With 34 weeks downward, you lot're cruising through month 8 of your pregnancy.

Your little bambino is at present weighing in at about v pounds — the aforementioned every bit a standard bag of flour.

Meanwhile, your uterus keeps on growing (and growing) to accommodate the bigger bun in the oven.

Your Baby at Week 34

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Want to get a real sense of your baby's size right at present? Head to your supermarket'due south baking alley and pick up a five-pound bag of flour. That'due south almost how much your little muffin weighs. Now, stack 3 numberless of flour on top of each other — that'southward how tall he is (well, if he could stand) — near xx inches in length.

Take a boy bun in the oven? And so hooray for his testicles, which started out tucked up in his abdomen and are now migrating to their permanent abode — his scrotum. In near three to iv percentage of boys, the testicles hang out upstairs a while longer, lingering until some lads turn a yr old. So don't worry if your son is born with undescended testicles...they'll make an advent in the about future.

Both male child and girl babies are producing lots of sex hormones now, which volition explain why the genitals may announced large and bloated at birth… and in the example of a picayune homo, why the scrotal peel may announced darkly pigmented in the first few weeks after birth.

In other news, with but a few weeks to the large day, vernix — the white waxy coating that protects infant'southward skin from amniotic fluid and provides lubrication for delivery — is thickening right on prepping schedule. Likewise right on schedule is the maturation of your little i'south intestines, enabling them to fully digest mama's succulent milk when the time comes!

At a Glance

Sleep schedule

Your baby closes those cute eyes when she snoozes and opens them when she's awake, helping your little i settle into a sleep schedule.

Thick peel

The waxy, cheesy blanket on your babe'due south skin — vernix — begins to thicken this week before it starts shedding in the adjacent few weeks.

Poking through

As your baby grows, you may be able to see body parts like lilliputian hands and anxiety through your abdomen!

34 weeks significant is how many months?

If you're 34 weeks pregnant, yous're in month eight of your pregnancy. Only one calendar month left to go! However take questions? Here's some more data on how weeks, months and trimesters are cleaved down in pregnancy.

How big is my baby at 34 weeks?

This week your baby is clocking in at 5¼ pounds and could be as long as xviii inches. Need a visual? Hold a 5-pound bag of flour in your arms and imagine it's your soonhoped-for-built-in baby — cradle it and you'll merely get strange looks in the baking alley.

Then stack 3 such bags i on top of the other and get ready for some more strange looks, perchance from the same clerks who saw you grin and holding that ane-pound pocketbook of sugar a few weeks ago. That's how long your babe is at 34 weeks significant.

Baby sex activity differences

If your baby is a boy, then this week the testicles are making their mode down from the abdomen to the scrotum. Some full-term baby boys — roughly 3 to 4 percent — are born with undescended testicles, only they usually make the trip downward sometime earlier the first altogether. About thirty per centum of preterm boys are built-in with undescended testicles, too.

Tiny fingernails and toenails

In other babe-related developments, those tiny fingernails have probably reached the tips of his fingers past at present — and are getting fix for that offset postpartum manicure.

Your Body at Week 34

34 Weeks Pregnant

Still growing

Your optics do not deceive you: Your uterus is however growing — and you thought there was no more room! — and, at 34 weeks pregnant, is around a whole 5 inches in a higher place your navel now.

Vision changes

But wait...are you seeing things? You probable aren't seeing besides as usual. That'southward because your optics are however another part of your body that can autumn prey to those pesky pregnancy hormones — the same ones doing a number on your digestive tract and your ligaments.

Non only can your vision seem blurry these days, but a decrease in tear production can leave your eyes dry and irritated, especially if y'all wear contact lenses.

What's more than, an increase in fluid behind your optics' lenses tin temporarily change their shape, making some women more nearsighted or farsighted than usual. You lot may find wearing spectacles rather than contact lenses to be more comfortable.

Happily, these changes are all temporary. Things should articulate upwards as your optics return to normal afterwards delivery, and so there'southward no need to change your prescription just yet. But do keep in mind that sure more serious vision issues can be a sign of preeclampsia, then be sure to mention whatsoever vision changes to your practitioner.

Pregnancy Symptoms Week 34

Bloating and gas

As your tertiary trimester progresses, yous may be getting gassier. Anxiety just makes those gassy feelings worse — you tend to swallow more air when you're stressed — so try this tension-tamer: Breathe deeply through your nose and out through your mouth for a minute or two each day. Read More

Constipation

Demand to rev up those slow-moving bowels? Rough up your nutrition with some dried fruits, fresh fruits and veggies and whole grains. One thing you don't want to do is take laxatives, even herbal ones. Get your practitioner on board before taking any medicine for constipation. Read More

Increased vaginal discharge

Every bit your pregnancy progresses, yous could see an increase in vaginal discharge. Arraign pregnancy hormones, particularly estrogen, for this symptom — they increase blood flow to the pelvic surface area and stimulate the mucous membranes. Wearing undies with breathable cotton liners can keep yous drier and curb odors. Read More

Hemorrhoids

Constipation'due south near constant sidekick? Hemorrhoids. They can exist kept to a minimum by doing Kegels, which tin can better circulation to the area. Read More

Backaches

Your shifting center of gravity from back to abdomen puts more pressure and pain on your lower back. There are many solutions to cure your aching back, so if one doesn't work, another most certainly will. 1 to endeavor: Take a pause and stretch, stand or walk. Sitting too long tin can make your dorsum injure fifty-fifty more. Read More

Leg cramps

Leg cramps are most common around now, when the iii principal culprits — pregnancy weight, swelling and fatigue — are at their peak. If yous feel a spasm, try standing on a common cold surface, which can sometimes stop one in its tracks. Read More than

