Short Answer: At 34 week pregnancy, your baby is about 45 cm from head to heel, roughly the size of a cantaloupe, and weighs around 2.1 kg. The lungs and brain are close to ready, the fat layer is thickening and the fingernails reach the fingertips. Most babies are head down. The top of your womb is about 13 to 14 cm above your navel. You may have heartburn, breathlessness, backache, swollen feet, leg cramps, trouble sleeping and stronger Braxton Hicks tightenings. This week, learn what a late preterm birth means, how induction works, which positions and breathing help in labour and what kangaroo mother care is. Finish your hospital bag, confirm your emergency plan and keep tracking your baby’s movements. Call a doctor the same day for any change in movements, and for bleeding, severe pain, fever, fluid leaking, regular tightenings or a severe headache with blurred vision.
Pregnancy weeks are counted from the first day of your last period, not from conception. Thirty-four weeks pregnant means about thirty-two weeks since conception. You are in your eighth month, with about 6 weeks to go. Many doctors begin weekly visits at 36 weeks.
For the week before, read our guide to 33 weeks pregnant, and to follow the whole journey see our pregnancy guidelines week by week.
35 Weeks Pregnant: Baby Development, Symptoms and Tips
Week 34 at a glance
| Detail | At 34 weeks |
|---|---|
| Trimester | Third |
| Months | About 8 |
| Baby’s length | About 45 cm (17.7 inches), head to heel |
| Baby’s weight | About 2.1 kg (4.6 pounds) |
| Heart rate | About 120 to 160 beats per minute |
| Weeks to go | About 6 |
| Size comparison | A cantaloupe |
| Height of womb | About 34 cm from the pubic bone |
Sizes differ a little between guides, because they use averages from different groups of babies. Your own scan results and your doctor’s measurements matter more than a chart.
Your baby at 34 weeks
Growth. Your baby gains about 200 to 250 grams a week, and the fat layer under the skin is getting thicker. The skin is pink and smooth, and the face is rounder. Your baby has almost finished growing in length and now adds mostly weight.
Lungs. The lungs are nearly mature, and surfactant levels are high enough that most babies born from now on breathe on their own, though some need short-term help. Full maturity comes at about 36 to 37 weeks.
Brain and nervous system. The central nervous system is maturing quickly, and the brain keeps adding folds and connections. Sleep cycles are clear, with deep sleep, dream-like sleep and wakeful periods. Babies at this stage recognise your voice and the sounds of your home.
Bones and teeth. The bones are hard, except for the skull, whose plates stay soft and separate so the head can mould during birth. Your baby takes calcium from you, so keep up your calcium and vitamin D.
Immune system. Your antibodies cross the placenta in large amounts in these weeks, which protects your newborn from infections in the first months. The whooping cough and tetanus vaccines add to this.
Skin, hair and nails. The vernix, the white waxy coating, is thick and protects the skin. Lanugo, the fine body hair, is mostly gone. Hair on the head is thicker, and the fingernails reach or pass the fingertips.
Boys and girls. In boys, the testicles have usually moved down into the scrotum. In girls, the genitals are fully formed.
Movement. Your baby is strong, and movements feel more like rolls, stretches and pushes than sharp kicks, because of less space. You may see a hand or a foot move across your belly. The total amount of movement should stay about the same until labour. Hiccups, which feel like small rhythmic jumps, are common.
Position. Most babies are head down by now. About 3 to 4 in 100 are still breech at term. Your doctor checks at about 36 weeks.
Chances at birth. Babies born at 34 weeks are called late preterm. More than 99 in 100 survive in hospitals with good newborn care, and most go home within one to three weeks. They have a higher chance of problems with breathing, feeding, body temperature, jaundice and low blood sugar, which is why they need to be born where a newborn unit is available.
Your body at 34 weeks
Womb. The top of your womb is about 13 to 14 cm above your navel, close to your ribs. A tape measure from the pubic bone reads about 34 cm. Your doctor measures this at visits as a quick check of growth. A difference of up to 2 cm either way is normal. A measurement that is far off, or that stops growing, may lead to a growth scan.
