At 34 weeks pregnant, your baby may be up to 4.7 pounds and just shy of 18 inches long from the top of his or her head to the toes! By the time your little bundle of joy is born, he or she will be even heavier. The average newborn is 7 pounds, and your child might be slightly heavier than this!
Your baby is only three weeks away from being considered "full-term" and ready for life outside the womb. If your baby was born prematurely at 34 weeks pregnant, his or her chance of survival is excellent.
If you're expecting twins at 34 weeks pregnant, you should have your hospital bags prepared and ready for the delivery. There is a good chance that your twins will arrive any day now. Roughly 50 percent of all twins are born early (before full-term at 37 weeks pregnant). The average twin pregnancy actually lasts between 35 and 37 weeks pregnant. So if you're pregnant with twins at 34 weeks, be on the lookout for any signs of labor!
By 34 weeks pregnant, your baby has settled into his final position. For most babies, they are situated in the occiput anterior (head down) position. This is the best position for a vaginal delivery. If your baby has turned head down, your physician may try to manually rotate your baby.
The level of amniotic fluid in the uterus has reached its maximum at 34 weeks pregnant, and this amount of amniotic fluid will stay the same until you're full-term.
At 34 weeks pregnant, your little one's digestive system is fully mature and the digestive enzymes in his or her gut are working and functional. This means that if your baby were born early this week, he or she would be perfectly able to digest breast milk or formula.
There is less room for your baby to move about at 34 weeks pregnant. Any movement - kicks or jabs - that your baby makes this week are probably uncomfortable or even painful for you.
At 34 weeks pregnant, your uterus is about 5 to 6 inches from the top of your navel. You may notice that you look similar or different to other pregnant women who are as far along as you are. Don't be discouraged if your belly doesn't look the same. Every woman carries her baby differently. Some tend to carry wider, while others carry lower or higher. You may even carry differently from one pregnancy to the next.
There are many women who believe the way you carry represents the gender of your baby, but by and large, this is an old wives' tale. Myths about whether it's a boy or a girl are always fun, and you have a 50-50 chance of being right.
Helpful Tip: Because sleeping through the night is probably becoming increasingly difficult, try to get rest whenever you can during the daytime.
In these final two months of your third trimester, make sure that you spend quality time with your husband or partner. Once the baby arrives, it can be easy to get overwhelmed with your new responsibilities that you neglect your mate. At 34 weeks pregnant, allow your significant other to get involved in your pregnancy experience. Let him place his hand on your belly, and take him to your prenatal visits. In addition, why not go on a date with your love?
As your belly continues to expand at pregnancy week 34, you're probably getting more uncomfortable. Room is getting tighter in the womb, and the increasing weight of your baby and uterus is probably contributing to annoying pregnancy symptoms.
Backaches and low back discomfort is a regular pregnancy symptom that you must struggle with at 34 weeks pregnant. The heavy weight of your uterus, as well as hormonal changes relaxing the ligaments and muscles in your body, can lead to extra strain on your back. Three out of four pregnant women will suffer from backaches and back pain during pregnancy. To cope with this uncomfortable symptom at 34 weeks pregnant, try to be aware of your posture at all times - stand up straight and tall, instead of leaning backwards. A heating pad or a cold compress might also give you some relief.
Fatigue is another pregnancy symptom to expect at 34 weeks. Although you had a temporary break from exhaustion in the second trimester, fatigue is going to come back full force at 34 weeks pregnant. Your tiredness and exhaustion is due to the physical strain your body is under from having to carry about 20 plus pounds (for the average sized woman). Stress and all those nighttime runs to the bathroom to urinate aren't helping your energy levels either.
"Lightning" (baby drops into pelvis) may occur at 34 weeks pregnant. Dropping usually takes place several weeks before the onset of labor, but it can also occur several hours before labor starts. When your baby drops into your pelvis, you will notice that your bump is situated lower in your abdomen. You might also realize that it's easier to breathe, since your uterus is no longer pressing against your diaphragm and lungs. Any rib pain that you've experienced will disappear.
While some pregnancy symptoms will get better after your baby drops, you may start to develop some uncomfortable symptoms, too.
Pelvic pressure is a common experience after your baby drops. You may start to waddle as a result. Walking normally may be too uncomfortably. Although you may worry that your baby is going to fall out, he or she is perfectly safe as long as your cervix has started to efface or dilate. If the pelvic pressure that you're feeling at 34 weeks pregnancy is severe, talk to your doctor. Your caregiver can check to see how low your baby's head is.
At 34 weeks pregnant, some women start to worry about whether or not their baby will fit through the birth canal. Unfortunately, your healthcare provider won't be able to tell you whether or not your baby is too big to fit through the pelvis (this diagnosis is made during labor). However, take heart in knowing that even petite women can deliver a larger baby.
