In pregnancy week 34, you reach a milestone in your pregnancy: six weeks before the calculated due date, your maternity leave begins. From now on, you can fully concentrate on preparing for your baby and the upcoming delivery. Your baby also expects a new milestone this week: its weight will increase to over 2 kilograms.
In our pregnancy calendar, you can find out how your baby is developing six weeks before birth and how size and weight are changing now. At the same time, we summarize what is important for you in the 34th week of pregnancy and how you can prepare for the birth. In doing so, we introduce you to the proven automatic baby hammock from swing2sleep.
How your baby develops in the 34th week of pregnancy
In pregnancy week 34, your baby's senses are already well-developed, but continue to evolve with every day of the pregnancy. This week, your baby's hearing is becoming more refined. It can now perceive what is happening outside your belly. It can hear voices and music and even recognize them after birth. In pregnancy week 34, your baby's ability to perceive high-pitched sounds also develops.
The paranasal sinuses are also developing this week. These are not only important for smelling, but also prepare your baby to take its first breath in just under six weeks.
Your baby's skeleton is also already preparing for birth. Through stored calcium, the bone mass densifies so that the bones can withstand the pressure of birth. Your baby's bones become harder and more stable from week to week.
Your baby is now well-developed and even has fingernails. If you are expecting a boy, the testicles move from the abdominal cavity into the scrotum in pregnancy week 34. At birth, this will appear swollen due to water retention and hormones. However, this will subside after a few days.
The space in your uterus is becoming less and less for your baby. As a result, you may now perceive fewer fetal movements than in previous weeks of pregnancy.
In pregnancy week 34, your maternity leave begins and you can take care of the final preparations before the birth. Feel free to take a look at the automatic baby hammock from swing2sleep: with gentle up and down movements, it gently rocks your baby to sleep. You can control the intelligent automatic baby hammock motor via app and also receive push notifications when your baby wakes up.
Size & weight of your baby in pregnancy week 34
In the final weeks before birth, your baby will gain significant weight and continue to grow. The weight of the baby in pregnancy week 34 is around 2,200 grams. This means your baby has reached the milestone of 2 kilograms. The size is 43 to 46 centimeters. Your baby is now as big as a cantaloupe or a romaine lettuce.
Your baby is now gaining around 200 grams per week. At birth, it is expected to weigh 3,200 to 3,500 grams. However, every baby grows individually, so minor deviations are completely normal and no cause for concern. Genetic predisposition in particular has a major influence on your baby's growth.
This is important for you as an expectant mom in the 34th week of pregnancy
In the 34th week of your pregnancy, your maternity leave begins. You no longer have to work and should take it easy. The pregnancy will become more difficult for you in the coming weeks and your body needs rest. Many women look forward to the start of their maternity leave so that they can fully prepare for the upcoming birth and the arrival of their baby.
Maternity leave begins 6 weeks before the calculated due date and ends 8 weeks after birth. In total, it is 14 weeks. However, under certain circumstances, it can be extended. If your baby is considered a premature birth, maternity leave remains in place until 12 weeks after birth (and not just 8). This increases the maternity leave to a total of 18 weeks.
This extension also generally applies to multiple births. If children are born with a disability, the extended maternity leave of 18 weeks in total also applies.
If you notice in pregnancy week 34 that you are slowly needing help in everyday life, you should take advantage of it. Your large baby bump and back pain can make it difficult for you to put on your shoes or take care of the household. Listen to your body and allow yourself plenty of breaks.
You can use these, for example, to take care of a cozy sleeping place for your baby. We recommend the automatic baby hammock from swing2sleep: it offers your baby a cozy nest in which it can sleep restfully. This ensures more relaxation for babies and parents.
Contractions & sleep problems: symptoms in the 34th week of your pregnancy
From the 34th week of pregnancy, you are on maternity leave and can focus fully on your pregnancy. This is also necessary, as your symptoms and complaints now increase with every week:
Sleep problems:
Many pregnant women suffer from a lack of sleep. They can no longer find a comfortable sleeping position or are woken up by their baby. Heartburn and frequent urge to urinate can also lead to you not getting enough sleep. Therefore, lie down more often during the day and catch up on sleep.
Back pain:
In the final weeks of your pregnancy, back pain is your daily companion. Your baby's weight puts a strain on your back and your muscles ache. You can try to relax them with light exercises.
Shortness of breath:
In pregnancy week 34, your baby is pressing on numerous organs and also on your lungs. You therefore find it harder to breathe and quickly get out of breath even during light activities. In a few weeks, your belly will drop and you will be able to breathe more easily again. Until then, you should avoid heavy exertion.
Hemorrhoids:
A large proportion of all pregnant women suffer from constipation. In combination with your baby's weight, hemorrhoids quickly develop. In this process, vessels expand, which is often very painful and unpleasant for those affected. Try to get enough exercise and drink enough: this can prevent the development of hemorrhoids.
Aching pelvic floor:
Your baby's weight puts a heavy strain on your pelvic floor. You may perceive this as enormous pressure on your pubic bone, which can radiate into your legs. This so-called pelvic weakness can be very unpleasant and can be alleviated by gentle pelvic rocking.
You may also notice that you occasionally suffer from dizziness. Your body is currently in an exceptional state. Your heart is now working almost 50 percent harder than before. Dizziness occurs mainly when standing up abruptly and when blood sugar levels drop. Nausea is also possible. Therefore, try to keep your blood sugar level constant with smaller meals.
It is also not unusual for you to feel the first contractions. These are most likely practice contractions (Braxton Hicks). Your body is training for the upcoming birth. From the 36th week of pregnancy, lightening contractions can also occur. They ensure that your baby slips deeper into your pelvis.
Pregnancy week 34: start preparing for birth
There are now only about six weeks left until the calculated due date. You surely already notice that the birth won't be long in coming and want to prepare everything for your baby's arrival. You should first start by packing your hospital bag. In the event of premature contractions, you will then be ready to go at any time. Many expectant moms also feel better if the bag with all the important things for them and their baby is already packed weeks before the birth.
You can also start creating a birth plan. This means planning who will accompany you to the delivery room, who will drive you to the hospital, and who will look after your children if you are already a mother.
In this context, you should also look into perineal massage. Due to the stretching during birth, a perineal tear can occur, which then has to be stitched. If you massage your perineum with a special oil for this in the final weeks before birth, the stretching will be easier and a perineal tear may not occur. Talk to your midwife or doctor if you have questions about a possible perineal tear or an episiotomy.
Your life with a newborn will be exciting and beautiful. You are surely already full of anticipation and can hardly wait to finally hold your baby in your arms. If you are currently getting the last things for your baby, you should also take a look at the automatic baby hammock from swing2sleep. It helps your baby find sleep and sleep through better. Its gentle up and down movements remind your baby of the time in the womb and thus ensure a particularly high level of relaxation.
Automatic baby hammock from swing2sleep: cozy sleeping place for your baby
Our automatic baby hammock is an innovative sleep aid for your baby. With gentle movements, it rocks your baby to sleep and adjusts the intensity to the individual needs of your little treasure. The automatic baby hammock motor is silent and can be controlled by you via app. If your baby wakes up or moves unusually, you will receive push notifications about it.
More than 170,000 parents have already been convinced by our automatic baby hammock, which is also recommended by midwives and osteopaths. Feel free to take a look at our models and find the right sleep aid for your baby.
