34 Weeks Pregnant

Key Takeaways

• Late pregnancy symptoms: Look out for exhaustion (it’s like you’re back in the first trimester again), swollen ankles and so much pressure. Baby’s weight and position may result in hemorrhoids, frequent (and sometimes involuntary) pee breaks and general discomfort in your pelvic area.
• Your body: You’ve maxed out on amniotic fluid at this stage of the game, and baby is in tight quarters. All this to say: It’ll feel like you couldn’t possibly get any bigger.
• Labor prep: Keep doing your kick counts and take mind of Braxton Hicks contractions. If they’re getting stronger or more frequent, give your doctor a call. You want to make sure you’re not in preterm labor.
• Baby’s development: Baby really looks like, well, a baby at this point! They’ll fill out a bit more in the next six weeks. Most preterm babies born at 34 weeks will be healthy; they might just need some extra time and care in the NICU.

Your curious baby can hear your voice and is listening in on your conversations at 34 weeks pregnant. I loved playing lullabies and Top 40 songs alike for my little ones at this stage of pregnancy. Fun fact: Experts say that, after birth, babies can recognize songs mom sang while pregnant; they may even be more easily soothed by those familiar tunes once they're “on the outside.” And no, baby won’t care if you’re singing a bit off-key. (“Hit Me Baby One More Time” remains my oldest daughter’s favorite!)

Video Highlights

Baby at Week 34

Baby’s skin is getting ready for life outside the womb as the vernix that protects it begins to thicken. The vernix is a barrier between baby’s developing skin and amniotic fluid. Eventually, it will also help protect baby’s skin during delivery.

If you’re having a boy, he’s going through some big changes this week. At this point, his testicles will have pretty much completely descended from the abdomen into the scrotum. Plus, baby’s begun to store important minerals like iron, calcium and phosphorus, which help build strong bones and teeth, as well as support overall growth after birth. Basically, baby at 34 weeks looks a lot like they will when they’re born, just with less body fat. At this point, it’s all about the finishing touches.

How big is baby at 34 weeks?

At 34 weeks pregnant, baby is the size of a yellow doll watermelon. With less than two months until go time, baby weighs in at about 5.2 pounds and measures about 17.8 inches.

Are babies fully developed at 34 weeks?

Pretty close! A 34-week fetus can hear, see, sleep and breathe, among other things. You’ll also probably feel a lot of movement—your baby knows it’s almost time for their big debut!

What does baby look like at 34 weeks?

Baby’s fingernails have grown in, their skin is smoothing out and they keep putting on weight. You’ll be seeing what baby looks like very soon!

34 weeks pregnant is how many months?

At 34 weeks pregnant, you’re eight months pregnant, give or take. You’re only about six weeks away from becoming a mom!

34 week ultrasound

You’ll likely take a trip to the OB this week, since you’re probably seeing them every other week. If your doctor orders it, you could have a biophysical profile (BPP), which is a combination of a 34 weeks pregnant ultrasound and a special non-stress test, which measures baby’s heart rate over a period of 20 minutes. Together, these two tests help the doctor confirm that baby is reacting well to stress and thriving. Usually, a BPP is only ordered for high risk pregnancies.

Your next appointment

Enjoy having next week off, because starting at week 36 you’ll have weekly OB appointments. You’ll probably have a Group B strep test around 36 weeks too, which involves a vaginal and rectal swab. Ten to 30 percent of pregnant women test positive for the Group B strep bacteria, which could be harmful to baby if passed to them during delivery. If you test positive for Group B strep, it’s no biggie—you’ll just have to take some antibiotics during labor and delivery. Maybe pick a new book to read during your waiting room time.

Pregnancy Symptoms at Week 34

Your symptoms at week 34 of pregnancy are pretty typical to late pregnancy and might seem like a broken record from here on out.

Blurry vision

A combination of hormones, fluid buildup and lack of sleep may make your vision seem a little “off.” Sometimes it’s just a normal, temporary pregnancy symptom, but if your blurry vision is accompanied by swelling, headache and/or rapid weight gain, it could be a sign of preeclampsia, so tell your OB right away.

Fatigue

It’s exhausting carrying around all that extra weight (whether you’ve got one baby in there or you’re 34 weeks pregnant with twins). And if only you could sleep at night!

Constipation

It’s normal to be stopped up at 34 weeks pregnant, which can make you feel more uncomfortable than you already are. Remember to take frequent walks, eat foods with lots of fiber (think: leafy greens) and drink lots of water to get things moving.

Hemorrhoids

What a vicious cycle! Straining when you go to the bathroom can cause this other not-at-all-fun symptom—and so can all the extra weight baby is putting on your rectum. To ease hemorrhoids, work on the constipation and try different sitting and standing positions to ease some of the pressure on the area.

Swollen ankles and feet

Sit down and put up your feet whenever you can to reduce the swelling.

Abdominal pressure

As baby prepares for arrival and settles down lower, you might feel pressure in your pelvis and even more frequent urination.

