The Playbook

34 Weeks Pregnant: Install the Car Seat and Practice the Swaddle

By the Guide to Fatherhood editorial team. Last reviewed . 2 min read.

Checked against guidance from organizations like the AAP, CDC, ACOG and NHS (linked below). This is general information, not medical advice. Read our medical disclaimer.

Trimester3
Sizea cantaloupe
Length / weightabout 17.7 in (45 cm), about 4.7 lb (2.1 kg)

The central nervous system and lungs are maturing. Most babies born after 34 weeks do well, though they may need some extra help at first.

Your to-do list this week

  • Install the car seat now and get it checked by a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician.
  • Practice swaddling, diapering and holding on a stuffed animal or doll. It's less awkward than you think.
  • Learn the signs of preeclampsia: severe headache, vision changes, upper belly pain, sudden swelling. Those need a call right away.
  • Finish your work handover document so you can leave on short notice.
A conversation to have this week

"If the birth doesn't go as planned, like an induction or a C-section, how do you want me to help?" Agree that plan B isn't failure. You're there for her, not the plan.

The baby this week

At nearly five pounds, the baby’s central nervous system and lungs are maturing (Mayo Clinic). Babies born after 34 weeks generally do well, though some need extra help with breathing, feeding or temperature at first.

How she may be feeling

Heavy, tired, and ready. Fluid changes can blur her vision a little, but new or severe vision changes are one of the warning signs below.

Know the signs of preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is a serious blood pressure disorder that can develop in the second half of pregnancy or after birth. According to ACOG, call her provider right away if she has:

  • A headache that won’t go away.
  • Vision changes: blurriness, spots, sensitivity to light.
  • Pain in the upper right belly or shoulder.
  • Nausea or vomiting in the second half of pregnancy.
  • Sudden weight gain or swelling, especially of the face and hands.
  • Trouble breathing.

These signs matter after birth too, for weeks. Put them on the fridge.

Install and check the car seat

Don’t wait until labor. Install it now, then have it checked by a certified technician; NHTSA has a free inspection locator. Read our car seat installation basics first, and bring the manual.

Practice the skills

It feels ridiculous to swaddle a teddy bear. Do it anyway. Practice:

  • The swaddle: snug at the arms, loose at the hips. See how to swaddle.
  • A diaper change: fold the front down below the umbilical stump.
  • Holding: support the head and neck every time.

Twenty minutes now means one less thing to learn with a crying newborn.

Finish the handover

Write a one-page document: what’s in progress, who covers it, what can wait, and how to reach you (or not). Share it with your manager now. Labor doesn’t send a calendar invite.

Frequently asked questions

Where can we get our car seat installation checked?

Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians check installations for free at many fire stations, hospitals and community events. NHTSA has a locator on its car seat page.

What are the warning signs of preeclampsia?

ACOG lists a headache that won't go away, changes in vision (blurry vision, seeing spots, light sensitivity), pain in the upper right belly or shoulder, nausea or vomiting in the second half of pregnancy, sudden weight gain, swelling (especially face and hands), and trouble breathing. Call her provider right away.

Sources

  1. Fetal development: The 3rd trimester, Mayo Clinic
  2. Preeclampsia and High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
  3. Car Seats and Booster Seats, NHTSA

We link to the original source for every medical and safety claim. Guidance changes; if a source has been updated since our last review, the source wins. How we research.