Your Pregnancy: Week 34 for Baby
By: ePregnancy
Pregnancy, labor and delivery are a maternal marathon, to say the least. But don’t think you’re the only one doing the work. This week the tiny athlete inside you is gearing up for “go” and settling into position for labor.
His little organs are fully developed, but he hasn’t reached Carl Lewis condition -- his lungs aren’t ready for the real world yet. He’ll have to cool his heels in the starting blocks for a little longer, which is a good thing if the nursery still isn’t ready!
We've started talking about what you will go through during labor and delivery, but what about your baby?
Here's how it works, assuming your babe is in the correct, head-down position:
1. The little one will turn her head to one side and her chin will automatically rest on her chest, allowing the back of her head to lead the way.
2. As you reach full dilation (10cm), her face and torso turn towards your back as they enter the birth canal.
3. She will start to crown, or emerge -- just her head for now though!
4. Once her head has emerged, she will turn to face your side, allowing her to slip the rest of the way out.
Some moms get quite a shock upon seeing their little one for the first time, because it isn't all rosy cheeks and smooth skin. Your baby has been in a fluid-filled environment for the past nine months. If you were in a bath that long, imagine how your skin would look... You'd be as wrinkly as a raisin! Your baby may also come out with a slightly conical head, due to the soft skull moving through the birth canal. Don't worry -- this will go away, just like the wrinkly skin. And remember the vernix caseosa and lanugo we discussed? Your wee one will probably have at least remnants of both the waxy substance and the peach fuzz covering. Here's one that almost no one expects: your baby may appear to have enormous genitals at birth, and if you have a boy, his scrotum can be startling. This is considered completely normal and will dissipate over time.