Back to Pregnancy Week by Week Guide
As you visit your doctor now, he would begin preparing you for the different stages of labour. All don’t make it till the fortieth week. And so it is best for you to know about labour at this stage itself.Read our guide to pregnancy to understand more about what you should expect as your due date draws near.
Changes in Your Body at Week 34 Pregnancy
As you finish 33 weeks of pregnancy, your baby further moves down to your pelvis area. This reduces the pressure on your chest and lungs.
At 34 weeks of pregnancy chances are that your belly button becomes a sensitive spot for you and might even be protruding out.
Swelling in your face and limbs is likely to increase at this stage. But if it is accompanied by headaches, dizziness or abdominal pain then do tell your doctor. It could be a sign of pre-eclampsia.
Your Baby’s Development at Week 34 Pregnancy
At 34 weeks of pregnancy the baby is now perfectly formed with the right proportions of a new born. It just needs to gain some more weight before it is ready to come out.
Except the lungs, most of the other organs of the baby are fully mature by now. All babies who are born at this stage however survive. They might experience some breathing difficulties though.
As fat stores increase, its facial features become more distinct.
Week 34 Pregnancy Tips and Advice
Before you enter the 35th week of pregnancy, your doctor might ask you to do a vaginal culture for Group B Strep bacteria. This bacterium is present in the vagina and bowel in some women and can cause infections in the new born during birth. If you test positive for it then he will give you intravenous antibiotics during labour to reduce the chances of infection in your little one.
Most of the swelling in your body is due to water retention. And believe it or not, the therapy for it is to drink more water.
To avoid heartburn, eat six to seven small meals in the entire span of the day rather than two to three big meals.
While you are settling your hospital bag, do find out if you need to take change of clothes and diapers for the baby. While many provide for them, there are some that do ask the parents to get their own.
At 34 weeks of pregnancy talk to your partner and decide on how and who will be looking after the older kids (if there are nay) during the time you are in labour and for the initial few months after the arrival of the new born as well.
You will hear a lot of bad birthing stories from people. It is human tendency. It will be all about how painful it is and how difficult it is. Just buy yourself a pair of good ear plug and shut them all off.
Week 34 Fun
Read up a little on what to expect in the last few weeks of your pregnancy and what the complications that can arise are. The more informed you are the better prepared you will be.
At 34 weeks of pregnancy take a check of all the household supplies. And stock up everything from food to toiletries in excess. Once the little one arrives you won’t have time for anything.
Wash all those baby clothes that you have bought or your mother has kept from your childhood days. Use gentle detergents that are labelled hypoallergenic and remember that anything that goes near your baby’s skin should be free of any irritants.
So is your hospital bag ready? Did your doctor ask you to do a vaginal culture for Group B Strep bacteria? Join our due date club here and share your thoughts with other mums-to-be.
Week 34 Pregnancy Articles – Coming Soon!!!
Week 34 Pregnancy Discussions
- Travel suggestions during 34th week of pregnancy
- I have put on 35 pounds in 34 weeks
- Is passing black-green stool in the last stages of pregnancy normal?
- What are the safe hair removal methods during pregnancy?
Week 34 Have a Laugh
A boy is given homework on childbirth.
He goes to his mother and says, ‘How was I born?’ ‘The stork brought you to us.’ Says the embarrassed mother,
‘Oh,’ says the boy. ‘And how did you and father get born?’
‘Oh, the stork brought us too,’ says the mother.
‘And Grandpa and Grandma born?’ the boy persists.
‘The stork brought them too!’ says the frustrated mother.
A few days later, the boy hands in his homework with the following opening sentence, ‘This report has been very difficult to write due to the fact that there hasn’t been a natural childbirth in my family for three generations.’