Week 34: Upside down baby

Fetal development in pregnancy week 34:



fetus in eighth month
Your amazing baby is on the move! They’ve been riding fairly high in
your stretched-out womb till now (while kindly compressing your poor
internal organs), but now they’re planning on making the big move to
your pelvis this week. If you haven’t noticed it already, you’ll be
feeling the weight shift that signals that your baby is most likely out
of breech position, with their head now resting on your pubic bone. In
liver news: although not quite fully formed, your little miracle’s
liver is now capable of processing a certain amount of waste. In
general, most of your child’s prenatal physical development is pretty
much up to snuff and ready for the outside world. Naturally, further
weight gain is expected—so you’re still not at maximum capacity despite
probably feeling like you definitely are maxed out.

And how's mom doing?
Obviously the big change for you is the
notable weight shift (known as “lightening” or “engagement”). Now that
your baby is resting deeper in your pelvis, you may find yourself
walking as if you're carrying a watermelon between your legs. Yes dear,
you’re officially “waddling” these days. Try to comfort Now
that your baby is resting deeper in your pelvis, you may find yourself
walking as if you're carrying a watermelon between your legs
yourself with this thought: it’s nearly over. Soon, you’ll just have to
carry your adorable little watermelon in your arms. And in a rare spate
of good news: this weight shift means you can breathe easier now that
your lungs aren’t compressed. The not-so-good news, it’s a trade off:
(we’ll wait till you’re back from the restroom) this new position has
your poor bladder even more squished than before. We’d recommend
writing your bladder little love poems to convince it not to leave you
altogether, but unfortunately bladders don’t speak English (only
Italian love poems will do).If you've recently noticed some
less-than-appealing itchy red bumps on your belly (and possibly around
your thighs and belly), you've got yourself a harmless but not fun
round of pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (PUPPP if
your don't have the patience for the full name). If you feel itchy ALL
over your body, that's different, and you should call your health care
practitioner as this could be a liver problem.At your next check
up you can expect your physician to conduct a Group B Streptococci test
(GBS), a common bacteria screening. As long as you have a strong immune
system, you’re in the clear (one more reason to eat right and
exercise!), but your little one is more susceptible to serious health
complications (including meningitis, pneumonia and blood infection) if
not diagnosed and treated properly—so the tests are good for some peace
of mind. Hang in there momma, you’re already a super-star for making it
this far!