Archive for the ‘Pregnancy Week 34’ Category
Pregnancy Calendar Week 34
Your Baby Growth and Development
Your baby’s fingernails have grown so much, they are now at the end of the fingers – they may need to be clipped in the first few days after birth! Meanwhile, your baby’s adrenal glands have grown. They are now producing hormones that stimulate lactation. The vernix coating on the baby’s skin is becoming thicker while the lanugo hair is almost completely gone. Your baby is busy building his/her immune system. When born, he/she will have the necessary immunities to fight mild infections. Your baby can – and does – respond just as a newborn would by opening his eyes while awake and closing them while sleeping.
Sometime between pregnancy calendar week 32 and pregnancy calendar week 36, most babies will settle into a head-down position for delivery. However, it’s possible that your baby will continue to change positions up until just a few days before your due date.
Mom during Pregnancy Calendar Week 34
Even though you are 34 weeks pregnant, it is still extemely important to make sure you are getting enough calcium, as the baby draws calcium from the mother to make and harden his bones. If a pregnant woman doesn’t get enough calcium during her pregnancy, the developing fetus will take minerals from the mother’s skeletal structure as needed. This, in turn, can greatly weaken mom’s own bones and teeth.
Now that your baby is resting deeper in your pelvis, you may find yourself walking as if you’re carrying a watermelon between your legs. Fatigue is a common complaint of late pregnancy. You may have trouble sleeping, experience aches and pains and gain more weight. Women also start to have anxiety about their upcoming labor, delivery, as well as taking care of a newborn. All of these things can add to your feeling of exhaustion. So, rest as much as you can and try to take naps, if possible, read up on the signs of labor and think about your birth plan. The more prepared you are, the less anxiety you will feel.
If you’ve recently noticed some less-than-appealing itchy red bumps on your belly (and possibly around your thighs and belly), you’ve got yourself a harmless but not fun round of pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (PUPPP if your don’t have the patience for the full name). If you feel itchy ALL over your body, that’s different, and you should call your health care practitioner as this could be a liver problem.
At your next check up you can expect your physician to conduct a Group B Streptococci test (GBS), a common bacteria screening. our little one is more susceptible to serious health complications (including meningitis, pneumonia and blood infection) if not diagnosed and treated properly—so the tests are good for some peace of mind. Hang in there momma, you’re already a super-star for making it this far!
Common Pregnancy Symptoms in Week 34
• Breast Changes: tenderness, fullness, darkening of the areola
• Frequent Urination
• Constipation
• Heartburn or Indigestion
• Headaches
• Stretch Marks
• Itching
• Round Ligament Pain
• Hemorrhoids
pregnant in week 34 have commonly asked Questions:
What stages of labor include?
Your body is really getting ready and you may notice that you have more and more contractions that seem less and less like practice. This is a good time to learn all you can about the stages of labor:Read more…
Is there anything to prepare for c-section?
No one can predict whether or not you’ll need an emergency c-section. So prepare yourself with information ahead. Try not to be upset if you are told you have to undergo a C-section to deliver your baby. I know that many new parents are less than thrilled at the prospect and have anticipated a natural delivery. Plenty of women feel put down and feel less like a woman because they did not deliver their baby through the hard work of labour. I know it is emotionally hard. Truly, the main concern is you and your baby’s health and that is more important than how you delivered your baby.Read more…
What is Group B Strep?
GBS is not contagious, and in most cases it causes no harm to the adult that has it. However, in some cases, it can cause serious infection, known as Group B Strep disease.There are many questions surrounding GBS. What is it? Is it an STD? How does it affect newborns? How is it transmitted to a newborn? How can you prevent infection, and are there alternatives to antibiotics? many pregnant women have never heard of it, or have only heard of it in passing. Most are shocked when, late in the third trimester their doctor or midwife ask them to be tested, and the test then comes back positive. Read more…
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What is Group B Strep?
GBS is not contagious, and in most cases it causes no harm to the adult that has it. However, in some cases, it can cause serious infection, known as Group B Strep disease.There are many questions surrounding GBS. What is it? Is it an STD? How does it affect newborns? How is it transmitted to a newborn? How can you prevent infection, and are there alternatives to antibiotics? many pregnant women have never heard of it, or have only heard of it in passing. Most are shocked when, late in the third trimester their doctor or midwife ask them to be tested, and the test then comes back positive.
