Pregnancy Week 34: Fetal Development, Bonding With Your Unborn Baby & Labor Breathing Practice Pregnancy Weekly

About Baby

At around 4 3/4 pounds and up to 18 inches long, your baby is now as big as a large cantaloupe. If preterm labor has been a worry for you, take a deep breath now, because babies born between 34 and 37 weeks most often do fine. Baby is still collecting fat, which continues to smooth out his skin. If you’re having a baby boy, his testicles are starting to work their way down into his scrotum. Baby’s tiny fingernails have grown to the tips of her fingers, getting ready for that first tiny manicure!

Photo: Baby at 34 weeks of development

About Mom

Feeling tired again, mama? With all your extra weight, an almost 5-pound baby inside you and all those potty breaks, it’s no wonder! Be sure to rest when you can.

When you felt that first kick, you probably had a strong desire to tell this person you haven’t even laid eyes on how much they mean to you. You don’t have to wait until your baby is born to express those feelings! Start now! Here are some fun ways to get those emotions out and make something your child will cherish when they are older:

• Write Letters to Baby: Sit down and put all your hopes and dreams for Baby into a series of letters. Hand write the letters, seal them and write your little one’s name on the envelope (if you haven’t decided on a baby name yet, be generic, like “My Precious Baby”). Save the letters in a wooden photo box or cardboard photo box and present them to your child sometime down the road.

• Email Your Baby: What? Sounds crazy, but it’s a modern way to share your thoughts with your child when he’s old enough to log on and check his email (it’ll get here sooner than you think!). Simply open an email account for your baby and fill up his or her inbox with emails from you. Or, share the email address and let friends and family join in the fun. Baby, you’ve got mail!

Here are two more fun activities to try that help you bond with Baby before birth.

Labor Breathing Practice

Worried about breathing properly during your baby's delivery? First and foremast, mom-to-be, just remember to breathe! Often when something is challenging, whether it’s emotional, mental or physical, we hold our breath. Holding your breath actually makes it harder to sustain focus, relax and get done what needs to get done!

To prepare for labor, practice breathing, deep breathing. When things get difficult do you tend to hold your breath? Exhale! The key is to exhale. Experiment with different ways to focus on your exhale and to relax at the same time. Set aside some time to practice daily, even if it’s just for two minutes. The daily practice will help remind you to breathe throughout the day, notice your breath and to remember to exhale!

Here are some simple breathing practices you can try to help you prepare for labor.

Bump Talk

“If pregnancy were a book they would cut the last two chapters.” – Nora Ephron, journalist, writer and filmmaker

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