34 weeks pregnant: Baby’s development, symptoms and top tips

Your baby has surpassed 2 kg this week, but will still gain at least another 1 kg before they are born, so plenty more growing to do! They measure about 45 cm from head to heel.

Your baby’s lungs are still developing, but getting closer to being ready to breathe air. Imagine what a shock it is, after 9 months in fluid!

Baby fat

These last few weeks are all about plumping up: your baby is laying on fat and their skin is thickening. It’s still covered in vernix, the waxy substance that protects your baby’s skin inside the womb. You might still see traces of this when your baby is born, but much of it will have disappeared by then.

Alien belly

Now that your baby is so big, you might occasionally see the outline of body parts poking out of your belly – a foot, a fist, or just a lovely baby bum! Enjoy rubbing your bump and bonding with your baby.

Your baby grows bigger, your pregnancy becomes harder. Some women choose to start their maternity leave this week, to give themselves plenty of time to rest before the baby arrives.

Downward pressure

You may have noticed an unusual sensation of downward pressure. This is caused by the weight of your baby pushing down on your pelvic floor, and it can increase after false labour as your baby moves towards your lesser pelvis. You can alleviate this yourself by doing some gentle exercises, such as rocking from side to side while sitting on a gym ball. This will relax your pelvic ring and the surrounding tissue, easing tension in this area.

False labour or actual labour?

You should pack your bag for birth and have it ready in a safe place before false labour begins, as many parents-to-be aren’t sure if it’s false labour or actual labour. First-time parents in particular very often head straight to the hospital, only to be sent back home when it turns out to be a “false alarm”. Don’t worry too much if that’s the case – in fact, it’s excellent practice for the big day when real labour begins and you give birth. If you're nervous, you can read our run-down of what really happens during labour.

Plenty of kicks

If you have a very active baby at 34 weeks, don’t worry – this is a good sign that your baby is doing well. In fact, baby’s movements are the only way that mums-to-be can tell how their babies are doing, so though it might be uncomfortable for you, try to take it as a positive.

There’s a common myth that babies ‘run out of room’ towards the end of pregnancy and therefore don’t move as much. It’s true that they’re a bit squashed in there, but they should still be very active. The movements might feel different, but they shouldn’t reduce. If you’re worried about reduced movements, go to your maternity unit for monitoring.

Car seat instalments

If this is your first baby, choosing a car seat can be quite overwhelming – there is such a range on the market. How do you know which one to go for?

Remember that all baby car seats have to meet regulatory safety standards. Go to Which or similar for a comparison of the different leading brands, and talk to friends and family to see which car seat suited them best. Bear in mind that older cars may not have isofix points. When you do eventually make the purchase, stores like Halfords or Mothercare will install your car seat for free so you can make sure it’s fitted correctly.

Preparing for birth

In these last few weeks, you'll want to think about how you plan to get to the hospital or birthing centre and ensure there’s always enough petrol in the car. Make a list of the phone numbers you'll need - from the midwife and hospital numbers to details of the friends and family you’ll want to phone after the birth.

If your birth partner plans to stay with you throughout, think about taking a sleeping bag and pillow in the car just in case - plus a supply of snacks for sustenance.

Things to get before the baby comes

As well as the car seat and some baby clothes, you will also need other things to meet your baby’s needs right away.

For yourself, you might want to think about renting a breast pump in case that’s something you need and stocking up on nursing pads, maternity pads, nipple cream, ice packs for all your sore bits, and comfy clothes that you can breastfeed in if you want to.

Birth plan

Have you written anything down for your birth plan? Though there are lots of things you can’t control about how your baby arrives into the world, there are likewise areas where you do get a say, and if you have strong feelings about things it’s important to state them. We’ve put together a birth plan template, which makes it easy for you to state your preferences. You can include this in your maternity notes, and also give your partner a copy to refer to.

Preparations for after birth

Think about what you’d like to happen after your baby is born. How would you like to manage visitors? What are you going to do about food? Do you have pets that need looking after, and might be better out of the house while you find your feet as new parents?

Talk to your partner and try to make some preparations so that you don’t have to worry about these things when you’re in the middle of it.

Batch cooking freezer meals before the baby arrives will give you easy dinners later on, while setting up online shopping lists of favourites will make it easy to order the weekly shop at the drop of a hat. If you can take the time to do these things in the remaining weeks of your pregnancy, your future self will thank you.

Why has my bump dropped at 34 weeks pregnant?

If you’ve noticed that your bump has dropped, this is a good sign that your baby is getting ready for birth. It doesn’t mean labour is imminent, but it does mean that your baby’s head has moved down into your pelvis, so that when labour begins they are in the right place.

What should I expect at 34 weeks pregnant?

Expect continued discomfort – your baby is growing, taking up more room, squashing your organs and putting increasing pressure on your pelvis. You’ll probably need to pee more frequently than ever!

What should you not do at 34 weeks pregnant?

By this point, you really should be taking it easy. Continue with gentle exercise, but don’t aim to spend too long on your feet each day. If you’re on maternity leave, take advantage of the respite from the daily routine. This time isn’t intended for you to dash around the house completing last-minute jobs.

How much sleep do I need at 34 weeks pregnant?

It can be hard to get enough sleep when you’re feeling so uncomfortable. The good news is, you don’t need to worry that your lack of sleep is harming the baby – it’s not. But it’s not much fun for you. If you’re not getting your usual 7 – 9 hours, try to catch up with a nap at some other point in the day.

Is it normal to feel uncomfortable at 34 weeks pregnant?

It would be unusual if you didn’t feel uncomfortable, given the size of the baby and how squished your internal organs are! A lot of these symptoms will subside once the baby is born, so try to hold onto the fact that you don’t have too much longer to go.

Got questions? At the HiPPBabyClub, we bring you real-world advice and support from HiPP parents, midwives, nutritionists and more. Join our Baby Club to find out more.