Your Pregnancy: Week 34

You’re likely feeling very full and heavy these days. Finding a comfortable sitting position may prove challenging as well and backaches and pains are common in the third trimester. Frequent trips to the restroom are common throughout pregnancy, but you may notice it more now in the third trimester.

Frequent urination
Increased blood flow throughout your body requires your kidneys to work a bit harder; the waste from your kidneys flows to your bladder and thus, you spend a large portion of your day urinating. Rest assured, this will ease up after your baby is born.

Incontinence
You may find that all of the extra urination is affecting your ability to hold in your urine while you make it to the bathroom. Your uterus has expanded so there’s more pressure on your bladder and pelvic floor muscles. Practice doing Kegel exercises to help strengthen your pelvic floor.

If you’re not sure how to do Kegel exercises, consider the muscles you use to stop the flow of your urine; we’ve all done it before. Contract for about 3 to 5 seconds. Repeat several times per day to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles.

Body aches and pains
Extra weight of being pregnant brings with it aches and pains in places you may never have experienced before. This is completely normal.

At 34 weeks pregnant you are now 8 months pregnant with 6 weeks left to go in your pregnancy.

If you’re having twins, chances are your doctor will order an ultrasound to check on your babies. Your doctor will also be checking the baby’s position. They’ll be able to determine whether or not baby is upside down or presenting in a breech position.

You may have noticed in the last few weeks the development of stretch marks. While they may seem very pronounced now, after you give birth they could lighten and diminish in size.

• If you haven’t already done so, consider submitting a birth plan to your doctor; keep a copy in your hospital bag as well.
• If you’re noticing that incontinence is an issue, consider purchasing some maternity incontinence pads to keep more comfortable.
• Baby can hear at this stage of pregnancy, so by all means sing and talk to your child. Some parents read a story to their child at this stage and say they have then noticed baby reacting and interacting with the same story once they’re born.

• If your doctor hasn’t already done so, inquire about a Group B Streptococcus (GBS) test. The GBS will test whether you carry this bacteria on your body which while not harmful to you, can make baby sick during delivery. If your test is positive, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics.

In your third trimester, your baby is growing quickly and relies on the nutrients you provide to grow healthy and strong. Your diet should be high in iron (from food or a supplement if your doctor has suggested one) Vitamin C, Vitamin A, B12, and foods rich in Omega 3-fatty acids (DHA) like salmon.

Round out your diet with healthy options like these:

• Cruciferous vegetables (Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower)
• Fish and lean protein
• Citrus fruits and leafy vegetables
• Eggs and dairy

At this stage of your pregnancy, anything that seems off or just not right may warrant a call to your doctor. Often just getting reassurance from the staff nurse when you call your doctor’s office is enough to set your mind at ease.

Plus, letting them know what’s going on is helpful, in case you run into issues later on and need to go in to be seen. Even if you’re not sure you’re experiencing a serious symptom, making a phone call won’t do any harm so don’t feel like you’re bothering them when you call.

Pregnant women are at a higher risk of illness as a result of a COVID-19 diagnosis and those diagnosed with COVID-19 have an increased chance of delivering pre-term (before 37 weeks), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Note: If you are visiting your doctor during COVID, be sure to confirm that the doctor’s office is following COVID protocols as indicated by the CDC.

Choosing the right fertility clinic that aligns with your needs can be a challenge. Information on the Southern California Reproductive Center website (SCRC), lists in detail the factors LGBTQ couples should take into consideration when choosing a center. Among these are:

• The type of technology available
• Success rates
• Finding a clinic with an established LGBTQ client base