Pregnant: What happens in week 34

Your baby's development in pregnancy week 34

Own body temperature: For several weeks now the fetus's layer of fat has continued to develop. In pregnancy week 34 it can regulate its own body temperature independently of the mother. Usually it's even about one degree higher than yours, which keeps your baby cozy and warm in the womb.

Hearing becomes more refined: Your child has been listening since about the 23rd week of pregnancy, to what is happening around it. In recent weeks it has increasingly responded to familiar sounds and answered with kicks or punches. In pregnancy week 34 it also begins to, distinguish between pitches. Now is the best time for singing to it or little stories. Familiar sounds make it easier for your baby to calm down after birth.

The first scratches: Your child's fingernails and toenails have by pregnancy week 34 grown so long that they extend as far as past the edge of the fingertips. Because of this the fetus now occasionally scratches itself. But don't panic: the nails are still so soft that the small injuries are only superficial and heal quickly. Even after birth it still takes a while for the nails to harden.

Ready for the start: Lung maturation and development of the digestive system are largely complete in pregnancy week 34 and your baby already has all the important enzymes to digest its food. If your child were to be born this week, it could largely start life without special medical support.

Increased calcium requirement: Until birth the bones of the fetus become progressively harder. For this it now needs especially a lot of calcium, which it gets from the mother's blood.

Less space: Your baby's space to move in pregnancy week 34 is noticeably smaller than it was 1 to 2 months ago. Your child may now already with its head towards the pelvis and only turns from left to right. Because growth displaces the amniotic fluid, your baby now often already touches the walls of the uterus and the little arms, head, or bottom are clearly visible on your belly.

What can be seen on the ultrasound image?

In pregnancy week 34 your little miracle is about a full 45 cm long – which corresponds roughly to the size of a red cabbage. On the scale your child now weighs a full 2,200 grams. Thus your belly circumference continues to grow. In addition, the rapid growth and increasing weight are noticeable on the ultrasound image. Now your baby more and more like a fully formed newborn in appearance. Depending on its position in your belly, it shows you its face and its acrobatics in full action. Maybe it even sucks its little fingers. One thing is certain, though: it won't be long until your child presents itself to you with all this in the "real world" outside the placenta.

Physical changes – what happens to the mother in pregnancy week 34?

In pregnancy week 34 your belly has by now grown into a proper round shape. Many pregnant women can already no longer see their feet and complain about the occasional pregnancy complaints, which are now more due to the high weight of the baby and uterus and less to the rapid hormonal changes as in early pregnancy. Which physical changes that most expectant mothers notice in pregnancy week 34, you can find out here.

Linea nigra: You may have noticed the darkening line a few weeks ago. In many expectant mothers the line darkens from the navel to the pubic bone at the latest now in pregnancy week 34. The cause of the line is the pregnancy hormones, which change skin pigmentation and, for example, also darken the nipples. How pronounced the line is, varies from woman to woman. After the hormonal balance normalizes, the pigmentation will fade on its own.

Changes to the navel: Some women now also notice changes to their navel. It becomes flatter and protrudes outward. If your navel hurts, this is due to the strong tension of your skin caused by the growth of your belly.

Pelvic floor weakness and mild pain: The pelvic bones prepare for birth in pregnancy week 34 and become more relaxed. Therefore you may now feel pain more often when walking. In addition your child is now lower in the pelvis and presses on the nerves. This may show up for you as a slight numbness in your pubic area. Relaxing baths or light massages help to relieve this sensation. If the pains are worse and radiate clearly into your legs and back, it's best to discuss them with your doctor. Your midwife can also helpful tips to strengthen your pelvic floor provide, which relieve the pain.

Moderate appetite: With your baby the uterus also continues to expand in the abdominal cavity. In pregnancy week 34 the upper edge has reached the highest position. It now presses against the ribs and gives the stomach less and less room. This curbs appetite and you will probably only be able to eat small portions. It is particularly important to pay attention to a calcium-rich diet so that your baby's skeleton can continue to harden.

Sleep problems: With the increasing belly circumference, the nights become increasingly exhausting for many expectant mothers. You have probably not been able to sleep in your usual position for some time and only sleeping on your side works for you. A nursing pillow usually helps to find a more comfortable sleeping position and at the same time relieve the belly and back.

Pregnancy week 34: entitlement to parental leave

In the next weeks you have a legal entitlement to your maternity protection. If you want to go on parental leave afterward, you should at the latest now speak with your employer, about how you want to structure your parental leave and in your application specify the plan for the next 2 years. You must submit the application with a deadline of 7 weeks in writing to your employer.

During parental leave you are protected from dismissal. When planning you should of course also consider your financial possibilities and inform yourselves how much parental allowance you are entitled to. If both parents are employees, your partner is also entitled to parental leave and you can consider together exactly how to plan it.

For the 35th week of pregnancy