<p>Being 31 weeks pregnant means you are between 31+0 and 31+6 weeks. About 7 months and 4 days have passed since your last period, so you are in the 8th month of pregnancy. Your baby is growing fast and laying down fat, and you are nearing the end of the Turkish Ministry of Health 28–32 week check-up and its whooping cough vaccine period.</p>
<p>At 31 weeks, about 7 months and 4 days have passed since your last period, which puts you in the 8th month of pregnancy. Weeks are counted from the first day of your last period (days 217–223).</p>
According to the NHS, your baby is about 41.1 cm from head to heel. Babies are very active at this stage: sucking their fingers and doing the odd somersault. They get a little plumper and less wrinkled each day. Because your baby can now pee, the amount of amniotic fluid increases. Your baby is also starting to recognise voices from outside the womb.
If your baby is not head down yet, do not worry: the NHS says there is still time, and some babies do not move down into the pelvis until labour starts.
The NHS lists tiredness, sleeping problems, heartburn, constipation, backache, leg cramps, dizziness and swollen hands and feet among this week's common symptoms. Your bump may tighten for 20 to 30 seconds and then relax. These Braxton Hicks or practice contractions are common and should not hurt.
Weight gain: the Turkish Ministry of Health guideline says a woman with a normal pre-pregnancy BMI (18.5–24.9) may gain on average 0.42 kg a week (0.35–0.50 kg) in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters; the range differs for underweight, overweight and obese women. The NHS says an extra 200 calories a day may be enough in the 3rd trimester and there is no need to eat for two.
Sleep: NICE advises avoiding going to sleep on your back after 28 weeks and using pillows to keep your position, explaining that there may be a link between sleeping on your back and stillbirth in late pregnancy.
Turkish Ministry of Health (antenatal care guideline, 2026): the 3rd routine visit takes place between 28 and 32 weeks. Blood pressure and weight are measured; if the size of the womb (fundal height) is 4 cm larger or smaller than expected, referral is advised. A urine test, urine culture and full blood count are done. If you are Rh negative and your partner is Rh positive, an indirect Coombs test is checked, and from 28 weeks anti-D can be given if it is negative. From 32 weeks until birth the guideline advises weekly blood pressure checks and seeing a doctor if it is above 130/80 mmHg.
NICE NG201: the 31-week appointment is only for women expecting their first baby: blood pressure, urine protein and fundal height are checked and movements are discussed. If you have given birth before, your next appointment is at 34 weeks. US (UpToDate, 2026): in low-risk pregnancies, visits are every 2 weeks from 28 to 36 weeks.
Vaccines: in the Turkish schedule, Tdap (which includes whooping cough) is given at 18–24 weeks; if this was missed, it can be given until the end of week 32. Women with no vaccine record or an incomplete primary tetanus series also receive a second Td dose at 28–32 weeks. The NHS advises the whooping cough vaccine before week 33; UpToDate gives 27 to 36 weeks as the ideal window. The NHS offers the RSV vaccine at around week 28; UpToDate says that in the US it is given between 32+0 and 36+6 weeks during RSV season. The Turkish guideline does not include an RSV vaccine.
Tracking movements: the NHS and RCOG say there is no set number of movements you should feel each day; what matters is knowing your baby's own pattern. UpToDate suggests that if you are unsure, you lie on your side at a time your baby is usually active and call if you count fewer than 10 movements in two hours.
NICE does not recommend routine scans after 28 weeks in uncomplicated single pregnancies, but offers a growth scan if the fundal height is small and suggests considering one if it is large. UpToDate also notes that routine third-trimester growth scans have not been shown to improve newborn outcomes. The Turkish Ministry of Health guideline, in contrast, asks for an obstetric ultrasound at the 4th visit.
A scan at this stage does not change your due date: according to UpToDate, the date set or confirmed by the earliest scan done up to 21+6 weeks is not changed by later scans.
| Symptom | Usually | Seek care if |
|---|---|---|
| Bump tightening | Painless tightening lasting 20 to 30 seconds is a Braxton Hicks contraction (NHS). | If it becomes painful or comes at regular intervals, it could be early labour. |
| Groin or side pain | Pain on the sides of the bump from the growing womb is on the NHS list of common symptoms. | Constant or severe tummy pain, period-like cramps or increasing pelvic pressure. |
| Spotting or bleeding | Bleeding is not considered normal at this stage; the NHS advises medical advice for any bleeding. | Call your maternity unit or seek care straight away for any vaginal bleeding, however light. |
| Swollen feet | Swelling of the feet from gravity can occur in the last months (Turkish Ministry of Health). | Swelling of the hands, face or eyelids may be the first sign of pre-eclampsia. |
Most of these are danger signs or emergency referral criteria in the Turkish Ministry of Health guideline; call your maternity unit or go to the nearest emergency department without waiting. The NHS says to call straight away, even in the middle of the night, if your baby's movements reduce, stop or change pattern, without waiting until the next day. NICE asks for hospital assessment within 24 hours if blood pressure is 140/90 mmHg or above and the same day at 160/110 mmHg or above; it recommends a hospital review for any unexplained bleeding after 13 weeks, and anti-D for women who are RhD negative and at risk of isoimmunisation.
About 7 months and 4 days have passed since your last period, so you are in the 8th month.
According to the 2017 WHO fetal growth charts, the 50th percentile for estimated weight at 31 weeks is 1,707 g, and the 10th to 90th percentile range is 1,470–1,964 g. According to the NHS, the baby is about 41.1 cm from head to heel. The WHO values come from ultrasound measurements in low-risk pregnancies in ten countries; the authors note differences by country, maternal factors and fetal sex, and that birth weight varies considerably even under optimal conditions. Your own baby's estimated weight is measured on ultrasound and has a margin of error (UpToDate, 2026).
Yes. NICE treats labour before 37 weeks as preterm. According to the NHS, having your baby 6 weeks from now would not be considered early.
Painless tightenings that last 20 to 30 seconds and settle on their own are Braxton Hicks contractions. If they become painful or regular, call your maternity unit (NHS).
No. In the Turkish schedule Tdap is given at 18–24 weeks; if this was missed, it can be given until the end of week 32. The NHS advises having it before week 33 and notes your baby may get less protection if it is given later. Ask about your vaccine record this week.
Last updated: . All sources have been confirmed with their latest versions. This content is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for a doctor's examination.