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!