Stretch marks

Stretch marks may show upwardly as pink, cerise, purple, blood-red-brownish or dark brown streaks, depending on your peel tone. If your mom had stretch marks, then you lot have a genetic predisposition toward them, but you can effort to keep these marks of maternity to a minimum by keeping your weight proceeds deadening and steady. Read More

Edema (swelling in anxiety and ankles)

As you become bigger and your body tissues accumulate and retain fluids, you lot may experience swelling in your ankles, feet and fingers. Slipping into comfy slippers at the end of the 24-hour interval can aid soothe your swollen tootsies. Read More

Fast-growing hair

You knew your hair would grow faster and more lustrous while you were significant, merely you probably didn't know it would grow in places you weren't expecting — like your cheeks, chin and back. Waxing is more often than not considered safe during pregnancy, simply since pare is extra sensitive now, enquire for a formula for sensitive skin. Read More than

Shortness of breath

As your significant belly gets bigger, your lungs won't be able to expand every bit fully, so you may feel winded, even afterwards a trip to the bathroom. Sleeping propped on your left side tin can help at night. Read More

Insomnia

If you're not worrying about commitment day, then leg cramps and trips to the bathroom are banishing any chance of shut-eye. Endeavor lulling yourself to slumber with a warm bathroom and a cup of warm milk and read a volume or mind to music instead of watching Idiot box or going online, both of which activities can keep you awake. Read More than

Leaking colostrum

Equally your due appointment approaches and the third trimester wears on, your breasts may leak colostrum — yellowish pre-milk that will exist your babe's first drink. You lot won't be leaking more than a few drops, but if y'all feel uncomfortable, endeavour nursing pads. Read More

Tips for You This Week

Install the car seat

You bought the car seat, merely accept you installed it still? A improve question: Have you installed it correctly? Between 85 and 95 percent of new parents do information technology wrong.

No matter the model of vehicle or car seat you accept, you should always follow three of import rules for installing an baby machine seat:

1. The safest spot for your infant is e'er in the backseat — preferably in the middle spot, away from rider-side air bags.

2. Confront it backwards. Experts including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the National Highway Traffic Condom Administration (NHTSA) urge parents to keep kids in the rear-facing position until they reach the highest weight or height immune by their car seat.

3. Be sure the base is secured tightly. A car seat shouldn't wobble, pin, slide or tip. If you're not certain if y'all installed it correctly, get yours checked by a professional person technician. Your local law or fire station may also be able to bank check your handiwork for costless.

Protect your eyes

Your eyes may exist feeling more than dry and sensitive than usual, so proceed your sunglasses and lubricating eye drops, known equally "artificial tears," handy.

Many are safe to utilize during pregnancy, but enquire your doctor for a recommendation first. Your peepers will be filled with tears of joy soon plenty.

Get assist for prenatal dejection

Feeling blue? Between 10 and 15 percent of pregnant women suffer from depression during pregnancy. And it's no wonder they're even more susceptible to depression when they're expecting: Surging hormones coupled with stress, anxiety and societal pressure to feel a certain style can do a number on their emotional land.

Some factors can put you at greater risk for depression, but it tin strike anyone at any time — and there'due south no shame in request for assistance. Talk to your provider; some antidepressants are prophylactic to use when pregnant.

Table salt, just don't oversalt, your food

Wondering if cutting back on salt volition assistance ease the puff? That depends on how much salt you're eating in the first place. Doctors used to recommend a low-sodium nutrition during pregnancy — which fabricated information technology hard to satisfy those pickles-and-ice-foam cravings — but thankfully they no longer do.

A moderate amount of salt — for example, adding iodized table salt to your meals and eating lightly salted foods— actually helps your body regulate fluids. Plus, dramatically cutting back on sodium isn't practiced for the baby.

But before you lot polish off that pickle jar, go on in mind that too much salt isn't healthy for anyone, pregnant or not, and can even pump up the puffing.

The bottom line? Salt, but don't oversalt, your nutrient. Requite yourself a one- or two-pickle-per-sitting limit, skip the heavily salted snacks and get into the habit of tasting before sprinkling.

Requite yourself a heave

Looking for an energy lift now that you've cut down on those lattes? Believe information technology or not, you'll find it in regular do. A brisk walk, jog or yoga session will increment blood catamenia and boost feel-good endorphins.

The result? A revitalizing burst of energy, one that actually lasts longer than the coffee-induced kind. Need more convincing? Unlike those lattes, physical activity helps y'all sleep ameliorate too, which volition as well stave off daytime fatigue.

Become for a (prophylactic) soak

Dear a proficient soak in the tub? And so dive correct in, darling. There's no truth to the myth that dirty bath h2o can enter the cervix and cause an infection. Do check that the temperature is right though: It should be warm, not hot.

And just be conscientious when you climb inside — at 34 weeks meaning, your bigger belly may affect your sense of rest, and non being able to encounter your feet can brand you even more prone to spills. Make sure your tub has a non-skid surface, and accept your time getting in and out.

Talk through your labor game plan

Brand sure you talk to your doctor about what to do when yous think you're in labor. It will help to get articulate instructions on when to call your practitioner about contractions, what to do if your water breaks, and if or when to go to the hospital direct. That way, you lot'll know what to look and won't exist confused in the estrus of the moment.

From the What to Expect editorial squad and Heidi Murkoff, author ofWhat to Expect When Y'all're Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such every bit peer-reviewed studies, bookish research institutions and highly respected wellness organizations. Learn how we go along our content authentic and upwards-to-appointment by reading our medical review and editorial policy.

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