34 Weeks Pregnant - what to expect
Now you're 34 weeks pregnant, this week is all about super-fast nail growth, leg spasms at night, turning a breech baby and Basque-style stew!
Watch our video to see what your baby looks like this week
Your baby’s bones are hardening up a bit this week – well, except for the skull bones, which need to stay flexible to (wince) ease smoothly through the birth canal. Moving swiftly on, it’s balls in bags time for a boy baby, as the testicles descend to the scrotum.
And here's a 3D scan of a 34 week baby...
So what's happening to your body this week?
How are the state of your fingernails? Cue either a smug flourish of unusually long, strong ones or a disappointed flash of thin, broken ones.
It’s a weird fact of pregnancy that it changes our finger (and toe) nails so dramatically but also so differently. What is actually going on, for all of us, is that our nails are growing quicker than normal but this super-fast growth results in different things for different people – harder nails for some; more brittle ones for others.
If you’ve ended up in the brittle-nail camp, it’s a good move to keep ‘em short and wear rubber gloves to do the washing up – or, of course, with your best drama-llama face, just delegate washing up to the non-pregnant and non-brittle-nail-afflicted…
Our MFMer's 34-week bump of the week
Are you keeping track of your bump with weekly pics? Check out other MFMers' belfies in our 34 week bump gallery.
Did you know? Your baby's now the length of... 5 doughnuts
This week, your baby measures 45cm from head to heel - the same as 5 doughnuts (side by side).
And is around the weight of... 6 cans of fizzy
Your baby now weighs around 5lb (2.2kg)!
4 things you might need to know this week
- The only way is down... turning a breech baby
- Caesarean choice: who gets to decide?
- Your baby's womb memories revealed
- Why do leg spasms happen... especially at night?
MFMers' tip of the week from our forum
“I'm so tired now. My partner has made me “a chill sofa” (he's put loads of pillows and a throw on our sofa). When I get home, I head straight for it!” - LizBrown2
Want to share your pregnancy with others going through the same as you? There's a birth club for your due date - take a look...
Is it normal... to have a hairy belly?
Yes, you read that right. Hairy. Belly. According to our mums, it seems anything from some fuzzy fluff to long, dark hairs can appear on your lovely bump.
It's all thanks to pregnancy putting more of our hair in ‘resting' phase, and less of hair growing and then falling out – which makes many of us more hirsute. It will fall out again (usually within 6 months of your baby arriving) but it is safe to cream it off, if you'd prefer.
Our preg recipe for week 34 - Basque style salmon stew
Why salmon is great for your growing baby
Salmon is one of those oily fishes that contain ‘healthy’ fats (DHA and EPA) said to encourage tip-top baby brain function.
High levels of DHA, in particular, have also been linked to a lower risk of premature birth, a healthier birthweight and – astonishingly – once your baby’s born, to better infant sleep!
Do follow current NHS advice, though, to stick to no more than two portions a week.
See the full recipe and get cooking...
Baby namer - what do you think of these soul singer names?
Still can't decide on a name? We did a bit a soul searching and thought these two soul music legends might inspire you.
Etta
'At last, my love has come along'. Etta James' soulful voice will make your spine tingle. Etta comes from the shortened version of Henrietta, and is a fitting tribute.
Celeb baby-name-check: American TV host Carson Daly named his 1st daughter Etta.
Otis
American soul singer Otis Redding is considered one of the greats. Originally a German surname, Otis has grown in popularity as a tribute to Otis Redding.
Celeb baby-name-check: Olivia Wilde named her 1st son Otis.
Need more inspiration? Check out our Baby Names section for lots more ideas.
So that's plenty for this week, want to take a peek at what lies ahead - or look back at last week?
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