3rd trimester: Week 34

By this point, the baby has her own immune system.

Your Baby

By the end of this week, your baby may weigh as much as four pounds and measure 16 inches. As the uterine and abdominal walls stretch and thin, more light reaches the womb, causing her to open and close her eyes in response. It also helps her know day from night so she can cycle between activity and rest.

Your Body

Think you are seeing a lot of your doctor now? In two weeks you will be asked to start coming in each week until you deliver. Your doc will keep an eye on your blood pressure to make sure it's not abnormally high, which may affect the placenta's ability to deliver blood and nutrients to the fetus. Also, your pelvic area may feel numb with tingling brought on by pressure from the growing baby.

Do's and Don'ts

Do pack your hospital bag with some reminders of home. Consider taking along T-shirt to wear during labor (instead of the standard-issue hospital gown), a headband or ponytail holder to keep your hair off your face, and extra pillows to make you more comfortable after delivery.

Health

In upcoming weeks, you will be screened for the Group B streptococcus (GBS) virus. If passed on to the baby, GBS can cause meningitis, pneumonia, or worse. Experts say one in four pregnant women is a carrier, but there's good news: GBS is easily treatable, requiring only that you be given antibiotics during delivery.

Mom to Mom

I wish I'd known that..."Not all labor is dramatic. The early signs were so subtle that I wasn't sure I was in labor." --Nancy Sciolina, Ione, CA