As you reach 34 weeks pregnant, Braxton Hicks contractions may be much more frequent. There are many apps available for tracking contractions, which will help identify whether they are becoming more frequent and intense (labor) or stilquite random (Braxton Hicks).
You have just about a month and a half left before meeting your little one. Space is getting tighter, and his movements may be more visible than ever. He will settle into the head-down position in the next few weeks, ready for birth.
Your Baby’s Development At 34 Weeks
Your baby is about a foot-and-a-half long and may weigh just over 5lb.
By now, his skin is starting to look a little less reddish and more pink and is thickening to prepare to protect him at birth. For these last several weeks, the most important ongoing developmental processes include his bones continuing to harden and his lungs continuing to develop. The baby’s skull will remain more pliable, though, to accommodate birthing.
The baby’s immune system is also continuing to develop if you’ve received vaccines for RSV and/or whooping cough in the past few weeks, that has given him a boost! If you haven’t, ask your doctor if doing so now would still help.
Another important developmental task that will continue until birth is adding that layer of fat under his skin, which helps your baby stay warm.
Mother’s Symptoms At 34 Weeks Pregnant
With only a month and a half left of your pregnancy, you may see some symptoms hinting that labor is near! Your doctor may ask more questions about discharge, pelvic pressure, and contractions.
These are the symptoms you should be watching for now.
Nesting
You may notice a new symptom at 34 weeks pregnant! A ‘nesting instinct’ kicks in for many women between weeks 34 and 37.
This can feel like a gentle urgency to complete important tasks before your baby comes. You may suddenly desire to repaint the nursery, finish sewing the quilt or knitting the booties, or organize all the diapers and changing supplies. Or, the sensation may not be directly connected to baby needs, but may instill a determination to deep-clean the kitchen, start the garden, mow the yard, and fix the broken faucet.
If you can, utilize this burst of energy, but do so judiciously! Remember to give your body the breaks it needs — it’s already doing a lot of work.
Some women may experience this same hormonal urge as a new bout of anxiety and concern, so if you’re suddenly very worried about things you weren’t even thinking about a few days ago, hopefully you can at least take some relief from knowing this is very normal and you’re not alone!
Weight & Breathing
While every pregnancy is different, a pound or two of weight gain per week is average through the third trimester, and that’s enough change to upset your sense of balance. Higher blood volume and pressure on your lungs means you may also be short of breath, overheated, and fatigued much more easily than usual.
Take breaks when you need them. Falling is a risk that increases during this trimester, but it can be reduced with extra care. If you feel woozy, dizzy, or unsteady, stop what you’re doing and sit or lie down. If you faint or pass out, contact medical services immediately.
Stay hydrated, and choose your clothing with comfort in mind. This means supportive, sturdy shoes, a belly band if you need one, and a comfortable and supportive bra.
Preterm Labor
You’re due to meet your baby in just over a month, and it’s hard to wait, but it’s best for your baby if you do. If you experience signs of labor now, you should call your doctor.
Contractions that increase in frequency and intensity are signs of preterm labor. (If they’re Braxton Hicks, they will be more randomly timed and can stop if you change position.) When your contractions are becoming more frequent, call your doctor.
If your water breaks, you need to seek medical care immediately. Whether your medical team ends up delivering your baby early or helping you hold out for a few more weeks, the risk of infection is higher after the rupture of membranes, so extra care will need to be taken.
Other signs of premature labor include severe nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, backache, and pains that feel like menstrual cramps.
As you approach your due date, you may pass pieces of mucous plug, or ‘bloody show.’ Once you lose your mucous plug, labor is likely to happen within a few weeks, but you may also lose pieces after an internal exam, and the plug can reform. Still, passing the plug is not expected until around week 37, so if you see it before the,n you should check with your doctor.
Preeclampsia Symptoms
High blood pressure during pregnancy can be a dangerous complication. Your provider will check your blood pressure at each visit and check your urine for signs of preeclampsia, among other things.
Between visits, signs of preeclampsia may also surface. Swelling may be the first sign. Though a little swelling during pregnancy, particularly of the calves, ankles, and wrists, can be normal, swelling that affects the face and chest is a concern. Any swelling that comes on suddenly or is severe can be a sign of preeclampsia.
Preeclampsia can also cause severe headaches that don’t let up with rest, hydration, or medication, and vision changes.
Digestion & Cravings
Everything about eating and digesting can be hard when pregnant, especially in these last weeks!
First, there are the cravings. Why do you specifically need strawberry gummy candies with chocolate ice cream at 3 a.m.? Our guide may help you uncover pregnancy cravings and the reasons for some cravings.
