This week of pregnancy is when both mother and baby will start to gain a good amount of weight. Women, due to the uterus pushing up on the organs, you may experience shortness of breath. The baby may be sitting on the diaphragm, which makes it difficult for the lungs to expand to their full capacity. Soon, the baby will settle into the pelvis and as the last weeks of pregnancy you will be able to breathe easier. If you are feeling out of breath, try lying down with your upper body elevated. This will ease the shortness of breath. If you already live with asthma or other respiratory conditions, talk to your doctor and see what he recommends.

At this week of pregnancy, early labor is possible but doctors try to prevent that from happening. The baby if born at this week of pregnancy, they may have health problems and other conditions that may stay with them the rest of their lives. You can prevent early labor by attending all of your doctors’ visits and stay off of your feet as much as possible. The key in the third trimester is to rest as much as possible. If your doctor recommends bed rest, do so. Don’t overwork yourself and listen to what the doctor tells you.

Baby’s Development

At week thirty-four of pregnancy, the baby is about 5-1/2 pounds and measures in at 15-1/2 to 17-1/2 inches. But if your baby does not fall into this percentage, don’t panic. The entire pregnancy, the doctor has monitored the baby and if there were any problems or any concerns the doctor will or would have addressed then with you by now.

The baby’s body is starting to fill up with baby fat. This helps regulate the baby’s body temperature both inside and outside the womb. The baby’s organs are matured at this week in pregnancy except for the lungs. The lungs continue to practice breathing and swallowing in amniotic fluid while they breathe. They tend to get hiccups from time to time, which you feel.

If the baby has any hair at this point, they are learning to blink their eyes. The baby will start to show some recognition of voices and sounds during this stage of pregnancy. You may notice that the baby is sensitive to the lights of the ultrasound.

The baby is now getting ready for birth by turning their head down. The doctor will continue to monitor the baby very week from now until birth. If the baby is in the breach position, a cesarean section birth may be an option for the safe birth.

Changes With Your Body

By now the uterus is about 5-1/2 inches from the belly button. But as we have been saying, every woman is different and every pregnancy is different. There will be an increased amount of amniotic fluid that will peak in week thirty-four through thirty-six. This will provide little or no room to move around. The belly button may start to grow and in some women it can be very sensitive. Covering the belly button with some gauze or a band-aid may help. As the baby moves, he or she will be stirring up the acid in the belly, which can result in heartburn. Try to space your meals out or break them down into 5 to 7 meals a day. Keep the heavier foods for the early part of the day.

You may start to notice your hands; feet and even your face start to swell a bit. This can be caused by either water retention or pre-eclampsia. Talk to your doctor right away if you notice an excessive amount of swelling. If headaches accompany the swelling, call your doctor right away. If caught early it can be treated with bed rest. The important thing when you are pregnant is to listen to your body. You will know when something isn’t right. Never be embarrassed to call your doctor, you want to have a healthy baby and that is what matters the most.

What To Expect

At week thirty-four, you will sit down with your doctor and your partner and discuss what actually happens in childbirth. They encourage you to take classes but they are not mandatory. Did you know that childbirth actually starts when the cervix dilates to 10 centimeters? The contractions at this point will be about 5 minutes apart. It is important for you to ask your doctor how you can tell when a contraction hits.

Another stage of childbirth is the delivery of the baby. This is by far the longest of all of the sections of childbirth there is. The last stage is the delivery of the placenta. This could take anywhere from 5 minutes to 30 minutes. The doctor will perform an episiotomy, this is a safe method and you should definitely ask your doctor what this entails. There are some side effects such as infection, bruising and swelling. You will need time to heal from this. If this is not your first child, then you will be familiar with what happens.

You should have an idea of names for the baby at this week in pregnancy. You should also have an idea of how you are going to bring the baby home and if you are going to need any special help. You should start getting a plan together in case you go into labor. Make a list of phone numbers of people you will want to call and keep your doctors number on hand at all times.

Tips/Advice

As the due date draws near, make sure that you are at ease with the way the birth is going to happen. Many women tend to panic and when they get into the delivery room, they forget everything they have learned. Share your concerns with your doctor and your partner. They will be able to set your mind at ease. Millions of women have given birth and they have gotten through it just fine.