You’re 35 Weeks Pregnant: What You Need to Know

You’re 35 weeks pregnant now. Soon, you’ll be entering your ninth, the last month of pregnancy.

How Big Is My Baby?

On your 35th month of being pregnant, your baby will be a little over 18 inches long. They’ll weigh around 84 ounces and be as big as a honeydew melon. From here on out, your baby will start to grow much heavier.

My Baby’s Development

By now, a majority of your baby’s basic physical development will be complete. Their kidneys will have developed fully. Their liver will also have matured enough to process some of your baby’s waste products.

One of the few underdeveloped things is your baby’s skull. At this stage of the pregnancy, it will still be quite soft. That is normal, and there’s a good reason for it. The tender and still malleable skull will make it easier for your baby to squeeze out of the birth canal.

What Is My Baby Doing?

At this point, your baby is so snug in the womb that you probably don’t feel them moving about as much as they used to—no more flips or somersaults. The number of kicks, however, will probably stay the same.

Now that most of your baby’s organs are more or less developed and functional, they’ll spend the next few weeks putting on weight. Their arms and legs, which used to be quite skinny, are beginning to become plump. These are all happening as your baby is positioning itself in your pelvic area. They’re getting ready to be born!

Belly Ultrasound

Along with the usual ultrasound, your doctor may have you take a Group B Strep Test. In this process, the doctor will be collecting a swab of your vaginal area and rectum. The laboratory will test these samples for Group B streptococcus bacteria. While this certain strain will not make you sick, exposure to it may prove to be harmful to your baby at birth.

If the doctor finds that you have said bacteria in your vaginal area and/or rectum, you’ll be given antibiotics while giving birth to prevent the newborn baby from being exposed to the harmful bacteria.

My Changing Body—Week 35

At this stage, your uterus will have significantly expanded. It will be tucked away entirely inside your pelvis. Given this expansion, it will squeeze the rest of your organs—your lungs, your bladder, and others—making the simplest actions incredibly tedious. These include breathing and peeing.

Your baby is, by now, positioned close to your pelvis, squeezing your bladder. You’ll notice that you start needing to go to the bathroom more often. Worse, you might lose a bit of control over your bladder. It may lead to some of your pee leaking out while you cough, sneeze, or even laugh.

Common Symptoms

During this week, expect some of the following symptoms:

• Braxton Hicks Contractions – These aren’t going away anytime soon. Be ready for more frequent and more painful contractions, as well as false alarms. Note that this type of contraction is nothing compared to the real deal. If the pain seems more intense than usual, that might be a sign that you’re about to give birth.

• Frequent Urination – As stated above, since your baby is pushing up against your bladder, you’ll need to go to the bathroom more often. A panty liner—perhaps even a diaper—may be the remedy you need for this inconvenience.

• Absentmindedness – You’re running on little to no sleep, with a body that’s focused more on the baby than on the production of brain cells. But worry not. Your forgetfulness and lovable airheadedness is merely a side effect. You’ll go back to normal by the time you give birth to your baby.

How Is My Life Changing

The finish line is in sight, and you’re slowly but surely making your way to it. This week is the home stretch, soon-to-be mom! Your little one could decide to pop out at any time. Hence, this is as good a time as any to start psyching yourself up.

Mentally prepare yourself. Tell yourself that this is finally, finally, happening. After all, you never know when your water is going to break, and you’ll need to be rushed into the hospital to go into labour.

Week 35 Mommy Checklist

For this week, try to accomplish these tasks:

• Explore your options in remedying the pain that comes with childbirth—from anesthesia to breathing techniques.
• Read up on the telltale signs that a pregnant woman is about to go into labour.
• Prepare for your arrival at the hospital.

Tips For The Partners

Here are some things you can do for the soon-to-be mom:

• Never get tired in helping and encouraging your partner.
• Contact the hospital in advance to ensure that they will be able to accommodate you and your partner comfortably.
• Be ready to rush your partner to the hospital at any time.

A Sneak Peek to Your Week 36

Here’s what you can expect next week:

• Your baby will begin shedding the substances that protected their body from the nine-month-long amniotic bath.
• By the end of next week, your baby will be considered an “early term” baby.