{"id":1379,"date":"2022-01-14T22:45:54","date_gmt":"2022-01-15T04:45:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/americanpregnancy.org\/?p=1379"},"modified":"2023-04-21T14:08:43","modified_gmt":"2023-04-21T20:08:43","slug":"34-weeks-pregnant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/americanpregnancy.org\/healthy-pregnancy\/week-by-week\/34-weeks-pregnant\/","title":{"rendered":"34 Weeks Pregnant"},"content":{"rendered":"

34 Weeks Pregnant<\/h2>\n

Congratulations! You are one week closer to meeting your new baby. Here are several things you can expect during pregnancy week 34.<\/p>\n

What changes are occurring with your body?<\/h3>\n

The top of your uterus can now be felt approximately 5 \u00bd inches (14 cm) above your belly button<\/strong>. It is important to remember that every woman’s pregnancy is different, so your measurements may vary from those of other pregnant women. The most important thing is that your uterus is growing at a consistent rate. Typically the amount of the amniotic fluid peaks between 34 and 36 weeks<\/a>. At 37 weeks<\/a> the amount of amniotic fluid begins to decrease to allow more room for the baby. The amniotic fluid is reabsorbed by your body, which also increases the amount of room that the baby has to move. You may begin to notice that your baby’s movements<\/a> feel different. You may have noticed that your belly button has become an “outie” or that it is extremely sensitive. If this is the case, you can take a small piece of tape or a band-aid to cover it. This may be extremely helpful if it pokes through your clothes.<\/p>\n

How big is your baby?<\/h3>\n

Most likely your baby is somewhere around 17 \u00bd inches (44.5 cm) long<\/strong> and weighs around 5 to 5 \u00bd pounds (2.3 to 2.5 kg)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

What is happening with your baby at 34 weeks pregnant?<\/h3>\n

During the last several weeks, we have discussed that your baby’s body has begun to fill out with the formation of fat under the skin. This is an important part of development because these fat stores will help your baby regulate her body temperature after delivery. The central nervous system is continuing to mature, and the lungs are well-developed. While most health care providers would ideally like you to carry up to 38 to 40 weeks<\/a>, your baby has a good chance of surviving outside of the womb at this time.<\/p>\n

What should you plan for during pregnancy week 34?<\/h3>\n

Around this time many health care providers begin discussing the following with their patients:<\/strong><\/p>\n