Pregnancy at week 34

Your baby

Your baby’s immune system is developing, and their bones are getting harder. However, the bones in their skull, have not yet completely fused together, this wont happen until long after they are born. There are 2 fontanelles, or soft spots on your babies head. These are skin-covered gaps where your baby’s skull plates meet. The fontanelles are a special feature that is important for the normal growth and development of your baby's brain and skull. During birth, these bones will gently slide over each other to protect your baby’s brain while helping them to also fit through the birth canal.

After your baby is born your health team will check your baby's head and fontanelles during routine health checks.

Your body

As at the beginning of your pregnancy, you might find you are quite tired and emotional from now on. You may have some aches and pains and it can be quite hard to sleep. Make sure you get plenty of rest and look after yourself.

Eating a healthy diet and doing some gentle exercise will help you cope now and during the birth. Make sure you keep up your pelvic floor exercises too because the muscles in this area will be under a lot of strain from now on.

Many women develop pains at the top of their legs during the later stages of pregnancy. These are due to the ligaments stretching. If they are very painful, tell your doctor or midwife.

Things to remember

Your doctor or midwife may be monitoring your weight during your regular antenatal appointments. Remember weigh gain in pregnancy is individual to you.

The total amount of weight you might be expected to gain throughout your pregnancy will depend on your weight before you were pregnant. If you were in the normal weight range (with a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9), you are expected to gain between 11.5kg and 16kg by the end of the pregnancy – less if you were overweight, and more if you were underweight.

If your blood is Rhesus (RhD) negative, you will be offered your second injection of anti-D to protect the baby at your next check-up. You may also be offered anti-D if you have a bleed. Talk to your doctor or midwife for more information.

Resources and support

Speak to your doctor, midwife or obstetrician if you have questions about your pregnancy.

Pregnancy, Birth and Baby also has more information on:

• maternity care in Australia
• having a healthy pregnancy
• exploring the anatomy of pregnancy and birth
• checkups, screenings, scans and tests you can have during your pregnancy
• common conditions you might experience during your pregnancy
• looking after your mental health and wellbeing

Speak to a maternal child health nurse

Call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby to speak to a maternal child health nurse on 1800 882 436 or video call. Available 7am to midnight (AET), 7 days a week.