7800 Wolf Trail Cove, Germantown, TN 38138 • (901) 682-9222 • Open Weekdays 8:00 - 5:00
PREGNANCY TIMELINE: WEEK 34
Believe it or not it's week 34 - only 6 more to go! Good nutrition, light exercise and plenty of much needed rest should be your top priority for the coming days. Rely on our Pregnancy Timeline to keep you on track during these last weeks.
Week Overview
Bit by bit your baby is getting ready to meet the world, and is even developing immunities to fight mild infection. By now baby has probably settled into the head down position. Your doctor or midwife will be paying careful attention to your baby's position in the coming weeks - some babies do decide to turn back around. If you are having multiples the positions that your babies are in are likely to stay that way as they are so confined, they can't move around much.
Baby's skull is quite pliable and not completely joined so he can ease out of the birth canal. In addition, his skin is becoming less red and wrinkled. Most lanugo is gone and replaced with a thick coat of vernix.
Baby's Physical Development
- Crown-to-rump, baby measures 12.8 inches long and weighs almost 5 pounds
- Total fetal length is 19.8 inches
- Lungs continue to mature
- Testes have descended into their proper place (boys)
- Baby's eyes open when awake and close when sleeping
- Fingernails are in place
- Bones in the body are hardening
Your doctor may want to perform a biophysical profile of your baby. This test determines fetal health and includes 5 areas of evaluation:
- Fetal breathing
- Fetal body movement
- Fetal tone
- Amount of amniotic fluid
- Reactive fetal heart rate
The first 4 tests are done by ultrasound; the last is performed with external fetal monitors. A score of zero to 2 is given in each category. There is hardly ever a perfect 10.
Your uterus is about 5.6 inches above your bellybutton. You will continue to steadily gain weight, about a pound a week for the next couple of weeks. At this point the placenta is nearly 4 times as thick as it was 20 weeks ago and weighs about 20 ounces.
Your feet and ankles may be quite swollen toward the end of the day. Water retention, also known as edema, is often worse in warm weather and late in the day. Believe it or not, drinking plenty of fluids actually reduces water retention. So drink up, your body and your baby need at least 2 quarts of fluids a day. Also, call your doctor if you suddenly feel swollen or puffy in your hands or face, it may be a sign of preeclampsia.
Following a vaginal examination or with early labor and early contractions you may experience a little bleeding. This small amount of blood is called a bloody show, and can occur as the cervix stretches and dilates. This bloody show involves a small amount of blood. A doctor should be contacted immediately if it appears to be a large amount of blood.
By week 34 you may experience the unpleasant feeling that the baby is going to "fall out," or feel an increase in pressure. This is a common concern during the last weeks of pregnancy. It is related to pressure the baby exerts because it has moved lower in the birth canal. Your physician can perform a pelvic exam to determine how low the baby's head is.
You may also begin to feel a "pins and needles" sensation. This involves the feeling of tingling, pressure or numbness in the pelvis or pelvic region from the pressure of the baby. This is a common symptom of the final trimester and may not be relieved until delivery. Lying on your side will help decrease pressure on your pelvis and on the nerves, vessels and arteries of the pelvic area. Speak with your physician or midwife about any uncomfortable symptoms you are experiencing.
Be prepared for the big "drop" anytime. A few weeks before labor begins (usually with first time pregnancies) or at the beginning of labor, the baby's head will "drop" into the birth canal. When the drop occurs be on the lookout for signs of true labor in the coming days.
Time to Start Thinking About
After months of visits to your OB/GYN it might seem strange to start thinking about locating a physician for your little one. Finding the right healthcare provider for your child is a decision that will affect your child's health from day one. This week is the perfect time to interview pediatricians and family practitioners.
Tips for Mom
As your uterus continues to grow it exerts pressure on the bladder, making it feel as though your bladder is full. You may have experienced this sensation early in pregnancy. You can expect this again during the final weeks when the baby is carried in the lower abdomen. Do not cut back on your fluid intake, continue to drink at least 2 quarts of liquids a day. Avoid drinking just before bed to reduce the need to urinate during the night. Resting on your side for 30 to 45 minutes during the late afternoon or early evening may actually decrease the number of times you need to urinate during the night.
If you've been experiencing Braxton-Hicks contractions, try practicing breathing and relaxation techniques you may have learned from your childbirth preparation classes. In addition to easing these painless, nonrhythmical contractions, it's great practice for the real thing.
If your contractions are harder, more painful than the normal Braxton Hicks contractions, you may be experiencing False Labor. False labor usually occurs before true labor begins. While these contractions are often painful, they are not actually true labor. These contractions are usually irregular and last less than 45 seconds. You may feel the discomfort of the contraction in different parts of the body including the groin, lower abdomen or back. False labor usually stops as soon as it starts.
So how do you know the difference between false labor and true labor? Try timing your contractions. To time how long a contraction lasts, begin timing when the contractions start and end timing when the contraction ends. Also keep track of how often contractions occur. Keep a log of the time when one contraction starts to the time the next contraction starts. Have a record of your contractions ready for when you call the doctor or the hospital. This information will help your physician decide if and when to send you to the hospital.
As your body makes it's final preparations and undergoes final changes, make sure you know the signs of premature labor:
- Menstrual-like cramps (sometimes with diarrhea, indigestion, or nausea)
- Watery, pinkish, or brownish discharge (sometimes preceded by a thick mucous plug)
- Amniotic fluid trickling or flowing from vagina
Tips for Dad
Dad, is all this waiting driving you crazy? Put your restless energy to work by making sure the nursery is stocked and ready for the new arrival. Make sure there are plenty of diapers; 3 or 4 baby blankets; sleepers, undershirts; baby soap and shampoo; cotton swabs and alcohol for umbilical cord dressing; a thermometer, nail scissors, and an ear bulb. Other essentials include the baby's crib, changing table, and a case of baby wipes!
Complications to Watch For
Most pregnancies occur without any complications or problems. But there are times when your physician should be contacted immediately. The following list contains symptoms to be aware of during pregnancy.
- Vaginal bleeding
- Severe swelling of the fingers and face
- Severe abdominal pain
- Loss of fluid from the vagina, usually a gush of fluid, but sometimes a trickle or continual wetness
- A big change in the baby's movements or a lack of movement
- High fever (more than 101.6F;38.7C) or chills
- Severe vomiting or an inability to keep food or liquid down
- Blurring of vision
- Painful urination
- A headache that won't go away or a severe headache
- An injury or accident, such as a fall or automobile accident, that causes you concern about the well-being of your pregnancy
7800 Wolf Trail Cove, Germantown, TN 38138
Phone: (901) 682-9222; Fax: (901) 682-9505