Weight. A person of normal weight usually gains about 0.4 to 0.5 kg a week, though gain often slows near the end. By now most people have gained about 11 to 15 kg in total. Sudden rapid weight gain, especially with swelling, needs a check for pre-eclampsia.
Blood and heart. Your blood volume is at its peak, and your heart works hard. You may feel warm, sweat more, have a faster pulse and notice veins on your legs and breasts.
Breathing. The womb presses up on the diaphragm, so you may feel breathless on stairs or when lying flat. Sit upright, rest and avoid rushing. This often eases when the baby drops, usually 2 to 4 weeks before birth in a first pregnancy and later in later pregnancies. Call your doctor if breathlessness is sudden, severe or comes with chest pain, a fast heartbeat or a cough with blood.
Skin and hair. A glow is common, but so are acne, dry skin, dark patches on the face (melasma) and a dark line down the belly (linea nigra). Stretch marks can appear on the belly, breasts, hips and thighs. Genetics matters more than any cream.
Breasts. They are larger and heavier. Colostrum, the thick yellow first milk, may leak. A supportive nursing bra and breast pads help.
Hands, feet and legs. Mild swelling is common, especially in hot weather. Tingling in the hands from carpal tunnel syndrome is common too. Varicose veins and piles can appear or get worse.
Tiredness and sleep. Tiredness is common, because of the weight you carry, poor sleep and the load on your heart and lungs. Rest when you can, and ask for help.
Mind. Vivid dreams, forgetfulness and mood swings are common. Impatience and nesting are common too. Avoid climbing, heavy lifting and strong cleaning fumes.
Common symptoms and what helps
| Symptom | Why it happens | What helps |
|---|---|---|
| Backache | Growing womb, loosening joints, posture | Flat supportive shoes, good posture, side-sleeping with a pillow, gentle stretches, support belt |
| Pelvic and hip pain | Loosening joints, sleeping position | Pillow between knees, small steps, avoid standing on one leg |
| Braxton Hicks tightenings | Practice contractions | Drink water, rest, change position |
| Leg cramps, mostly at night | Circulation and mineral changes | Calf stretches before bed, drink water, ask about calcium |
| Swollen feet and ankles | Fluid retention | Raise your feet, avoid long standing, drink water |
| Heartburn | Relaxed valve at the top of the stomach | Smaller meals, avoid spicy and oily food, stay upright after eating, raise your head in bed |
| Shortness of breath | Womb presses on the diaphragm | Sit upright, rest, good posture |
| Pain under the ribs | Baby’s feet or head press on the ribs | Stretch your arms overhead, change position, sit upright |
| Constipation, piles | Slow gut, iron tablets, pressure | Fibre, water, daily movement, do not strain |
| Trouble sleeping | Belly size, cramps, heartburn, worry | Side-sleeping with pillows, regular bedtime, cool room |
| Restless legs | Low iron, hormones | Gentle stretches, warm bath, ask about hemoglobin |
| Tingling hands | Fluid squeezing a nerve at the wrist | Shake and raise your hands, wrist splint at night |
| Frequent urination, leaking | Baby presses on the bladder | Pelvic floor exercises, empty your bladder often |
| Itchy, stretching belly skin | Skin stretching | Moisturiser, loose cotton clothes |
| Varicose veins | More blood volume, pressure from the womb | Raise your legs, walk daily, avoid long standing, ask about support stockings |
| Increased vaginal discharge | Hormones | Cotton underwear, no douching |
Do not take any medicine, including painkillers and herbal products, without asking a doctor or pharmacist. Paracetamol at the recommended dose is generally considered safe. Avoid ibuprofen, aspirin and diclofenac unless your doctor prescribes them.
Late preterm birth: what it means
Doctors call birth between 34 weeks and 36 weeks and 6 days late preterm. It accounts for most preterm births. These babies look healthy and are often almost as big as term babies, but their bodies are less ready, so they need closer care.
