34 WEEKS PREGNANT

• Your baby's brain is continuing to grow and develop.
• In this scan, the red and blue show blood flow to the part of his/her brain that lets the two halves of the brain communicate with each other.

• Along with the central nervous system, your little one's lungs are also continuously maturing.
• He/she is also accumulating more fat on the body, which in turn is making him/her look healthier and sturdier with each passing week. This layer of fat also helps your baby in regulating the temperature of his/her tiny body.
• The skin is smoother, and the reddish appearance has vastly diminished. At week 34, he/she weighs a little more than two kilograms and stands at about 18 inches and a half. Your baby probably wants to show you just how good he/she is at growing different parts of the body as fast as they can.
• At week 34, his/her nails have grown so long that you can actually clip them right after birth. Although still asleep 75% of the time, your little one will continue to make random movements. The movements are an indicator that your baby is healthy and growing. If you do not feel your baby move as much, try and stay calm. He/she could just be sleeping.
• If the lack of movement inside your womb terrifies you, make an appointment with your doctor immediately to keep all negative thoughts at bay.
• If you are expecting a little boy, you will be glad to note that at week 34, his testicles are now starting to find their way into his scrotum.
• Your baby can take long deep breaths by now, and in reaction to harsh lights, his/her pupils will dilate and constrict.
• Normal pregnancies generally last up to 40 weeks, but if you were to give birth this week, your baby already has an extremely high chance of surviving without any complications.

• Constipation : Use the same remedies for this as well. Smaller, regular meals, lots of water, and regular exercise. If it is a bit too uncomfortable, speak to your doctor.
• Leg cramps : Your legs may be cramping because of the sudden weight that you have gained recently. It can also be said that as your baby is growing in size, the nerves and blood vessels that go to your legs may have added pressure put on them.
• Edema : This happens when your body has more liquid in the system than it normally does. Basically, you can place the blame for the swelling on water retention. You may notice that with every hour, the swelling probably becomes worse, and you may find evenings difficult to handle. It is supposed to increase in warmer weather. Put your feet up and stretch whenever you can. Take breaks from your chores and go for a short walk. Wear comfortable footwear always. This symptom disappears soon after delivery, so relax!
• Backaches : Your belly is now putting extra pressure on your lower back, and this may cause severe back pain now. Remember to take frequent breaks and stretch, stand or walk. Keep changing positions when you are sitting or standing for too long.
• Bloating & gas : You are probably passing gas and burping like crazy! Do not worry. This will go away soon. Stick to small regular meals and lots of water. And do not forget regular exercise.
• Hemorrhoids : Varicose veins can pop up anywhere in your body.
• The ones in your rectum are called haemorrhoids. Ensure to keep the area clean and wipe with warm water and toilet paper. You could use gentle wet wipes too.
• Stretch marks : Fairer-skinned women tend to have more stretch marks than dark-skinned ones. Rapid weight gain is a cause of stretch marks too. Eat right and exercise. Use coconut oil or any other natural moisturizers meanwhile.

Check out Mylo's solution to Stretch marks

• You may not be feeling all too different this week as the same symptoms may continue for a while.
• At week 34, it may feel like your belly has come down a bit more than the week before.
• This is because your baby may have descended to the pelvis.
• As the baby has shifted base, your diaphragm is not constantly pressed up, which in turn will have you breathing with ease.
• Now, that is definitely good news, right?
• This wonderful process of you finally getting to breathe better is called 'lightning.'
• But, your trips to the washroom to pee may increase even more with all that pressure on your bladder.