A Little About Nora at week 34!

Baby2See.com
Week Thirty Four: Rapid growth continues
You are 34 weeks pregnant. (fetal age 32 weeks)

• Your baby now is approximately 18 inches long and weighs about 5.25 pounds.
• Baby is now 46cm crown to heel and the weight is 2400 grams.
• Your child has now an excellent chance of survival outside the womb.
• Fat accumulations plumps up the arms and legs this week.
• Eyes opened when awake and closed when sleeping.
• The fingernails are now completely formed.

Even babies born earlier than this could survive outside the womb with hospital support although the risk of complications would be high. Your baby may have already turned to a head down position in preparation for birth. The skull bones are still pretty flexible and not completely joined to help to ease exit out of the narrow birth canal. Fat accumulations plumps up the arms and legs this week. The baby's skin is also becoming less wrinkled. Braxton Hicks contractions may be getting more numerous and stronger. Thanks to antibodies crossing the placenta the baby is developing immunities to mild infections.

Pregnancy Today
Your baby's digestive and intestinal systems are fully functioning now, although they will continue to mature until about the age of 2. Her first bowel movement (meconium) is ready and waiting to be passed and her lungs are nearly fully developed. If she were to be born now, she'd have a 95 percent chance of surviving without any medical help. This is reassuring to know!

Her fingernails now reach the end of her fingertips, and once she's born you may be surprised at how long (and sharp!) they are. The placenta reaches maturity and starts to age from this week onward, but it will still continue to do its job, providing your baby with nutrients and oxygen, until the birth.

Baby Center
Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

The Bump
Baby's now the size of a honeydew!
Baby can recognize and react to simple songs...time to start practicing your lullabies! In fact, baby will recognize frequently sung tunes after birth and probably find them soothing. Less cute news: She now urinates about one pint per day. Get the diapers ready!