🤰 Third trimester
34 weeks pregnant
Your baby is about the size of a cantaloupe melon
By Emma Whitfield · Pregnancy & Baby Writer
Your baby at 34 weeks
The baby's central nervous system and lungs are maturing well. If born now, most babies do well with support. The waxy vernix on their skin thickens.
Your body at 34 weeks
You may notice more pelvic pressure as the baby descends. Swelling, piles and tiredness can peak. Practise your breathing or relaxation techniques.
Common symptoms this week
- Pelvic pressure as the baby descends
- Peak swelling and tiredness
- Stronger Braxton Hicks
Symptom lists are typical, never exhaustive — and having none of them is normal too.
Focus this week
Confirm your plans for getting to hospital and who your birth partner will contact. Keep your maternity notes with you at all times from now.
Week 34 checklist
- Attend your 34-week appointment
- Confirm the route and parking plan for your maternity unit
- Practise breathing or relaxation techniques from your classes
34 weeks pregnant: common questions
What should my birth partner know before labour?
Where the notes and hospital bag live, the maternity triage number, the route and parking at the unit, your birth preferences (and where you're flexible), and how you want to be supported — advocacy, silence, snacks, or all three. A 20-minute conversation now beats improvising at 3am.
How big is my baby at 34 weeks pregnant?
At 34 weeks, your baby is approximately the size of a cantaloupe melon, about 45cm and around 2100g. These are approximate averages — every baby grows at its own pace.
What's happening at 34 weeks pregnant?
The baby's central nervous system and lungs are maturing well. If born now, most babies do well with support. The waxy vernix on their skin thickens. For you: you may notice more pelvic pressure as the baby descends. swelling, piles and tiredness can peak. practise your breathing or relaxation techniques.
Which trimester is 34 weeks?
34 weeks pregnant is in the third trimester. The first trimester runs to the end of week 12, the second from weeks 13 to 26, and the third from week 27 to birth.
Sources & further reading
This is general information, not medical advice — every pregnancy is different. For anything that worries you, and for all your antenatal care, speak to your midwife or GP. If your baby's movements ever slow down or change, contact your maternity unit immediately, day or night. Reviewed July 2026.