34 weeks pregnant
Your baby is the size of a

34 Weeks Pregnant: Your Baby’s Development

Making the drop. If your baby is a boy, his testicles are now descending into his scrotum. If your infant's scrotum seems large right after birth, don't worry: the swelling is due to extra fluid and will go down in a week or so.

No vacancy. Your baby is moving around less frequently, mostly because of the cramped quarters. At a hefty 2.2 to 2.3 kg (4.7 to 5 lb) and 39.4 to 41.9 cm (15.5 to 16 inches) long, baby is right up against the wall of the uterus. You're probably pretty good at guessing which body part (foot? elbow? arm?) is protruding.

Baby blues. At the moment, your little one's eyes are blue. The pigmentation process in the iris won't be complete until your little one’s eyes have been exposed to light for several weeks after birth.

34 Weeks Pregnant: Your Symptoms

Is it show time? With only a few weeks to go, it's a good idea to familiarise yourself with the signs of labour. The most common symptoms are:

• regular contractions that occur at increasingly short intervals

• lower-back pain accompanied by menstrual-like cramps

• your water “breaking” (rupturing of the amniotic sac)

• blood-tinged discharge (indicating that your cervix has started dilating).

You may have signs of labour days or even weeks before you actually give birth. If you experience any of these, call your healthcare provider immediately.

Finalising your birth plan. You've probably discussed your wishes with your healthcare provider, your partner and the family members you'd like present at the birth. Now is a great time to review your preferences again with your doctor or midwife to refresh his or her memory and make sure you're both still on the same page.

Did you know? Your baby’s weight gain will start to slow down in the last weeks of pregnancy. If a newborn baby continued to grow at this same rate, your little one would weigh 90.7 kg (200 lb) by his or her first birthday!

34 Weeks Pregnant: Your Checklist

• Familiarize yourself with the signs of labor

• Review your birth plan with your doctor and/or midwife

• Take a class in infant CPR, breastfeeding, or baby care

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