The good news is that as long as you’re eating a healthy balance of foods and avoiding non-foods and the few specifically forbidden foods (like undercooked meats and high-mercury fish), it’s okay to satisfy these cravings. The bad news is that these days, you might feel full long before you actually feel satisfied. Splitting a meal into multiple sittings or eating smaller, more frequent meals may help.
Many women experience heartburn and indigestion during pregnancy. It can interfere with eating and rest. Smaller, more frequent meals may also help with these symptoms, and not eating a few hours before bed can help, too. If you need an antacid, they’re typically considered safe if they don’t contain aspirin, magnesium trisilicate, or sodium bicarbonate.
Constipation is also a common pregnancy symptom. Your doctor may recommend more water and fiber or a stool softener but will likely tell you to avoid laxatives since they can cause contractions. Some women will also suffer hemorrhoids during pregnancy. Your doctor may recommend using witch hazel or another OTC product to address these.
If it feels like baby is using your bladder as a gymnastics mat and you’re having leaks, practicing those Kegel exercises may help – and it may make labor easier, too.
Pain & Cramping
Some pains that may have surfaced earlier in the pregnancy, like round ligament pain, may continue until delivery. Others, like rib pain caused by your organs vying for space, may have eased by now, especially if your baby has dropped into position for delivery.
Round ligament pain feels intense but usually has no detrimental effects besides hurting. It can be a stabbing or tugging pain low in the abdomen. You can usually ease it by shifting into a position that takes the strain off your round ligaments.
Pelvic girdle pain can be worse as your baby drops lower. In extreme cases, it may cause discomfort severe enough to interfere with standing and walking. If it’s causing you difficulties, your doctor may recommend stretches or exercises that will help.
Sciatica can occur during the second and third trimesters. It’s caused by pressure on the sciatic nerve at the base of your spine. Your doctor may recommend stretches, heat therapy, and/or medication.
Back pain is no surprise, as your spine works to carry the extra weight of pregnancy. Supportive garments, including a good bra and a belly band, can help.
You may also have ongoing difficulties with restless leg symptoms. It can feel like your legs are anxious to jerk or shift whenever you try to relax. Since most meds for this condition are off the table during pregnancy, your doctor may recommend a vitamin supplement, exercise, massage, or heat.
Thanks to the hormones that cause a loosening of joints and ligaments as you near the time to deliver your baby, general joint and muscle pain can be widespread at this point.
Skin & Breast Changes
The closer you get to delivery, you will likely see a few drops of colostrum leak. Some women won’t see the first drop until their baby is born, while others may have heavy leaking as early as months ahead of time. If you notice enough leakage to cause dampness, you should consider nursing pads inserted into your bra to avoid thrush and cracked or bleeding nipples.
You may also notice visible veins. These can include faint visible lines on your chest and stomach; spider veins that most commonly appear on your legs but can show up on your face, arms, or other parts of the body; and varicose veins in your legs.
Spider veins are usually not a medical concern, but if they’re painful, swollen, or warm to the touch it could indicate a clot, and you should talk to your doctor. For varicose veins, your doctor may recommend compression garments, elevating your legs, or shifting your physical routine. This may include less time standing and/or adding some walking or other light exercise, or may involve weight management or other temporary lifestyle changes.
Stretch marks are a normal part of pregnancy, caused by your skin stretching to accommodate your growing uterus. Many women embrace the marks as evidence of the powerful work they’ve done to bring a new life into the world. Others hate them and want to prevent scarring. However you feel about the visible effects, sometimes stretch marks can be physically uncomfortable. They can pull or itch. A gentle lotion, like cocoa butter, can help reduce both visibility and discomfort.
Insomnia, Nightmares, Anxiety
If you’re feeling a little bit anxious (or more than a little), it’s entirely understandable. You’re going through a life-changing experience, and it’s hard to predict just what happens next—when you’ll go into labor, how long it will be, and whether breastfeeding will come naturally or be hard work.
As you get closer to delivering your baby, it’s reasonable to feel some anxiety, but if it starts to interfere with your peace, speak to your doctor. Possible solutions range from support groups with other pregnant moms, to mental health care, to even medication if it’s needed. Your doctor can also reassure you about some of those expectations!
Nightmares at this point aren’t only the product of these anxious thoughts (though you may see some of these fears reflected in them). They’re also caused by changes in heart rate, and hormonal shifts. According to the Sleep Foundation, poor sleep during pregnancy may also affect this, because you’re more likely to remember dreams when you wake during the sleep cycle.
