Pregnancy Week 34

Your Baby's Growth and Development

By pregnancy week 34 your baby is close to 5 pounds and may reach almost 20 inches in length! Your baby really does resemble a tiny person at this point. Your baby is still working on adding fat to his or her body. Most babies concentrate on this task from here on out.

Your doctor may try to estimate your baby's weight in the upcoming weeks. This is not an exact science however, and many estimates are as much as one pound or more off in some cases! Keep this in mind if your doctor provides you an estimate of your baby's weight.

Why such variance? There are many factors contributing to this. How much amniotic fluid you have for example, may influence your doctors estimate of your baby's weight. While ultrasound provides most doctors a fairly accurate means of estimating the baby's weight, it isn't 100% correct all the time. Keep this in mind the next time you think you know how much your baby will weigh.

If your doctor does use an ultrasound however to estimate your baby's weight they will consider many measurements including the diameter of your infants head, the circumference of the abdomen and head and measure the length of your baby's femur.

Changes In Your Body

Your uterus is roughly 5.6 inches above your belly button by this point. How pregnant do you look at pregnancy 34 weeks? How pregnant you look varies from person to person. Some women look a little small even at 34 weeks pregnant. Others (including me) always look like they could deliver at any moment!

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Every woman tends to carry her baby differently. This can impact how pregnant (or not pregnant) you look at various stages during your pregnancy. Some women for example will carry their baby's high, others low. Some women look wide, others narrow. You'll even find from pregnancy to pregnancy the shape of your belly may change.

An old wives tale suggests how you carry your baby may predict your baby's gender. While not scientifically valid, this can be a fun way to predict your baby's sex, especially if you decided to keep your baby's sex a surprise until delivery!

Has your baby dropped yet? Many doctors use the term "drop" to describe when your baby's head enters into the birth canal or pelvis. Typically your baby will drop in preparation for delivery any time after 34 weeks pregnant during your first pregnancy. This does not suggest labor is imminent, only your baby is heading south for delivery.

Second and third time moms may discover however that their baby doesn't drop until right before delivery. Why? Second and third time moms usually need less prep before labor and delivery.

Are There Benefits To An Episiotomy?

An episiotomy is a sometimes controversial practice. Many women wonder if they will tear during pregnancy. This depends. Factors increasing the likelihood you will tear include the size of your baby, especially your baby's head.

While episiotomies are more and more common, there are many studies suggesting this is an unnecessary medical procedure many new mothers have to bear. What is an episiotomy?

It is a cut your doctor may make from your rectum to vagina to help deliver the baby. The idea is by making a neat incision you will avoid any severe tearing. A doctor can make the cut vertically or horizontally then stitch you up after.

Many claim this is a reasonable procedure that can help prevent second and third degree tears. However there are some studies suggesting that recovery from an episiotomy is even longer than recovery time necessary for ordinary tears associated with labor and delivery.

There are also some risks associated with this procedure including increased risk of infection and blood loss after delivery. Be sure you talk to your doctor about this procedure and their opinions regarding it before you go into delivery. Together you can make an informed decision about whether this may or may not be right for you and your baby.