Common problems in late preterm babies:
| Problem | Why it happens | What helps |
|---|---|---|
| Breathing difficulty | Lungs have less surfactant | Observation, oxygen or breathing support in a newborn unit |
| Poor feeding | The suck, swallow and breathe pattern is not yet coordinated, and the baby tires easily | Frequent feeds, expressed milk, cup or tube feeding, help from a nurse |
| Low body temperature | Little fat, large skin surface | Skin-to-skin contact, warm wraps, a cap, a warm room |
| Jaundice | Immature liver | Frequent feeding, checks, phototherapy if needed |
| Low blood sugar | Small energy stores | Early and frequent feeds, blood sugar checks |
| Infection | Fewer antibodies from the mother | Hygiene, breastfeeding, antibiotics if needed |
| Sleepiness, apnoea (pauses in breathing) | Immature breathing control | Monitoring, and waking the baby for feeds |
Where to give birth. If you have signs of early labour, go to a hospital that has a newborn unit and doctors who can care for a small baby. A baby born in a clinic with no newborn care may need to be moved, which is risky. If you live far from such a hospital, ask your doctor now whether you should plan to stay closer in the last weeks, particularly if you have twins, high blood pressure, diabetes or a past preterm birth.
What may happen in hospital. Your baby may stay in a special care unit for observation, with checks of breathing, temperature, blood sugar and jaundice. Most late preterm babies need one to three weeks. You can usually visit, touch your baby, express milk and give kangaroo care.
Going home. Doctors usually send your baby home when feeding well, gaining weight, keeping warm and breathing without help. Ask about follow-up visits, weight checks and vaccines. Late preterm babies have a higher risk of readmission for jaundice and feeding problems in the first weeks.
Why not to wish for an early birth. Some people are tempted to deliver early for comfort or convenience, including by an unneeded C-section or induction. Babies born at 37 and 38 weeks, even without problems, have a higher chance of breathing and feeding issues than those born at 39 to 40 weeks. Unless there is a medical reason, it is best to wait for labour to start, or for 39 weeks or later.
Kangaroo mother care
Kangaroo mother care, or KMC, means holding your baby naked, except for a nappy and a cap, upright and in skin-to-skin contact on your chest, and covering both of you with a cloth. It was developed for small and preterm babies, and the World Health Organization recommends it for small babies and in the first hours after birth for those who are well.
Benefits:
- Keeps the baby warm, often better than an incubator
- Steadies the heartbeat and breathing
- Helps breastfeeding start and milk supply grow
- Lowers the risk of infection and death in small babies
- Reduces crying, and helps bonding
- Can be done by the father or another family member, who can also hold the baby skin-to-skin
How to do it:
- Wear a loose, front-opening top or wrap. Sit or recline in a comfortable chair or bed.
- Place your baby upright between your breasts, with the chest against your chest and the head turned to one side, with the neck slightly extended so the airway is open.
- The baby’s hips are bent in a frog position, with the arms and legs flexed. Support the bottom with a cloth, wrap or a band tied around you both.
- Cover both of you with a blanket, and put a cap on your baby’s head and socks on the feet.
- Keep your baby there as long as you can, ideally for many hours a day, and day and night in the early weeks. Sleep reclined, not flat, and make sure a trusted person watches if you doze.
- Take breaks for feeding, washing, eating and rest, and swap with your partner or another family member.
Safety: keep your baby’s face visible and free from cloth, and the chin off the chest. Stop and go to a doctor if your baby is blue, struggling to breathe, floppy or very hot or cold.
Ask your hospital if it supports KMC. Many hospitals in Bangladesh have KMC corners, and some encourage immediate skin-to-skin contact after birth for all well babies.
Steroid injections before an early birth
If you are at risk of giving birth early, doctors can give you antenatal corticosteroid injections, usually betamethasone or dexamethasone. They cross the placenta and speed up the baby’s lung maturity. They lower the risk of breathing problems, bleeding in the brain, bowel complications and death in preterm babies.
When they are given: the World Health Organization recommends them for women at risk of preterm birth between 24 and 34 weeks, where the pregnancy dating is accurate, there is no sign of maternal infection and adequate care for the mother and baby is available. They work best when given one to seven days before birth. Some doctors consider them in selected cases after 34 weeks. After 34 weeks, the benefit is smaller, and steroids can raise the chance of low blood sugar in the newborn, so doctors decide case by case.
What to expect: usually two or four injections into the thigh or buttock, 12 to 24 hours apart. They can raise your blood sugar for a few days, so tell your doctor if you have diabetes. You may feel mild soreness.
What to do: if you have signs of preterm labour, go to hospital early, and tell the staff how many weeks pregnant you are and that you want to be assessed for steroids. Do not wait.
When to call a doctor
| Usually normal | Call a doctor soon |
|---|---|
| Short, sharp pulls in the lower belly | Severe or constant abdominal pain |
| Mild, irregular tightenings that stop with rest | Regular tightenings that come more often and do not stop |
| Your baby’s movements change a little with time of day | A clear drop or change in your baby’s usual movements |
| A few drops of urine when you cough or sneeze | Watery fluid that keeps leaking, or a gush |
| Occasional headache | Severe headache with blurred vision, flashing lights or upper belly pain |
| Itchy stretching belly skin | Intense itching of palms and soles, or yellow skin |
| Tiredness, mood swings | Fainting, chest pain or sudden breathlessness |
| Mild swelling of both feet late in the day | Sudden swelling of the face and hands, or one swollen, painful calf |
| Light, milky discharge | Any bleeding that soaks a pad, or any fresh bleeding |
Bleeding. Any bleeding in the third trimester needs urgent care, even if it is painless. Painless bright red bleeding can be a sign of placenta praevia, and bleeding with pain and a hard belly can be a placental abruption. Both are emergencies. Do not examine yourself internally, and go to hospital at once.
Pre-eclampsia. A serious blood pressure condition. Signs include a severe headache that will not go away, blurred vision or flashing lights, sudden swelling of the face and hands, pain under the ribs on the right side, vomiting and rapid weight gain. It needs urgent care.
Preterm labour. Call straight away if you have regular tightenings, more than four in an hour, a steady low backache, pelvic pressure, a change in vaginal discharge, bleeding or fluid leaking before 37 weeks. Lie on your left side and drink water, and go to hospital if the signs continue for an hour, or at once for bleeding or fluid leaking. Call 999 if you need help getting there.
Fever. In Bangladesh a fever can also mean dengue, so do not treat it at home. See a doctor straight away.
If you feel sad, anxious or hopeless for more than two weeks, tell your doctor. If you ever have thoughts of harming yourself, seek help right away.
Tests and visits
| Test or step | When | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Blood pressure and urine check | Every visit | Screens for pre-eclampsia and infection |
| Hemoglobin check | Third trimester, or as advised | Looks for anaemia |
| Whooping cough vaccine | About 27 to 36 weeks | Protects your newborn |
| Tetanus-diphtheria vaccine | During pregnancy, as your doctor advises | Protects you and your baby |
| Growth scan or repeat placenta scan | If advised | Checks your baby’s size, fluid and placenta position |
| Group B strep test | About 35 to 37 weeks, where offered | Checks for a bacterium that can infect newborns |
| Position check | About 36 weeks | Checks whether your baby is head down |
Visits. Many doctors see you every two weeks until 36 weeks, then weekly. The World Health Organization recommends contacts at about 34, 36, 38 and 40 weeks, with more if there are problems. Keep every appointment, even if you feel well, and bring your prenatal card.
Ask at your next visit:
- What is my blood pressure, weight, hemoglobin and womb size?
- Is my baby head down, and do I need a position check or scan?
- When will you advise delivery if there are no problems?
- What is the plan if labour starts early?
- Which hospital should I go to, and do I need to book?
- Which tests and vaccines do I still need?
Write down the answers. Carry your prenatal card and test results to every visit and to the hospital.
Induction of labour
Induction means starting labour with medicine or other methods, instead of waiting for it to begin on its own. It is advised when the risks of continuing the pregnancy are greater than the risks of induction.
Common reasons:
- Pregnancy goes beyond 41 weeks
- Waters break at term and labour does not start within about 24 hours
- Pre-eclampsia or high blood pressure
- Gestational diabetes that is not well controlled
- Poor growth of the baby, or reduced fluid
- Reduced movements with other concerns
- Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy
- Twins at 37 to 38 weeks, or other medical conditions
Common methods:
| Method | What it is |
|---|---|
| Membrane sweep | A doctor or midwife gently separates the membranes from the cervix with a finger. It is uncomfortable, and may cause light bleeding. It can raise the chance of labour starting within 48 hours |
| Prostaglandin gel, tablet or pessary | A medicine placed in the vagina that softens and opens the cervix |
| Balloon catheter | A small tube with a balloon is placed through the cervix and inflated to open it. It is used when prostaglandins are not suitable |
| Oxytocin drip | A hormone given through a drip to start or strengthen contractions, usually after the waters have been broken |
| Breaking the waters (amniotomy) | A doctor makes a small opening in the membranes to speed up labour |
What to expect:
- Induction can take a day or longer, and may involve several steps
- Contractions started by medicine can feel stronger and closer together than natural ones
- Your baby’s heartbeat is monitored, often with a belt on your belly
- You may be asked to stay in bed or near the bed, which can limit walking
- There is a higher chance of needing pain relief, a vacuum or forceps delivery or a C-section, especially in a first pregnancy and when the cervix is not ready
- A rare risk is the womb contracting too often, called hyperstimulation, which can distress the baby, and the medicine is stopped or slowed
Questions to ask:
- Why do you recommend induction, and what happens if we wait?
- How and when will it be done, and how long may it take?
- What are the options if it does not work?
- Can I move around, and what pain relief is available?
- Can my companion stay with me?
You can ask for time to think, unless it is an emergency. Induction is not the same as a C-section, and many induced labours end in a normal vaginal birth. It should be done only for a medical reason, in a hospital with enough staff, monitoring and the ability to do an emergency C-section.
Positions and breathing for labour
Moving and changing position during labour can reduce pain, help the baby move down and shorten labour. Ask your hospital whether you can move around, and bring a pillow or a birthing ball.
| Position | How | Helps with |
|---|---|---|
| Walking and swaying | Walk slowly, sway the hips, hold your partner | Early labour, helps the baby descend |
| Standing and leaning | Lean forward on a wall, bed or your partner | Back pain, lets gravity help |
| Sitting on a ball | Sit and rock gently, or lean forward over it | Opening the pelvis, comfort |
| Hands and knees | Rest on a pillow, rock gently | Back labour, a baby facing the wrong way |
| Side-lying | Lie on your side with a pillow between your knees | Resting, slowing a very fast labour |
| Squatting, with support | Hold a bar or your partner, squat during contractions | Opening the pelvis in the second stage |
| Semi-sitting | Propped up with pillows | Pushing, when you are tired or have an epidural |
| Warm shower or bath | Warm water on your back or belly | Relaxing and easing pain |
Lying flat on your back is the least helpful position, because it narrows the pelvis and can lower your blood pressure, so avoid it if you can.
Breathing. Slow, deep breathing helps you stay calm and gets oxygen to your baby. Practise now.
- Early labour. Breathe in slowly through your nose for about four counts, and out through your mouth for about six. Let your shoulders and jaw go loose.
- Active labour. Breathe slowly with each contraction, and sigh or hum out. Focus on one point, and count each breath. Avoid fast, shallow breathing, which can make you dizzy.
- Pushing. Follow your doctor’s guidance. You usually take a deep breath, tuck your chin and push with the contraction, then rest and breathe between.
- Between contractions. Relax completely, drop your shoulders, sip water and rest.
Other comforts: a hand on your back, a warm cloth, massage, soft music, dim lights, a calm voice and a companion who stays with you. Eat light snacks and drink water in early labour, unless your doctor says not to.
Practise with your partner, so they know what helps, such as counter-pressure on the lower back and reminding you to breathe.
Fear of childbirth
Many women feel afraid of labour, pain, tearing, a C-section or something going wrong with the baby. A fear of childbirth is very common. For some, it is strong enough to cause panic, trouble sleeping, constant worry or avoidance of care.
What helps:
- Talk about it. Tell your doctor, midwife, partner or a trusted person what frightens you most. Naming a fear makes it smaller.
- Learn. Join an antenatal class, learn about the stages of labour and what the hospital does. Knowing what to expect lowers fear.
- Visit the hospital. Seeing the labour room and meeting staff helps. Ask who will be there on the day.
- Build your support team. Choose a companion who stays calm and speaks up for you.
- Practise relaxation. Breathing, gentle stretching, prenatal yoga, a warm bath, prayer or meditation. Use them daily, not only at labour.
- Avoid frightening stories. Limit social media and stories from people who had a very bad experience. Every birth is different.
- Make a flexible plan. A short birth plan gives you a sense of control, and flexibility helps if things change.
- Keep your routine. Daylight, short walks, regular meals and sleep all help.
When to get help. If the fear keeps you from sleeping, eating or going to appointments, makes you consider avoiding birth in hospital or comes with constant dread, panic attacks or low mood for two weeks or more, tell your doctor. Counselling and support work. If you have thoughts of harming yourself, go to the nearest hospital or call 999.
Reminders: most births in hospitals with good care go well. Pain in labour is real, but it has a purpose, comes in waves and ends. You will get through it, and you will not be alone.
If you feel unsafe at home, tell your doctor or a trusted person. In Bangladesh you can call the national helpline 109 for support with violence against women and children. It is free.
Food and supplements
Iron. Keep taking iron-folic acid tablets as prescribed. Take iron away from tea, coffee and milk, and with something sour such as lemon. Dark stools are normal on iron.
Calcium. Take calcium as prescribed, at a different time from iron.
Iodine. Use iodised salt in your cooking. Iodine supports your baby’s brain development.
Eat more of:
- Protein: eggs, well-cooked fish, chicken, lentils (dal), beans and milk
- Iron-rich foods: leafy greens (shak), lean meat and lentils, with lemon or guava for vitamin C
- Calcium-rich foods: milk, yogurt, and small fish such as mola eaten with the bones
- Fruit and vegetables: a variety of colours every day
- Whole grains and fibre: brown rice, whole wheat roti and oats
- Healthy fats: well-cooked oily fish, nuts and seeds
- Water: about 8 to 10 glasses across the day, more in hot weather
Calories. Your needs rise by about 450 calories a day in the third trimester, such as a glass of milk, a boiled egg, a banana and a handful of nuts. You do not need to eat for two.
Limit: caffeine to about 200 mg a day, which is one or two cups of tea or a single small coffee. Limit sweets, sugary drinks, juice and fried snacks. Large portions of white rice and bread push blood sugar up, so pair carbohydrates with protein and vegetables.
Avoid: alcohol, all tobacco (including zarda and jorda), raw or undercooked meat, fish and eggs, unpasteurized milk and cheese, unwashed produce, large predatory fish such as shark and swordfish, high-dose vitamin A supplements and herbal tonics your doctor has not approved.
Smaller, more frequent meals help with heartburn and breathlessness as your belly grows. Eat slowly, and avoid lying down for an hour after eating.
Dates. Some studies suggest that eating about six dates a day in the last four weeks may help the cervix soften and shorten labour. The evidence is limited, but dates are nutritious. If you have gestational diabetes, ask your doctor first, because dates are high in sugar.
