31 Weeks Pregnant: What's Happening and Who You Want There

At 31 weeks the baby is becoming a participant. Voices from outside the womb start to register, which makes those quiet conversations feel a little less one-sided.

At 31 weeks, your baby is roughly the size of a coconut, around 41.1cm from head to heel, and beginning to recognize voices from outside the womb.¹

How big is the baby at 31 weeks?

About 41.1cm head to heel, close to a coconut.¹ The baby is starting to recognize voices it hears from outside, the familiar sounds of the people closest to it.¹

What's common around 31 weeks

Braxton Hicks contractions are common around now. The bump tightens for 20 to 30 seconds and then relaxes, usually without pain, which is why they're often described as the body's practice runs.¹

These tightenings come and go without a steady pattern, and many people feel more of them as pregnancy goes on. Your midwife or doctor is the person to ask about anything that's on your mind.

Prep this week: decide who's with you for the birth

A good non-medical decision for this week is who you want in the room when the baby arrives. Your partner, a parent, a friend, a doula: it helps to settle the plan rather than leave it floating.

Once you've decided, make sure the people who'll be hands-on are set up in your nappi household. When the baby is born, everyone in the household sees the same record, so whoever's holding the baby at 3 AM can still log the feed without passing a phone around.

The profile you build now, with the due date and your support people invited, becomes the baby's tracker the moment they're born. One record, no scramble.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my baby hear me at 31 weeks?

The baby is beginning to recognize voices from outside the womb around 31 weeks.¹ The familiar voices of the people nearby are among the first sounds it starts to know.

What do Braxton Hicks contractions feel like?

Braxton Hicks are tightenings where the bump firms up for about 20 to 30 seconds and then relaxes, usually without pain.¹ They're irregular and come and go. A midwife or doctor can answer questions about anything you feel.