GBS is a bacteria found in the lower intestines of 10-35% of all adults. In women it can also be found in the vagina. GBS is a bacteria found in the lower intestines of 10-35% of all adults. In women it can also be found in the vagina. Your provider will swab the area between your vagina and anus and send it for a test sometime between the 35th and 37th weeks of your pregnancy.
Many people assume that GBS is a STD. It is simply a bacterium that is found in many people. It causes no discomfort and can not be transmitted sexually; therefore a carrier of GBS does not need to change their sexual practices. If a baby is infected with GBS, will appear either as an infection in the blood (sepsis), or as meningitis. It is also a frequent cause of pneumonia in newborns. It can also leave them with hearing or vision loss, as well as physical or learning disabilities. GBS is transmitted to a newborn during their descent through the birth canal. However, having a c-section is not recommended pas a way to prevent the infection in your baby, as the bacteria can also be found in your uterus and amniotic sac.
If a pregnant woman tests positive for GBS, she can often be given a series of penicillin shots through an IV while in labor, prior to delivery. It is best to get these shots at least 4 hours prior to delivery. In most cases, if the woman has these shots, the baby will not be infected. If time does not permit for the woman to receive these shots, then immediately after birth the nurses will give your baby a shot of penicillin in the leg, to help prevent infection. In this case a mother will normally be asked to stay in the hospital for 48 hours in order for the neonatal team to watch the newborn for signs of infection.
Is there anything to prepare for c-section?
No one can predict whether or not you’ll need an emergency c-section. So prepare yourself with information ahead. Try not to be upset if you are told you have to undergo a C-section to deliver your baby. I know that many new parents are less than thrilled at the prospect and have anticipated a natural delivery. Plenty of women feel put down and feel less like a woman because they did not deliver their baby through the hard work of labour. I know it is emotionally hard. Truly, the main concern is you and your baby’s health and that is more important than how you delivered your baby.
Try not to be upset if you are told you have to undergo a C-section to deliver your baby. I know that many new parents are less than thrilled at the prospect and have anticipated a natural delivery. Plenty of women feel put down and feel less like a woman because they did not deliver their baby through the hard work of labour. I know it is emotionally hard. Truly, the main concern is you and your baby’s health and that is more important than how you delivered your baby.
When the time comes and the nurses and/or doctors tell you to walk around, do try. It may be difficult but do try to do a little walking if and when possible. It helps to alleviate the stomach gases that are very much a part of the discomfort you feel after a C-section. Enjoy this special time with your new baby!
The day arrives when you and your newborn can finally go home. Enlist support! Ensure that you have family, friends or loved ones to assist you and, once again, do not be afraid to ask for help. Do not try to be supermom! I was fortunate to have a supportive family at home and could not imagine going through the recovery without them. It will take you 6 weeks to fully recuperate from a C-section, afterall, it is major surgery. Do not pick up heavy items. Remember, you have just had surgery and your incision is in the healing process.
Ensure that you eat healthy and drink lots of water. This is important to ensure that your digestive systems returns to normal. Plenty of rest is vital for recuperation. Enjoy this period of relaxation because you have many years of motherhood to go!
What stages of labor include?
Your body is really getting ready and you may notice that you have more and more contractions that seem less and less like practice. This is a good time to learn all you can about the stages of labor:
First Stage: This begins when you start to have regular contractions that increase in frequency and intensity. The contractions will then pick up and you will be in the active phase of the first stage of labor. Contractions are then more intense and come more frequently, usually requiring more of your attention. Somewhere between this active phase and the next phase, transition, you will change to your place of birth. Transition is the short but hard part of labor. Transition has contractions coming very close together, but they never actually feel any stronger than the contractions of the active phase. At the end of transition you will becompletely dilated.
Second Stage: You begin this stage when you are completely dilated. You will begin pushing your baby into this world. Your contractions will get further apart and feel differently. If you have been un-medicated you will feel the urge to push. If you have been medicated you may or may not feel the urge to push and will be directed at how to proceed. If there is anepisiotomy done, it will be done at the end of this stage. The end of the second stage will be marked by the birth of your baby!
Third Stage: This is the anticlimax. Anywhere from 5 minutes to an hour after delivering your baby they will want you to give a few small pushes to expel the placenta.