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34 Weeks Pregnant: Your Baby, Your Body and What to Do
Your baby's lungs and nervous system are nearly ready for life outside the womb.
Before you use this guide: Pregnancy weeks are counted from the first day of your last period. Sizes are rough averages, and healthy babies vary. This is general information, not an individual medical assessment, so please confirm personal health decisions with your doctor or midwife.
How your baby is growing
Your baby's central nervous system and lungs are maturing quickly, and the coating of vernix is getting thicker. Babies born from 34 weeks, known as late preterm, usually do well, although they may need some extra help with feeding and staying warm.
The fingernails now reach the ends of the fingertips. Most babies are head down by now and may begin to move lower into the pelvis.
How you may be feeling
You may feel pressure low in your pelvis, find it harder to breathe deeply, and need the toilet very often. Practice contractions become more frequent, and your feet and hands may be more swollen at the end of the day.
Your to-do list for week 34
- Have your hospital bag and notes ready by the door.
- Learn the difference between Braxton Hicks and true labour. True labour contractions get stronger, longer and closer together, and do not ease with rest.
- Plan how you will get to hospital, and have a backup plan.
- Go through your birth plan with your midwife.
When to ask for help
Contact your maternity unit if you have regular painful contractions, bleeding, leaking fluid, or your baby moves less. Do this even though you have not yet reached 37 weeks.
For heavy bleeding, severe pain, fluid leaking, a severe headache with vision changes, or a baby who is moving less than usual, do not wait for your next appointment. Contact your midwife, doctor or maternity unit straight away. Our guide to pregnancy warning signs has more detail.
Not sure which week you are in? Use the due-date calculator to estimate your due date and current week.
Useful at this stage: pregnancy weight gain calculator, baby shower planner, baby movement counter, hospital-bag checklist and contraction timer.
Trusted resources to read next
These public health resources provide additional information. Guidance can vary by country, so prioritise advice from your own care team and local health service.
- NHS: Pregnancy — Pregnancy care, common symptoms, screening and complications.
- NHS: Week-by-week pregnancy guide — Pregnancy development and care by week.
This content is for general information only and is not medical advice. Every pregnancy and every baby is different. Always talk to your doctor, midwife or paediatrician about your own situation, and seek urgent care if you are worried.