34 Weeks Pregnant

What Happens During the 34th Week of Pregnancy?

In the 34th week of pregnancy, bodily and hormonal changes continue to take place. They happen along with the fetal development taking place in you. Here, we will look into the details of the different changes occurring to you and your little one in the 34th week.

Hormonal Changes and Pregnancy Symptoms

During this time of pregnancy, you might notice blurry vision as a concern that impacts you, especially in the 34th week of pregnancy. It is a result of the hormonal changes happening in you and a common pregnancy symptom. Due to the changes happening in you, you might find it challenging to fall asleep. Some of you might even slip into stages of insomnia. However, you have to take good care of yourself to avoid any such circumstances. Other than these, you might face swelling, weight loss, headaches, and other concerns as well. They happen as a symptom of severe preeclampsia, and you have to focus on it while pregnant. You can speak with your medical practitioner if you think that you require expert advice and care.

Another issue that can have an impact on you while pregnant is constipation. It is pretty normal to have this concern while pregnant. Other than that, due to the increase in your body weight, you might feel pressure in your rectum. It can pave the way for hemorrhoids for some women. During this time, you might find it challenging to walk due to an increase in your body weight. It can lead to swollen ankles and feet. Thus, it will be beneficial to have a healthy diet and also drink plenty of water. Here, you might even face abdominal pressure because of your baby's growth. It would lead to pelvic pressure, which happens because your baby is trying to settle down. Due to this concern, you might notice an increase in your frequency of urination. Other than that, you might have Braxton Hicks Contractions, which are fake contractions happening before you get into labor. It will be beneficial for you to keep track of them and their intensity. You can communicate this with your doctor to ensure that you receive the support needed.

Bodily Changes

In this week of pregnancy, your belly will continue to grow and will be getting lower into the pelvic region. You don't have to be worried about this as it is something that happens with most women during their 34th week of pregnancy. Other than that, there will be a decrease in the amount of amniotic fluid present in your belly. If you measure your belly during this time, it will be around 32 to 36 cm. However, it will depend upon the number of kids you carry. Besides, during this time, you can feel every moment of your baby's movements. Apart from that, your belly will be a bit lower than the previous weeks.

During this time, you might notice a difference in your breathing. It is because your lungs will have occupied more space. It happens due to the movement of your baby into your pelvis. These are the main bodily changes that occur to you during the 34th week of pregnancy.

Fetal Development

Yes, the days to meet your little one are decreasing, and your baby will weigh around 2.3 kg. Besides, from top to bottom, your little one will measure 43 to 46 cm. Other than that, several significant changes are happening to your little one during this time. If your child is a boy, his testicles will be moving down to the scrotum from the abdomen. During this time, kids will be producing sex hormones. It is one of the reasons why a child's genitals appear swollen during the time of birth.

Apart from this, your baby's skin will have a protective coating called vernix. It is a white wax-like substance that enhances your baby's safety from amniotic fluid and helps during labor. Your little one's intestines will become mature and will be in a position to digest milk after their delivery. Other than that, your baby will start to have a proper sleep schedule during this time. Your baby will also have developed tiny fingers and nails by this time. These are the main changes that happen to a baby during the 34th week of pregnancy.

Things to Take Care of During Week Thirty-Four of Pregnancy

Similar to the previous weeks, you have to continue taking good care of yourself. As part of that, you should maintain a healthy diet, drink plenty of fluids, focus on your physical health, work on your mental health, etc. Here, we will look into these aspects in detail.

Maintaining a Proper Diet

While you are 33 weeks pregnant, you have to look into your eating habits. Here, it will be beneficial to avoid having unhealthy food items in your diet. They range from processed food items to canned products. Instead, you can have fruits, vegetables, whole-grain bread, low-fat dairy products, and lean meat in your diet. Other than that, it will be helpful to avoid having unpasteurized milk in your routine. Here, you have to opt for alternatives that can have no impact on you and your baby. Even though there are no issues with having meat in your diet, avoid having inadequately cooked meat. You can also try to have lean meat in your diet as it can help improve your well-being.

Along with that, ensure that you drink plenty of fluids in your diet. Here, you must focus on drinking eight to ten-ounce glasses of water regularly. You can also include fruit juices, smoothies, soups in your diet as part of having fluids.

When it comes to having food items, you can try to have several smaller meals a day. It can help you overcome issues related to indigestion that you may or may not have. However, it is a common issue that impacts women during their third trimester.

Taking Care of Your Physical Health

You have to continue taking part in exercises as a way to improve your holistic well-being. It is also essential to take care of your baby. Here, instead of engaging in rigorous workouts, you can try out simple and low-intensity exercises. Brisk walking, swimming, pregnancy-friendly yoga, and pilates are excellent options for you to try out. By taking part in them, you can increase blood flow and can make you feel good. You have to work out regularly, but sometimes, you might not feel like exercising. Under such circumstances, it is best to avoid working out and focus on your well-being. It is because you don't have to stress yourself out while you are pregnant.

Enhance Your Mental Well-being

Similar to the previous weeks, you have to continue taking care of your mental health. Some of you might have slipped into depression during your pregnancy. Under such circumstances, you have to speak with your doctor to ensure that you take care of your well-being. It can also happen because of the changes in your hormone levels. It can lead to stress, anxiety, and other emotional concerns. However, you have to remember that you are not alone in this. You can acquire support from your loved ones to improve your mental well-being. Besides, you can also take part in meditation, yoga, and similar calming exercises. Here, you don't have to hesitate to seek support from your doctor if you think it's necessary.

Other Tips

Here are a few tips that can come in handy while you are thirty-four weeks pregnant. They include: