About You

Week 34 is the eighth week of the 3rd trimester and you are getting closer to delivery day, in fact D day could be only a month away! If you're having your baby in hospital, try contacting the maternity unit to see if you can visit beforehand, as having an image in your mind of where you are going when you leave home in labour can be comforting. Also ask about admissions procedures in early labour, birthing options, provisions for a partner to stay with you overnight, and the hospital's policy on eating and drinking during labour.
You will probably have an appointment with your doctor or midwife this week, so it's worth making a list of any questions you may have about the birth itself. If you haven’t already started talking to your baby, this is a good time to start, because at the end of this week hearing is fully developed. Don't feel ridiculous if you're already chatting in baby talk as some evidence shows that newborns pay closer attention to high-pitched tones.

Many women start to notice a tingling sensation or numbness in the pelvic region or pain as they walk. This may be caused by the pelvic joints loosening, ready for labour. If you're terribly uncomfortable, mention it to your midwife or doctor .

About Baby

Your baby now weighs more than 2.2 kilograms, is over 45 centimetres from top to toe, and the central nervous system is still maturing. Baby is well and truly filling out and getting rounder and these fat layers will be needed post birth to regulate body temperature. If you've been worried about going into labour early, you'll be happy to know that the vast majority of babies born at this time are perfectly healthy, and while your baby's lungs should be nearly fully developed by now, any breathing problems can be easily treated. Ninety nine per cent of babies born at the end of this week can survive outside the womb - and most have no major problems.

This week’s activities for the pregnancy to-do list

✔Call your insurance company to add baby-to-be to your policy

✔Get tested for Group B strep (GBS)

✔Start buying items for your hospital bag, including any items you'll need for postpartum recovery

✔Start finalising the paediatrician of your choice

✔Make a labour contingency plan. You may go into labour early or have a complication that requires you to be in the hospital longer than you anticipated. ✔Give at least one friend or neighbour the keys to your house in case you need something and can't get home. Line up people to do the following on a moment's notice:

✔Take care of children

✔Drive older children to and from school and to any afterschool activities

✔Feed the dog, water the plants, get the mail

✔Fill in for you at work or any other obligations

Note that this article contains general information only and is not intended to replace advice from a qualified health professional.

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