At what anatomical landmark is the fundus expected to be at week 34 of pregnancy?

At 34 weeks of pregnancy, the fundus, which is the upper part of the uterus, typically reaches an anatomical landmark just below the xiphoid process. As the pregnancy progresses, the uterus expands significantly to accommodate the growing fetus, and by the time a patient reaches the 34-week mark, the fundus rises higher within the abdominal cavity. Measuring from the pubic symphysis to the xiphoid process can give an approximation of the fundal height, which generally correlates with gestational age.

At this stage, a fundal height that is just below the xiphoid process is indicative of normal uterine growth. Other landmarks, like the umbilicus or the pubic symphysis, would represent earlier stages of pregnancy. For instance, the fundus would typically be at the level of the umbilicus around 20-22 weeks and above the pubic symphysis in the earlier weeks of pregnancy. Therefore, identifying the fundus just below the xiphoid process aligns with expected growth patterns in late pregnancy.