often that you cannot keep food or drink down, or signs of dehydration such as dark urine, peeing very little, or feeling dizzy.11,18
  • Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby. Get help right away, and call 911 or 999 if you think you might act on them.11,19

Questions about 30 weeks

Can I still get the whooping cough vaccine at 30 weeks?

Yes. In the US, Tdap is recommended during weeks 27 through 36 of each pregnancy, preferably early in that window. In the UK, the vaccine is ideally given before 32 weeks and can still be given later.5,6

Why am I having strange dreams at 30 weeks pregnant?

Vivid or unsettling dreams are common in late pregnancy. Hormones and anxiety about the changes ahead may contribute, and talking about them can help.4

Are a baby's lungs developed at 30 weeks?

Not fully. The lungs are making surfactant, which helps the air sacs inflate after birth, but they are still immature at this stage.2,3

Sources

  1. In utero analysis of fetal growth: a sonographic weight standardRadiology 181(1):129–133, 1991
  2. Fetal developmentUS National Library of Medicine
  3. Fetal development: stages of growthCleveland Clinic
  4. Week 30 of pregnancyNHS Best Start in Life
  5. Tdap Vaccination for Pregnant WomenUS Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  6. Vaccinations in pregnancyNHS (England)
  7. Protecting Infants from RSVUS Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  8. Your baby's movementsNHS (England)
  9. Pre-eclampsiaNHS (England)
  10. Epilepsy and pregnancyNHS (England)
  11. Urgent Maternal Warning Signs and Symptoms (Hear Her campaign)US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  12. Pregnancy symptoms you need to get help forNHS (England)
  13. Vaginal bleeding in pregnancyNHS (England)
  14. Signs of going into labourNHS Best Start in Life
  15. Premature labour and birthNHS (England)
  16. Stomach pain in pregnancyNHS (England)
  17. Itching in pregnancyNHS (England)
  18. Severe vomiting in pregnancyNHS (England)
  19. Depression in pregnancyNHS (England)

Links checked November 12, 2026. Citing a source does not mean it endorses this site.

Written from the sources above and checked against them on 2026-11-12. Not reviewed by a clinician. Our editorial policy