Braxton-hicks Contractions at 34 Weeks Pregnant
At 34 weeks pregnant, you may be feeling Braxton-Hicks contractions ("false" labor pains) on a regular basis. Braxton Hicks are uterine contractions that are preparing your body for the real thing.
These false labor contractions often feel like a tightening of your uterus that comes and goes. They are usually painless, but some women do experience some discomfort with Braxton Hicks. As your pregnancy continues and you get closer to your due date, it may be difficult to tell false labor apart from true contractions.
As a rule of thumb, if your contractions are irregular and come and go with no rhyme or reason, then you're having Braxton Hicks. True contractions strike at regular intervals, and they get closer together and become more intense with the passing of time. Braxton-Hicks contractions are typically felt in the front of your abdomen, while true labor contractions usually begin in your lower back and they eventually move to the front.
At 34 weeks pregnant, you should not be having real contractions. If you experience contractions that are accompanied with pressure in your vagina (or the sensation that your baby is pushing down), menstrual-like cramping, vaginal bleeding, fluid leakage, or flu-like symptoms (such as diarrhea, nausea or vomiting), contact your doctor right away. This may be a sign that you're in labor.
No matter if you're pregnant with one or three babies, you are huge at pregnancy 34 weeks. Your weight gain at 34 weeks pregnant for a single baby is roughly 25 to 27 pounds. (Some women will gain more or less than this average.) If you are carrying twins or multiples, you will have probably gained over 30 pounds by now.
At 34 weeks pregnant, as your baby's birth approaches, many women start wondering about whether or not they will need an episiotomy. Recent studies have suggested that while episiotomies are common, they are an unnecessary medical procedure that many new mothers endure at the time of delivery.
An episiotomy is an incision that your healthcare provider will make from the bottom of your vagina to the top of the rectum in an effort to avoid tearing during delivery. Many women experience tearing when the baby's head passes through the birth canal.
Supporters of the procedure claim that it may help prevent unnecessary tearing and lacerations. However, there are many women who endure increased lacerations, complications, unnecessary pain, and even those that require reconstructive surgery after having an episiotomy. Many times, an episiotomy will result in a longer recovery period after delivery.
There are certain risks associated with having an episiotomy including:
Increased risk of blood loss during delivery.
Increased risk of infection.
Weaker pelvic floor muscles after birth.
Increased healing times.
Loss of sexual sensation post delivery.
Incontinence.
Increased risk of a severe tear during birth.
In some instances, an episiotomy may be a life saving procedure. It can be medically necessary, particularly during times when the baby is in distress and needs to be delivered quickly.
Baby size doesn't really have anything to do with the amount of tearing you might experience. How big your baby's head is will actually determine whether or not you experience any tearing during delivery.
Is there anything you can do to avoid an episiotomy? Some women and healthcare providers encourage gentle stretching of the birth canal during labor and delivery. This is often referred to as a perineal massage. You can actually perform this massage in the weeks leading up to your birth.
Perineal massage is a form of exercise that can help prepare your body for labor. Many women begin massage in the five to six weeks leading up to delivery. Use of perineal massage may help reduce your risks for excessive tearing.
Many women choose to perform a perineal massage themselves, however, there is no reason your partner can't help you. To perform a perineal massage you will need to do the following:
Sit in a position that allows you to remain comfortable with your legs apart.
Place some water soluble lubricant on your fingers and thumbs as well as the area between your vagina and anus.
Next, you will place your thumbs into the vagina about half way. Spread your legs and press down firmly on the perineal area. Try pressing down and to the sides at the same time, so that you are stretching the area.
Hold for a few minutes. You should feel some tingling.
Massage the lower vaginal canal back and forth.
It is best that you ask your healthcare provider exactly how to perform a perineal massage if you are interested. It is often hard to visualize such activities without someone actually showing you how to perform them.
Ultimately, the best way to avoid tearing is through a slow decent and controlled delivery of the head. If you work with a qualified health practitioner, you have the best chance of delivering your baby with minimal damage to your vagina and surrounding areas. If you have concerns about tearing, talk with your healthcare provider. Typically, your healthcare provider will be able to alleviate some of your concerns and inform you of all your options prior to delivery.
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As your belly continues to expand at pregnancy week 34, you're probably getting more uncomfortable. Room is getting tighter in the womb, and the increasing weight of your baby and uterus is probably contributing to annoying pregnancy symptoms.
At 34 weeks pregnant, you may be feeling Braxton-Hicks contractions ("false" labor pains) on a regular basis. Braxton Hicks are uterine contractions that are preparing your body for the real thing.
At 34 weeks pregnant, as your baby's birth approaches, many women start wondering about whether or not they will need an episiotomy. Recent studies have suggested that while episiotomies are common, they are an unnecessary medical procedure that many new mothers endure at the time of delivery. 