What does my pregnancy look like at 34 weeks?

How does my baby grow at 34 weeks?

At 34 weeks, your baby is around 45cm and usually weighs around 2kg.

As your baby is growing, it may feel as though there’s not much space left in your tummy. You may feel your bump changing shape as your baby changes position in your womb.

If you’ve been worried about going into labour before your due date, rest assured that most babies born past their due date are perfectly healthy. In fact, only around 1 in 20 babies are born on their exact due date! While their lungs are still developing, most breathing problems will be treatable if your baby does decide to deliver early.

What do I need to know about being 34 weeks pregnant?

At this stage in your pregnancy, you might be seeing your doctor or, in some cases, having an ultrasound. It is a good time to start making a birth plan. The words ‘birth plan’ can almost seem contradictory, considering birth can be difficult to predict. But even if you write a birth plan and discard it the moment labour approaches,having a birth plan can help you emotionally prepare for the unpredictable nature of childbirth. It’s best to think of a birth plan as something that can help bring more calm to the chaos.

So, rather than viewing your birth plan as a guaranteed master plan of how things will go, try to instead think of it as a checklist of priorities and intentions. Like due dates, a birth plan isn’t set in stone and is more of a guideline that helps you prepare for birth; being too attached to an outcome can lead to disappointment. You can’t control the unknown, but you can set intentions and prepare yourself for the various outcomes.

The first step to any birth plan is to educate yourself on what options are out there and discuss them with your partner. And then you’ll need to see what’s available to you at the facility you've chosen to deliver your baby.

To help you with your decision-making process, here are a few examples of what to consider when thinking about the type of birth you want.

How do I write a birth plan?

Step 1.

If you would like a natural birth, then instead of saying to yourself, “I must give birth naturally because a natural birth is best”, you could instead set the intention to have an unmedicated birth and prepare by going to birthing classes, hiring a doula, and telling your doctor or midwife that you do not want an epidural. But be completely open about the possibility of asking for medication, because it may turn out that you really need it.

Step 2.

Remember, in some cases, you may not be able to deliver a healthy, happy baby. Normally, a Caesarean section is required to protect your health and that of your baby. So if your doctors suggest that you have one, make sure they explain why they think you need one and find out what the alternative options are.

Step 3.

Remember why you are choosing to involve health professionals in your baby’s birth; they are your allies in the birth process, advising you about what you and your baby may need. Make sure you let them know what you need and ask any questions you have to create more ease in the lead-up to birth.

What Does My Pregnancy Look Like at Thirty-Four Weeks?

Your pregnancy at 34 weeks, including due dates, baby development and birth plans.