Week 34 of Pregnancy

First trimester weeks

Congrats! During the first trimester, you’re getting used to the idea of being pregnant.

Second trimester weeks

As you enter this second trimester, your body will settle down to pregnancy.

Third trimester weeks

You've reached the third and final trimester and will be heavily pregnant by now.

Week 34 of Pregnancy

Your baby is almost fully equipped for the outside world.

If your baby was born this week, she'd still need some help with breathing and feeding. But it's reassuring to know that basically she's in pretty good shape for survival. However, you are unlikely to go into labor this early. Now is your chance to start practicing the relaxation and pain-relieving exercises that you've been learning at your prenatal classes. The more familiar you are with the techniques, the more they will help you during labor.

33 Weeks, 5 Days

44 days to go...

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Your baby today

At this stage your baby may lie transversely across your uterus as here, but such a position becomes increasingly less likely as the pregnancy advances. The more babies you have had the more likely it is that the shape of your uterus allows this lie.

You may be learning breathing and relaxation techniques at prenatal classes, but practice them at home, too.

When you are tense and frightened, pain can feel much worse, so teaching yourself to relax and stay calm can help. With around six weeks to go, you still have plenty of time to try out some of the breathing and relaxation techniques that will help you during labor. It's true that practice makes perfect and it can take some time to train your mind to relax at will, especially if you are in pain.

Spend a short period of time as often as you can, every day if possible, practicing your breathing-close your eyes and slow your breathing down, breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth. As you breathe in, imagine your breath entering your body and relaxing you and as you exhale you breathe out any pain or tension. You might want to involve your partner by asking him to breathe with you or count your breathing, a slow count to three or five for every inhale and exhale.

Some women like to practice using the techniques while pinching their arm temporarily to simulate a contraction-although of course it won't mimic the pain exactly! Practicing these techniques in a calm, relaxed manner in late pregnancy will help you to use them effectively on the big day.

Focus On... Nutrition

Fuel for fitness

Demand for nutrients is higher when you're exercising and even higher when you're pregnant. This is not the time to reach for low-nutrient, high-calorie snacks; ensure you make careful choices when it comes to the nutrients you put into your body.

You should be eating a snack before you exercise, consisting of a complex carbohydrate and a protein. You should also eat frequent small meals and snacks if you are feeling hungry. It's fine to snack throughout the day.

Some healthy snack ideas are as follows:

Half a bagel spread with two teaspoons of peanut butter
An apple or banana and a handful of raw almonds
A pear with two slices of Cheddar cheese
Carrot, celery, and cucumber sticks and/or breadsticks dipped into two tablespoons of humus
Cottage cheese or cream cheese spread on two large crackers or whole-wheat toast.

A banana is a fabulous fruit to eat before exercising because it gives you a slow and steady release of energy.

As A Matter Of Fact

You're more likely to get a seat on public transportation in Japan due to the "manners squad"!

If you find that no one gives up their seat for you on public transportation, you're not alone. In Japan, however, the "manners squad" mission is to patrol trains and make sure that any seats are vacated by the young and offered to those who need them.