Braxton Hicks contractions

At 34 weeks pregnant, cramping sensations are totally normal. It’s likely your body is just getting ready for the real deal. Note, though, that at 34 weeks pregnant, pelvic pain could be the sign of a problem. Regular contractions that don’t stop after about an hour, vaginal bleeding and lower back pain are all signs of premature labor. If you have any of these worrisome symptoms at 34 weeks, call your OB immediately.

Is it safe to deliver at 34 weeks?

You’re so close, but baby at 34 weeks isn’t quite full term yet. (That won’t be until they reach 37 weeks.) However, at 34 weeks, baby has a great chance of being strong and healthy, like any full-term infant. Still, they may require some extra time in the hospital to make sure everything is okay before going home with you.

Your Pregnant Belly at 34 Weeks

Your 34 weeks pregnant belly might seem a little—or a lot—lower than it did a few weeks ago. That’s because baby may have descended lower into your pelvis. This may let you breathe a little easier, since your lungs have more space. Ahh! (Some babies don’t do this until the day they’re born, so we’re not making any guarantees.) The pitfall of this descent, of course, is even more pressure on your bladder, so be prepared to make even more trips to the ladies’ room over the coming weeks.

At 34 weeks pregnant, your belly should measure about 32 to 36 centimeters from the top of the uterus to the pubic bone. If you’re measuring a bit big or a bit small, it could mean baby is bigger or smaller than average or in a breech or sideways position, or that there is an abnormal level of amniotic fluid. Anything out of the ordinary with fundal height (that belly measurement) may prompt your doctor to order a 34 weeks pregnant ultrasound to figure out the cause.

Fun fact: Amniotic fluid is at an all-time high between weeks 34 and 36, so you might feel as if your belly isn’t getting too much bigger after this point. That’s because fluid will decrease so baby can keep growing and have room to wiggle around. Still, they’re getting snug in there, causing movement to start to feel slightly different around this time.

Continue checking in on baby by doing kick counts. Twice a day, set a timer and see how much time it takes baby to move 10 times. (It should be an hour or less.) Let your doctor know about any notable changes.

If you’re 34 weeks pregnant with twins, you might be feeling pretty antsy. That could be a subtle psychological sign that the babies are coming soon. For twin moms-to-be, the countdown is officially on, since most twin pregnancies are delivered at around 36 weeks.

Tips for 34 Weeks Pregnant

You might be ready to get this show on the road, but you have a few more weeks to go. Hang in there. Here’s what you can do now to help prioritize your health and wellness.

Pass on the salt

Swollen feet are tough enough to deal with—don’t make them worse by adding fluid-retaining salt to your foods. Keep an eye on any prepared foods you eat too, and choose low-sodium versions when you can.

Drink water… and then drink some more water

If you’ve got Braxton Hicks, it could be a sign that you need to drink more water—dehydration is a big contributing factor for these contractions. And because water helps relieve and prevent constipation, drinking a lot of it is doubly good for you!

Take care of your bottom line

Hemorrhoids aren’t fun, but you can make them a little more bearable by treating them with some TLC. A warm sitz bath and witch hazel pads can help, and so does spending plenty of time on your feet—sitting too long puts pressure on the blood vessels affected by the hemorrhoids. Constipation is another cause of hemorrhoids, so do what you can to keep everything running smoothly.

Wind down for the evening

Get your mind and body ready for bed each evening, and you may have a better chance of sleeping through the night. Try a few gentle prenatal yoga stretches at night to soothe aches and pains, eat at least three hours before bedtime to give your meal time to digest and skip the late-night TV talk shows or social media scrolling—the light from screens can mess with your body clock, preventing you from falling asleep. If you need something to help you doze off, read a few pages of a book instead.

Wins, Challenges and Wisdom

You’re so close to meeting baby—if you have increased nerves as you get closer to the big day, know it’s completely normal. Just take it one second at a time and know that you can do this. Below, moms share their top tips and tricks for making it to the big moment (and beyond).

• Win: “I have an excuse to hang out on the couch with my feet up and do nothing! And, as much as it's a pain to pee constantly, I do enjoy being able to step off my unit at work to pee as many times as I want and no one questioning me!” - tash_rn
• Challenge: “I’m so tired of being pregnant. My pregnancy hasn’t been easy… Whenever I tell people I don't want to be pregnant anymore they take it as me saying I don't love my baby—which is far from true! I’m so excited and ready to meet this little guy, but—until then—things have been really difficult… Hang in there mama, we are almost at the finish line.” - jellyfish97
• Wisdom: “Having a baby is hard. Saying goodbye to your old life and your old self is hard… It takes a while to get familiar with your new self. It took me over a year after the birth of my daughter, to be honest. I wish someone had told me just how hard it is emotionally. And it's not like that for everyone—some women fall right into motherhood without skipping a beat. I wasn't one of them, and it's okay if it takes you a while to figure it out too. You'll be great.” - hey_clever_girl