34 weeks pregnant

Your baby this week

Lungs are nearly fully developed. Baby could survive easily if born now.

• Lungs are nearly fully developed and can produce surfactant on their own.
• Babies born at 34 weeks have great outcomes with minimal NICU intervention typically needed.
• Baby's fingernails reach past fingertips and may need clipping at birth.

Your body this week

Pack your hospital bag this week if you haven't.

• Talking to your provider about your birth preferences if you haven't yet.
• Pack your hospital bag with essentials.
• Watch for signs of preeclampsia: severe headache, vision changes, sudden swelling.

Common symptoms

• Trouble walking far
• Frequent bathroom trips
• Heartburn
• Insomnia
• Pelvic pain

Things to do this week

• ✓Pack hospital bag (ID, insurance card, comfy PJs, phone charger, baby outfit, snacks, water bottle)
• ✓Wash baby clothes/blankets in baby-safe detergent
• ✓Install car seat

For partners this week

Pack your bag too

• Pack your own bag with snacks, a phone charger, a change of clothes and a water bottle.
• Wash the baby clothes and blankets.

Typical visits around this week

Based on a typical schedule in Ontario. Your doctor or midwife sets the actual timing.

• RSV vaccine (if baby is due in RSV season)

  Weeks 32–36 · if it applies to you

  If your baby is expected during RSV season (roughly fall to spring), a vaccine in pregnancy is one way to protect them; the other is an antibody given to the baby after birth. Ontario offers the pregnancy vaccine free at 32–36 weeks (national guidance says it can be given from 28 weeks). Your provider will help you choose.

  Questions to ask →Questions to ask ↑

  • Is my baby due during RSV season?
  • Should I get the vaccine, or should the baby get the antibody after birth?
  • Where can I get the RSV vaccine?
  • If I get it, does the baby still need anything after birth?

• Routine check-ups (about every 2 weeks)

  Weeks 28–36

  From about 28 weeks, check-ups usually come every 2 to 3 weeks. Your provider keeps an eye on your blood pressure, the baby's growth and heartbeat, and will talk about feeling the baby move.

  Questions to ask →Questions to ask ↑

  • How should I keep track of the baby's movements?
  • Which symptoms mean I should call right away?
  • When should we register at the hospital or plan our birth place?
  • Are prenatal classes available near us?

Coming up

• Group B strep swab

  Weeks 35–37

  A quick vaginal and rectal swab, usually between 35 and 37 weeks, to check for group B strep bacteria. If it's positive, you'll be offered IV antibiotics during labour or if your water breaks.

  Questions to ask →Questions to ask ↑

  • Can I do the swab myself?
  • How will I find out the result?
  • If it's positive, what happens when I go into labour?

• Weekly check-ups

  Weeks 36–40

  From about 36 weeks, visits are usually weekly until birth. Your provider checks the baby's position and your health, and goes over signs of labour and when to come in.

  Questions to ask →Questions to ask ↑

  • Is the baby head-down?
  • When exactly should we call or head to the hospital?
  • What's the plan if my water breaks before contractions start?
  • What happens if I go past my due date?

A flu shot and a COVID-19 vaccine are recommended at any stage of pregnancy. The flu shot is given during flu season, so the timing depends on when you're pregnant.

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Further reading from health authorities

• Pregnancy — Government of Canada (Public Health Agency of Canada)
• Your pregnancy — Pregnancy Info, from the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC)
• Week-by-week guide to pregnancy — NHS (UK)
• Pregnancy — American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)