| |
At 34 weeks pregnant, your baby's due date is creeping up on you. It won't be too long now. Only three more weeks until your baby is full-term and six more weeks until your estimated due date!
If you are expecting twins or multiples, you should expect them to arrive any minute now. Although the ideal length of a full-term twin pregnancy is between 38 and 40 weeks, over 50 percent of all twins are born premature (before 37 weeks).
Weight Gain During Pregnancy Week 34
Regardless of whether you are expecting twins or just a single baby, you are rather huge at this point in your pregnancy week by week. You probably feel like you're about to "pop." Your pregnancy weight gain at 34 weeks for a single baby may be between 25 and 27 pounds, or over 30 lbs if you are carrying twins.
Did you know that your uterus has grown 5.5 inches from the top of your belly button by pregnancy week 34?
Educate Yourself on the Final Weeks of Pregnancy
As you close in on the final weeks of your pregnancy, you may find yourself consumed with thoughts of your labor and delivery. You may be nervous about the pain of labor, or perhaps you are worried that your labor will drag on for hours and days.
In the last month of your third trimester, try to educate yourself on the labor and delivery process, what your pain relief options are, and what the hospital's procedures are for complications that arise. Education will alleviate many of your fears.
You should also keep in mind that stress and anxiety can make your labor last longer, and it may also make you experience more pain than you would if you were totally relaxed.
At 34 weeks pregnant, you may want to practice the breathing and relaxation techniques that you learned in your prenatal classes to help you relax and prepare for labor and delivery.
Are you Feeling More Discomfort at 34 Weeks Pregnant
Along with the anxiety of your impending birth, you may find that you're feeling very uncomfortable during pregnancy week 34. Not only are you feeling more Braxton-Hicks contractions, but you may also find that your baby is moving around more frequently than before.
Space is running out in your womb, so whenever your baby moves this way or that, parts of his body may start to stick out from your belly. If your little one is in the head down position, his or her little feet may push against your ribs, causing you some discomfort.
Has Your Baby Dropped into Your Pelvis Yet?
At 34 weeks pregnant, you may also notice that your baby has "dropped" into your pelvis. This is called "lightning," and it typically occurs several weeks before your labor begins. (However, in some cases, lightning can occur a few hours before the onset of labor).
Lightning can make some of your pregnancy symptoms worse, while it improves other pregnancy discomfort. For example, you may notice that you have to urinate more often, due to your large baby and growing uterus pressing against your bladder.
Some women also get an uncomfortable feeling of pressure deep in their pelvis, making it uncomfortable to walk normally. You might even start to waddle a bit at pregnancy week 34.
On the other hand, lightning takes the pressure off your stomach, because your baby has descended into your pelvis, so you may find that you can eat more without having heartburn or indigestion. You will also get some relief from feeling short of breath.
Warning Signs of Labor and Delivery
Now that you are getting closer to your labor and, you should be on alert for any of the warning signs of labor and delivery, such as your water breaking, the discharge of your mucus blog, true labor contractions, and the dilation of your cervix.
Premature Labor at 34 Weeks Pregnant
Fortunately, at 34 weeks pregnant, if your baby was born premature, he or she has a 99 percent survival rate. Late pre-term babies are healthier than other preemies. They typically weight between 4.5 and 6 pounds, so most of their health problems are usually mild. Health problems may include jaundice, difficulty regulating their body temperature, problems with breathing, and feeding difficulties.
If you go into labor prematurely at pregnancy week 34, your doctor may give you steroid injections to speed up the maturity of your baby's lungs and to prevent respiratory problems after delivery.
Don't worry too much about preterm labor and delivery at this stage of your pregnancy week by week. Your baby will be full-term in only three weeks! Enjoy this time and try to rest often during pregnancy week 34.
By 34 weeks pregnant, your baby weighs roughly 4.5 to 6 pounds (depending on the individual baby), and he or she may be as long as 18 inches! Your baby is quickly reaching his or her birth weight and length.
Your baby is filling out as your pregnancy week by week continues. Fat layers are making your baby rounder and giving his or her skin a smoother appearance. These fat layers will help regulate your baby's body temperature after birth.
By now, your baby has settled into his or her birth position. The occiput anterior position (head down, head slightly turned to the side) is the most common position and it is the easiest position for a natural, vaginal delivery. If your baby is in a breech position or transverse (sideways) position at this stage, your doctor may try to rotate the baby manually.
Your baby's digestive system is mature at 34 weeks pregnant. If your baby were born this week, he or she would be able to digest food. The digestive enzymes in your baby's gut are now functional.
By pregnancy week 34, the level of amniotic fluid in your womb has reached its maximum amount and will stay the same until you reach 37 weeks pregnant, when it will slowly decrease. This means that from this week on, the size of your belly will be mostly from the size of your growing baby.
With the finish line so close, you should take some time to learn about the various stages of labor and delivery. This will alleviate any fear that you may have about childbirth and get you mentally prepared for your baby's arrival in the world.
There are three stages of labor:
- Early and active labor
- Birth of your baby
- The delivery of the placenta.
First Stage of Labor
In the first stage of labor, you will experience early labor, followed by the active stage of labor. During early labor, your cervix starts to dilate, and you will feel regular contractions that last between 30 and 60 seconds, and they will come every five to twenty minutes. You may have a bloody show (a mucus vaginal discharge that is tinged with blood).
Early labor can last anywhere between a few hours to a few days. Most doctors recommend that you stay home during early labor. Early labor ends when you are 4 centimeters dilated.
From 4 centimeters to 10 centimeters dilated, you are now in active labor. (When you are 10 centimeters dilated, you are fully dilated and ready to push). In active labor, your contractions will grow stronger, last longer, and they will also become more painful. You will feel pressure in your lower back. You will need to go to the hospital in the active phase of labor.
Second Stage of Labor
Once your cervix is fully dilated, you are in the second stage of labor. This stage may last 20 minutes or several hours. It will last longer if this is your first baby. You will feel pressure on your rectum as your baby's head moves through the birth canal. You will have the urge to push. You may receive an episiotomy at this point (however, most women don't need one).
Once your baby's head crowns (or shows), your doctor or healthcare provider will guide your baby out. After your baby is born, the umbilical cord will be cut.
Delivery of the Placenta (Afterbirth)
Once your baby is delivered, your uterus will contract again, as the placenta separates from the wall of your uterus. Your doctor may ask you to gently push to expel the placenta from your body. It often takes less than 30 minutes to deliver the placenta after your baby is born.
Hospital Stay After a Vaginal Birth
You should expect to stay in the hospital for 24 to 48 hours after an uncomplicated vaginal birth.
If you are worried about the pain of a vaginal delivery at pregnancy week 24, don't be. There are many pain medication options for women who want a medicated birth. These include epidurals or spinal anesthesia to help you cope with the pain.
Read About Your Pregnancy Week by Week - 35 Weeks Pregnant
|
| |
|