Weight gain. Total gain over the whole pregnancy depends on your weight before pregnancy, and Asian-specific BMI ranges may apply, so ask your doctor.
| Weight before pregnancy | Recommended total gain |
|---|---|
| Underweight | 12.5 to 18 kg |
| Normal weight | 11.5 to 16 kg |
| Overweight | 7 to 11.5 kg |
| Obese | 5 to 9 kg |
Exercise, sleep and posture
Exercise. The standard advice for healthy pregnancies is about 150 minutes of moderate activity a week, such as 30 minutes of brisk walking on most days. Walking after meals helps blood sugar. Swimming, prenatal yoga, stationary cycling, sitting on a birthing ball and pelvic floor exercises are good choices. You should be able to talk while you exercise. Avoid hot yoga, lying flat on your back during exercise, contact sports, heavy lifting and anything with a risk of falls. Stop and call your doctor if you have pain, bleeding, dizziness, trouble breathing, regular tightenings or fluid leaking.
Pelvic floor. Squeeze and lift the muscles you use to stop urine flow, hold for a few seconds and release. Do 10 repetitions a few times a day. Breathe normally, and do not tighten your buttocks or hold your breath. Practise relaxing the pelvic floor fully after each squeeze, which helps in the second stage of labour.
Perineal massage. If you plan a vaginal birth and your doctor agrees, begin gentle perineal massage from about 34 to 35 weeks. It reduces the risk of deep tears, especially for first-time mothers. Ask your doctor first if you have a low-lying placenta, bleeding, an infection or waters broken.
Sleep. Sleep on your side, either side, with a pillow between your knees and another under your belly. Sleeping on your back in the third trimester is linked to a higher risk of stillbirth. If you wake on your back, turn onto your side. Do the same for naps. A long body pillow helps. Keep a regular bedtime and avoid screens at night. Hot, humid nights and power cuts can disturb sleep, so use a fan, wear loose cotton clothes and keep water by your bed.
Posture. As your belly grows, your centre of gravity shifts forward. Stand tall, keep your shoulders back, avoid high heels and use a chair that supports your lower back. Lift by bending your knees. A support belt can ease back pain, so ask your doctor.
Movement tracking. Keep tracking your baby’s movements. Learn the usual pattern, and if you want a method, count distinct movements until you reach ten, which usually takes under two hours. If you notice a clear drop or change, call your doctor the same day, and do not wait until the next day or rely on a home Doppler.
Travel. Avoid long trips from now unless necessary. Stay within reach of your hospital, carry your prenatal records and plan how you would get care if labour started. Many airlines do not allow travel after 34 to 36 weeks, and ask for a doctor’s letter. Check the rules.
Getting ready: the last month
Hospital bag. Pack by 36 weeks, and keep it by the door. Include your prenatal card, test results, scans, ID, loose cotton clothes, maternity pads, a nursing bra, baby clothes, wraps, nappies, a phone charger and cash. Ask the hospital what it supplies.
Birth plan. Write one page, share it with your doctor and give a copy to staff and your companion. Stay flexible.
Emergency plan. Know your blood group, arrange transport and blood donors, keep money and documents ready and agree with your family to go to hospital at once if there is a danger sign. The national emergency number is 999.
Hospital visit. Visit if you can, meet the staff and learn how to register and where to go at night.
Home. Set up a firm, flat sleeping space, hang a mosquito net and remove standing water. Wash newborn clothes and wraps with mild soap, rinse well and dry in the sun. Stock easy, nutritious food, and arrange help for cooking, cleaning and other children.
Breastfeeding. Read about it, join a class and plan skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding in the first hour. Do not give a newborn honey, water, sugar water, formula or other food before breastmilk. Do not express colostrum before 36 weeks unless your doctor advises, because strong stimulation can trigger contractions.
Newborn care. Learn how to hold, bathe and feed your baby, how to care for the cord stump, and the danger signs. In Bangladesh, the Expanded Programme on Immunization offers free vaccines, with BCG at birth.
