31 weeks pregnant: practice contractions and a baby finding position
Your bump tightens, your baby somersaults, and the questions about birth and feeding start to feel real.
Updated October 13, 2026 · sources checked October 13, 2026
In short
At 31 weeks the NHS says your baby is about 41.1cm from head to heel, very active and getting plumper. You may feel painless tightenings called Braxton Hicks. The one thing to do this week: learn the difference between practice tightenings and early labour, and call if tightenings become painful or regular before 37 weeks.
Where you are at 31 weeks
You are in month eight (Cleveland Clinic: weeks 29 to 32) and well into the third trimester. The NHS week 31 guide puts it simply: you could have your baby in 6 weeks and it would not be considered early. NICE data from England show that about half of spontaneous labours start by the end of 39 weeks, and most of the rest in weeks 40 and 41, so your due date is a guide, not an appointment. Check your exact week on our pregnancy week calculator, and your date on the due date calculator.
Your baby this week
The NHS measures your baby at about 41.1cm from head to heel and compares the size and weight to a coconut. Your baby is very active, sucking their fingers and doing the odd somersault, and looks plumper and less wrinkled day by day. Your baby can now recognise voices from outside the womb.
Cleveland Clinic notes that your baby can process more information and stimuli, and that you may notice clearer patterns of awake and asleep times.
Your body and common symptoms
- Braxton Hicks. Your bump tightens for 20 to 30 seconds, then relaxes. These practice contractions should not hurt. Changing position, a warm drink and resting usually let them settle.
- Your bump shifting. Your midwife or doctor will measure your bump from the pubic bone to the top and gently feel which way up your baby is lying.
- Old friends: breathlessness, heartburn, needing to pee.
Head down or head up
Some babies are already head down; some are not, and that is fine at 31 weeks. The NHS says there is still time for them to turn, and some only settle into the pelvis when labour starts. If a baby stays bottom-first (breech), or the placenta is in the way, your midwife or doctor may talk about a caesarean, and you can discuss risks and benefits before you decide. Read our guide to c-sections only if it helps.
Thinking about feeding, without pressure
This is a good week to start reading about feeding. The NHS lists the benefits of breast milk: antibodies, fewer stomach bugs and breathing problems, always available. It also says clearly that not everyone is able to breastfeed, for health reasons or after surgery, and that formula with lots of cuddles gets a baby off to a great start. Both choices deserve support. Our breastfeeding guide covers the first days.
Is this normal? When to call
Painless tightenings that come and go are normal. Call your maternity unit or OB-GYN straight away if tightenings become painful or regular before 37 weeks, or if you have mild cramps, a change in discharge (watery, bloody or with mucus), pelvic pressure or a constant dull low backache: ACOG says do not wait with signs of preterm labor. Call too for fluid leaking, bleeding, reduced or changed movements, a severe headache, vision changes, pain below the ribs or sudden swelling. UK: NHS 111 if you cannot reach your unit, 999 in an emergency. US: 911 in an emergency.
Appointments and tests around 31 weeks
| United States | United Kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Check-up | About every two weeks (Cleveland Clinic); position and growth are checked | NHS 31-week appointment if this is your first baby: blood pressure, urine, bump measurement, movements, mental health, birth preferences and knowing when you are in labour |
| Vaccines | CDC: Tdap during weeks 27 to 36; RSV from week 32 in season | NHS: RSV from 28 weeks; whooping cough ideally before 32 weeks |
Your checklist for week 31
For your partner
Talk to the bump in the evenings: the NHS says your baby now recognises voices, and yours is one they will hear a lot.
Previous and next week
Week 30: dreams and sleep · Week 32: position and vitamin K · The third trimester · All weeks
Questions parents ask
How do I know if it is Braxton Hicks or real contractions?
The NHS describes Braxton Hicks as a tightening of the bump for 20 to 30 seconds that then relaxes and should not hurt. If tightenings become painful or come at regular intervals, contact your midwife or doctor, because it could be early labour.
What if my baby is breech at 31 weeks?
There is still time. The NHS says many babies turn later and some only move down into the pelvis once labour starts. If your baby is still head up around 36 weeks, your midwife or doctor will talk through options.
Do I have to decide now between breastfeeding and formula?
No. It helps to read about both, but you can decide later and change your mind. The NHS sets out the benefits of breast milk and also says not everyone can breastfeed, and that formula with lots of cuddles gives a baby a good start too.
Sources
- NHS — Week-by-week guide: week 31 checked October 13, 2026
- NHS — Your antenatal appointments checked October 13, 2026
- ACOG — Preterm Labor and Birth checked October 13, 2026
- Cleveland Clinic — Fetal Development: Week-by-Week Stages of Pregnancy checked October 13, 2026
- NICE NG207 — Inducing labour (gestational age at which labour starts) checked October 13, 2026
- CDC — Urgent Maternal Warning Signs (Hear Her) checked October 13, 2026
Mamavela explains; it does not replace your midwife, doctor or pediatrician, who know your situation. If something worries you, call them. In an emergency, call 911 (US), 999 (UK) or 112.