Fetal Development Week 34

Good news for moms concerned about pre-term labor: Most babies born from here on out do just fine. In other happy news, your baby has likely turned head down, with the head against your pubic bone which is the most common presentation for delivery. Most 34-week-old fetuses measure about 18 inches and weigh five pounds or so. Picture a cantaloupe and you've got the idea. The layers of baby fat that your little one is putting on now will help regulate body temperature post-birth. If you peered into your uterus this week, you'd see that your baby's coating of lanugo, or warm fur, is almost completely gone. Meanwhile, the vernix on the skin is thicker. Vernix is a white, waxy substance, which protects your baby's skin and keeps it from looking like he just got out of the bath. Your baby's central nervous system and lungs continue to mature in preparation for birth, which is now just around the corner! To find out what happens next, check back for your weekly video update!

You would do anything to get some sleep, but your little passenger isn't making that easy. Up to 70% of pregnant women experience third trimester insomnia. Now that you've reached month 9, you're probably ready to burst. By the end of week 36, your no-longer-little baby will weight about 6lbs and measure 20'' or more in length. Expect weight to continue to increase, but your baby doesn't have room to get much longer. These days, your fetus is acting more like a baby, closing his or her eyes while asleep and opening them while awake. Your baby has also finally developed his or her own immune system, a must for those upcoming days on the playground. And if your baby is a he, he'll reach an important milestone this month: his testicles should be dropping from abdomen to scrotum. Now that your baby's bodily systems are close to fully mature, he or she will focus on expansion, both in weight and in brain power. It's interesting that both the head that houses that brain and the bones that hold that weight are still quite soft. This is so your baby can push easily out of your birth canal. Thinking about that impending birth, not to mention dealing with heartburn, leg cramps, and a gigantic belly may be keeping you up at night. Third trimester insomnia is very common. Try to avoid exercise too close to bedtime. It can also help to enjoy a banana or glass of milk in the evening, because both contain sleep-enhancing hormones. Remember in the beginning of your pregnancy, when you couldn't stop going to the bathroom? You're probably experiencing the same need to urinate constantly once again. Because your baby's head is now pressing squarely against your bladder, this is very normal. One place you could use some extra moisture, is your eyes, as they may suddenly become dry and uncomfortable. You can blame those pregnancy hormones for this irritation which is due to a decrease in tear production. But take heart, the finish line is in sight and soon you'll be holding that little boy or girl in your arms.

Forget those somersaults-these days, your big baby barely has room to move in your crowded uterus! As a result of cramped quarters, you may notice that the fetal movements you can feel decrease slightly, although your little one is still probably kicking and squirming. By your 35th week, your baby has hit the five pound, five ounce mark and is about 18 inches long. Because delivery is so close now, most of your fetus's development is complete. In fact, the kidneys are fully functioning and making urine, and the liver can process some waste products. As a result, this week begins your fetus's most rapid, final bout of weight gain, probably putting on about eight to 12 ounces per week until birth! The fat deposits will be placed all over the body, especially around the shoulders. Want to know what comes next? Check back to find out what happens during your final month of pregnancy!

Having some trouble walking this week? That because your baby has dropped further down your birth canal in preparation for delivery. This dropping process is known as lightening, and it's likely that you'll feel a lot lighter as a result! To further prepare for birth, your little one is most likely head down in your uterus now. If this is not the case, you may be a candidate for an external cephalic version, which is manual manipulation of your baby from the outside, to turn him or her headfirst. Because the head first, or vertex, position is least likely to be associated with complications during a vaginal delivery, therefore many babies who are not head first may be delivered by c-section. This week, your baby weighs in at just under six pounds, and measures more than 18 inches long. Your baby continue to shed lanugo and some vernix, both of which are swallowed, along with other bodily secretions in utero. This mixture will make up a tarry, blackish mixture known as meconium, or your baby's first bowel movement. To see what's up for the end of your last trimester, check back next week for your latest video update!