Family planning. Ask your doctor about contraception before you leave hospital. Waiting at least 24 months between births is safer for mother and baby.
Birth registration. Register your baby’s birth with the local authority after the birth. It is free within 45 days.
Work, leave and money
- Maternity leave. Under Bangladesh’s labour law, working mothers in the private sector are entitled to 16 weeks of paid maternity leave, eight weeks before and eight weeks after the birth. Government employees receive six months. Check your own contract and your employer’s policy, and confirm your start date in writing.
- Work. If you keep working, take breaks to sit, eat and drink, avoid heavy lifting and long standing and tell your doctor about night shifts or hazards. Stop work and call your doctor if you have regular tightenings, bleeding, fluid leaking or severe headaches.
- Money. Budget for delivery, newborn care, a possible hospital stay and emergencies. Ask the hospital for a written estimate that includes tests, delivery and complications, and what is paid in advance.
- Help at home. Arrange relatives or friends to cook, clean and look after other children in the first weeks.
Checklist for this week
- Keep your visit this week, and check your blood pressure, weight, womb size and hemoglobin
- Ask about the whooping cough and tetanus-diphtheria vaccines if you have not had them
- Ask about the group B strep test, your baby’s position and the plan if labour starts early
- Take iron-folic acid and calcium as prescribed, at different times, and use iodised salt
- Keep tracking your baby’s movements, and call the same day if the pattern changes
- Sleep on your side every night, including naps
- Learn the danger signs: bleeding, severe headache, preterm labour signs, fluid leaking and fever
- Learn how to time contractions, when to go to hospital and which positions and breathing help
- Ask about induction, kangaroo mother care and skin-to-skin contact at your hospital
- Pack your hospital bag, and write a one-page birth plan
- Review your emergency plan: hospital, transport, blood donors, money and who decides
- Tell someone if you feel low or anxious
- Save your doctor’s number and the nearest hospital’s emergency number
FAQ
How big is the baby at 34 weeks?
About 45 cm from head to heel and 2.1 kg, roughly the size of a cantaloupe. Sizes vary a little between guides and between babies.
Can a baby survive if born at 34 weeks?
Yes. More than 99 in 100 babies born at 34 weeks survive in hospitals with good newborn care. They are late preterm, and many need a week or more in a special care unit.
What is a late preterm baby?
A baby born between 34 weeks and 36 weeks and 6 days. These babies look healthy but are more likely to have breathing, feeding, temperature, jaundice and blood sugar problems.
What is kangaroo mother care?
Holding your baby upright, naked except for a nappy and cap, in skin-to-skin contact on your chest, covered by a cloth. It keeps small babies warm, helps breastfeeding and lowers the risk of infection and death.
Do I need steroid injections?
Only if you are at risk of giving birth early. They speed up the baby’s lungs and are mainly given between 24 and 34 weeks, and best one to seven days before birth. Go to hospital early if you have signs of preterm labour.
Why would I need an induction?
Common reasons include going past 41 weeks, waters breaking with no labour, pre-eclampsia, uncontrolled diabetes and poor growth. Ask why it is advised and what the alternatives are.
What is the best position for labour?
Moving and changing position helps. Walking, leaning forward, a birthing ball, hands and knees and side-lying are all useful. Avoid lying flat on your back.
Is it normal to be afraid of childbirth?
Yes, it is very common. Talk about your fears, learn about labour, join a class and tell your doctor if the fear stops you from sleeping, eating or going to appointments.
Is it safe to exercise at 34 weeks?
Yes for most healthy pregnancies. Walking, swimming, gentle yoga and pelvic floor exercises are good. Avoid contact sports, heavy lifting, hot yoga and lying flat on your back during exercise.
Note: This article gives general information and does not replace advice from your doctor or midwife. Every pregnancy is different. Call your doctor or go to a hospital if you have bleeding, severe pain, fever, fainting, fluid leaking, a change in your baby’s movements or any symptom that worries you.
