Week 34 of Your Pregnancy

You're midway through your third trimester. Find out more about week 34 of pregnancy, including symptoms, fetal development, and common questions.

Pregnancy Journey Week 34

Design By Alice Morgan / Illustration by Tara Anand

It's week 34 of your pregnancy and you may be gearing up for labor and delivery, but don't get too ahead of yourself. Your baby still needs time to develop. You too may have some of your own preparation to do before the baby arrives.

Pregnancy Week 34 Quick Facts

  • At 34 weeks, you're eight months pregnant
  • You have six weeks until your due date
  • You're in your third trimester

Your Unborn Baby's Size At 34 Weeks

Your baby is approximately the size of a cantaloupe. They weigh 4.73 pounds and measure 17.72 inches, although remember that fetal size can vary from person to person.

Pregnancy Symptoms Week 34

While symptoms may vary from person to person, here are some you may be experiencing during week 34:

  • Braxton Hicks contractions
  • Heartburn and indigestion
  • Increased vaginal discharge
  • Frequent urination and leakage
  • Nasal congestion and ear stuffiness

At this stage of pregnancy, your body has started preparing itself for labor with practice contractions. This likely isn't your first week experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions, but if it's the first time you're noticing a tightening of your uterus for brief and inconsistent intervals, don't worry; it's completely normal. Medical experts recommend you drink water, change positions, or adjust your activity level if they get too intense or uncomfortable. 

Keep in mind

If you’re ever unsure if you’re experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions or are in labor, make sure to call your health care provider for assistance.

For heartburn and indigestion due to your ever-growing uterus crowding out your digestive tract and causing stomach acids to bubble back up the esophagus, try eating smaller meals and avoiding foods that trigger heartburn.

Increased vaginal discharge is another common symptom at this stage of pregnancy. Look out for discharge accompanied by itching, burning, or a foul odor, in which case it could be a sign of infection. New onset of copious clear discharge should also be evaluated by your health care provider to insure no rupture of membranes. 

As your uterus grows—and the pressure on your bladder increases—frequent urination and leakage can occur. Try limiting caffeine and leaning forward when you pee, which will help you fully empty your bladder. For leakage, cross your legs when you cough, sneeze, or laugh and incorporate kegel and pelvic floor exercises into your daily routine. But make sure you are doing those correctly. If unsure, a pelvic floor therapist can help.

Finally, for nasal congestion and ear stuffiness, try using a humidifier at night or a nasal saline rinse. 

Symptoms can vary from person to person and even pregnancy to pregnancy, so don't stress if you are experiencing something not on this list. Just make sure to keep your health care provider informed if anything concerns you.

Developmental Milestones

At this stage of development, your unborn baby is preparing for life outside the womb. Their brain and nervous systems are rapidly developing. They have also developed a variety of reflexes at this point, such as sucking, swallowing, and blinking. 

The immune system is also still developing and during the third trimester, your antibodies are shared through the placenta to help protect your baby after birth. 

The fetus's lungs are nearly developed, and they are busy practicing breathing by inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid. 

The fetus cannot yet digest nutrients from the amniotic fluid and if they are born prematurely before week 35, they would require intravenous fluids or a combination of intravenous fluids and those given by mouth.

Pregnancy Journey Weekly Reminder

Design by Alice Morgan

Prenatal Tests and Doctor's Appointments

At 34 weeks, you will typically see your health care provider for a checkup, which occurs every two weeks in the last trimester, and weekly from 36 weeks, unless there are concerns. Your blood pressure, urine protein, and sugar levels will likely be monitored to ensure you don't develop preeclampsia or gestational diabetes, particularly if you are over 35. 

Amniotic fluid amount is also monitored at this stage to ensure there isn't too much or too little fluid in the uterus. If there are any concerns about fetal growth, amniotic fluid levels, or placenta function, your health care provider may recommend a biophysical profile done by ultrasound to check the baby's well-being by looking at heart rate, movements, and breathing, or order a fetal monitoring test like the non-stress test. 

It's critical in the third trimester to monitor fetal movement and let your health care provider know if you notice any significant changes as this could indicate there is an issue. You can get to know your little one's movement patterns by counting kicks and taking note of sleep patterns.

Common Questions at This Stage of Pregnancy

What can I do to help prepare my body for labor?

You can continue low to moderate impact activities like walking, stretching, and prenatal yoga. It might be beneficial to work with a birth doula to guide you through helpful body work, such as Spinning Babies, the Miles Circuit, prenatal massage, acupuncture, or perineal massage. Finally, focusing on mindfulness, self-care, nourishment, and hydration and just taking time to rest are all good ways to prepare your body for labor.


Should I get a pump if I plan to exclusively nurse and if so, what should I look for in a pump?

It's beneficial to have a pump even if you plan to exclusively breastfeed or chestfeed. A pump will be crucial if your baby spends any time in the NICU so you can establish supply and transport breastmilk to the baby. It may also be useful for increasing supply or to allow others to feed the baby.


In the first two months after childbirth, I pumped milk so my husband could bottle feed our daughter in the middle of the night. That extra sleep aided my own recovery and his active participation in feeding also strengthened his bond with our baby. 


When considering options, figure out whether you want a wearable pump, one that does not require being plugged in to operate, one that is very quiet or has few parts, or if you'll need a hospital grade pump because you've had previous difficulties with milk supply. Many insurance companies cover pumps entirely and some only charge a small fee for upgrades.


How far along into my pregnancy is it safe to have intercourse?

Unless you have been placed on pelvic rest for a medical reason, such as placenta previa, it is safe to have intercourse right up until the time your water bag breaks. It is recommended to avoid intercourse once this happens to help prevent infection.


"Be vocal with your partner about what feels great, and what might not feel so great,” says Amber Knowles, a certified birth and postpartum doula in Chicago and owner of Lorelei Lu Doula. “If the size of your ever-growing belly seems to get in a way, don't be afraid to try new positions!"

Things You Might Consider This Week

If you haven't already attended childbirth or infant care classes, 34 weeks pregnant is not too late to educate yourself on these topics. As first-time parents, my husband and I felt better prepared after taking these classes at a local hospital.

If you don't already have a birth plan, now is a good time to create one if you want one! This will allow you to discuss your individual preferences with your health care provider. I had no idea the number of decisions I would need to make during labor and delivery, from whether I wanted an epidural to how long I wanted to wait to give my newborn a bath, and it was helpful to review the options and potential scenarios in advance. 

Just be sure to keep an open mind and stay flexible if things don't go as planned. Selena Arreguin from Chicago, hoped for a vaginal labor and delivery and created a birth plan to reflect her goals. She ended up having a safe delivery, but it required having an emergency C-section. "Birth humbled me,” she says. “As much as I wished I could have gotten what I wanted for my birth experience, hearing that first cry made everything worth it."

Support You Might Need This Week

The third trimester is an exciting yet challenging time which may require support from others. For instance, making those tough choices around your birth plan might require consulting a doula or others knowledgeable about childbirth. Consulting online resources, including various support groups and credible websites, can also help you figure things out. 

If the cost of care is a concern, Medicaid provides free or low-cost health care coverage for pregnant persons, including prenatal care, labor and delivery, and postpartum care. Additionally, local health departments often offer free or low-cost prenatal care, as well as other services such as immunizations, screenings, and counseling. 

For childbirth education classes and infant care classes, check to see if your area has a pregnancy resource center which offers free or low-cost classes. Also, keep in mind that some doula services offer free or low-cost support to pregnant individuals during labor and delivery.

Head over to week 35 of pregnancy

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