Unfortunately, insomnia and sleep disruption are a common part of pregnancy too. You may be able to address these somewhat by treating other pregnancy symptoms, like RLS and heartburn, and using sleep hygiene practices (like a cool dark room and turning off screens an hour or two before bed) can help.
As with any symptom, if it is severe enough to interfere with safety and wellbeing, speak to your doctor.
General Discomfort
There are a variety of other pregnancy symptoms that you may notice in these last few months.
You may be overheated more easily, and generally have difficulty regulating your body temperature. You may be feeling fatigued, and for many women, this is the point when pregnancy starts to seem like it’s dragging on forever and you’re just ready to be done.
You may also be dealing with some pressure in the pelvic region, and the overall discomfort isn’t helped by the fact that it can be hard to reach your own ankles now!
When To Contact Your Doctor
When so many of the symptoms that may feel severe are considered normal pregnancy discomfort, it’s hard to be sure which ones merit a call to the doctor. Three of the most serious reasons to call your doctor immediately are signs of preterm labor, signs of preeclampsia, and signs that your baby may be in distress.
Pre-Term Labor
Your baby needs these last few weeks of development, so if you see signs of labor in your 34th week, it’s important to seek medical help.
You’ve likely been experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions for a while. Labor contractions may be similar, or could feel very different. This can vary depending on baby’s size and position, the position of your placenta, and so many other factors.
Labor contractions may feel like an intense or painful squeezing sensation. In some pregnancies, they may feel like a new lower back pain. They might feel like severe menstrual cramps. Or, they might feel like a strong downward pressure and the desire to push!
While the sensation can vary, most people agree that they experience labor contractions as painful, while Braxton Hicks are not. Labor contractions get progressively more intense and closer together, and keep doing so even if you change positions or rest. Braxton Hicks can stop with rest, position change, or hydration.
Call your doctor or head for the hospital if your water breaks. Whether you and your doctor determine that the best course of action is to deliver your baby today or to try to halt labor for a while, once your water has broken, there is an increased risk of infection, and you’ll need close monitoring.
Preeclampsia Signs
Signs of preeclampsia can surface at any point in pregnancy or even in the weeks immediately after delivery, though the second half of pregnancy is most common.
Preeclampsia can put you and your baby in danger if not closely managed, and you may have to deliver your baby early, so if you see any of these signs, contact your doctor immediately.
They include sudden or severe swelling, swelling that is more prominent on one side of the body than the other, swelling that affects the face or chest, severe headaches that don’t ease with treatment, and vision changes.
Fetal Distress
Your baby’s movements may feel different now than earlier in your pregnancy, mainly if he’s already settled into the head-down position for birth. However, you should still feel regular movement. The amount of normal activity varies for every baby, so knowing your baby’s patterns is essential.
Call your doctor if your baby is not moving as much as usual. They will ask for specifics, so it’s best to be prepared with kick counts to describe the difference between typical movement and the current situation. If you feel strongly that something is wrong, don’t delay making the call.
Other Reasons To Call Your Doctor
You should let your doctor know if you have severe nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea. In some cases, this can be a sign of labor, but even if the cause is benign, it can result in dangerous dehydration.
You should report any signs of dehydration, such as being unable to pass urine for a prolonged period of time, to your doctor.
Any vaginal bleeding, or significant changes in discharge, should be reported to your doctor. Passing a ‘bloody show,’ or pieces of mucous plug, usually doesn’t happen for a few weeks yet, and may not be an emergency even if it does happen now (especially if you’ve recently had an internal exam) but could mean the cervix is thinning or dilating.
Most importantly, if you feel that something is wrong, you should always feel that you can call your doctor and check.
What Should Mom Be Doing At 34 Weeks?
Kick counts are an important part of home care for your pregnancy. You can do this with pen and paper or an app.
There are two basic methods. First, set a timer and start counting the baby’s movements. When you’ve counted ten, note how long that took. The other is to time for an hour and mark the total number of movements. Whichever method you choose, you should use it consistently and at the same time every day.
If you haven’t packed a hospital bag, now is a good time to do so! Include the clothes you and your baby will wear home. (If you’re trying to decide on pants, ones with a loose elasticy waist may be your best bet. Fitted or tight pants likely won’t fit and can be extremely uncomfortable after labor, but your maternity pants will probably be too loose.) Your bag should also include basic toiletries, socks or slippers, and items for your comfort during labor and after. These may include snacks, headphones, and other items to make your stay more pleasant.
What To Look Forward To
At 34 weeks pregnant, you are getting so close to meeting your baby! After the 36-week appointment, your provider will likely shift you to weekly visits.
If your baby hasn’t dropped lower in your uterus yet, breathing may come a little easier when he does!