Pregnancy Guide: Week 35

You may feel the occasional kick, but by now, your baby is so short on space that she wiggles and rolls instead. She is growing a lot of fat now, and her shoulders are filling out. She likely already has her head down and is ready to make her way out.

35 weeks pregnant is how many months?

You are in your last week of the eighth month. Next week you’ll be eight months pregnant and onto the ninth month of your pregnancy. You may already be thinking of gif ideas for grandparents or starting to fill up that baby register.

Your Baby at 35 Weeks

Your baby is gaining weight steadily and most of the weight she’ll gain from now until delivery is from fat. Your baby once was skinny and is now irresistibly soft and squishy. Her skull is soft, too, which is what makes it possible for her head to fit through the birth canal.

How big is a baby at 35 weeks?

Your baby is as big as a pineapple. At 46.7 centimetres long from head to heel, she’s standing pretty tall. At 2595 grams and growing, she’ll be plump when she makes her entrance. 

How much more your baby gains will vary. It could be as little as 450 grams or, in rare cases, she could still almost double what she weighs now.

Your Body at 35 Weeks

While your baby works hard to accumulate more fat, you’re working hard to carry it all around. Your uterus will measure in centimetres the same as you are in weeks of pregnancy, so at 35 weeks, your doctor will measure from the top of your pubic bone to the top of your uterus at roughly 35 centimetres.

Frequent urination is back with a vengeance now that your uterus—or your baby’s head—is pressing down on your bladder, leaving less room for urine. It can also cause UTI symptoms if you don’t go when you feel the urge. If you are regularly getting waxed you may find the experience more painful or sensitive the closer you get to the end of your pregnancy.

One ugly symptom that comes with this problem is the inability to control your bladder – like when you sneeze, cough, or laugh. Don’t take that as a reason to stop drinking so much water. It can help alleviate plenty of other symptoms, too.

Symptoms

Pregnancy hormones can cause occasional headaches, but they can be made worse by light, noise, heat, or fatigue. If you have a headache, try resting in a dark, cool, quiet room for a few minutes before popping any pills.

If your varicose veins have now started to itch, try some support hose. They don’t look sexy, but they can help with pressure, fluid retention, and everything else that causes your varicose veins to pop. For those varicose veins in your rectum—or hemorrhoids as they’re more commonly known—try witch hazel pads and ice packs.

Tender and bleeding gums are par for the course, but you can help them by maintaining good dental hygiene and getting some extra vitamin C. Vitamin C makes your gums stronger and could help with the pain.

Skin rashes are common right now, especially on your stomach. Your skin is being stretched, which means it’s drying out and getting itchy. 

You can use a moisturiser, but if you suddenly notice a bumpy rash on your belly, it could be pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy or PUPPP. It’s benign but annoying. Try aloe vera after your shower.

This week, you may notice yourself starting to waddle rather than walk. Balancing is infinitely harder than it was a few weeks ago, so wear comfortable shoes, don’t climb ladders or step stools, and use caution on stairs or when getting into the shower or bath.

You’re sleepy, you’re off balance, and frankly, you can’t remember anything. Chalk it up to pregnancy hormones, anxiety, and fatigue. It’s normal but frustrating. 

Your fog will lift in a few months, but make it a habit to carry a notepad with you.

Your baby has been practising for her debut for a long time, but now your body is, too. Braxton Hicks contractions are practice contractions that your uterus uses to prepare for labour. Some women don’t even feel them, while others may experience some discomfort. 

If you drink some water and change positions, they will most likely go away. If they don’t, talk to your doctor.

Tips/Things to do

You’re gearing up for delivery, so think about your options for pain relief now. Several options are safe for you and your baby. If you’d like your birth plan to include very little pain, talk to your doctor about anesthesia. 

You can always change your mind later, but preparing for every contingency is smart.

Speaking of birth plans, do you have one? If you haven’t started preparing for delivery, make sure you, your partner, and your doctor know what you want. Many hospitals will have you come in for a pre-registration appointment where you will fill out paperwork and indicate your preferences when it comes to pain relief, room sharing, and many other decisions you need to make.

It’s much easier to think these things through now than it will be while you’re in labour, so if you need help formulating a plan, your doctor can help talk through all the options with you. You can’t always anticipate how all of your experiences will go, but you can prepare yourself to make better decisions if you have a plan now.

If you haven’t installed the car seat, do that now. It won’t be long before you can start expecting the baby to come at any time, so make sure you’re ready. The hospital won’t let you go home with the baby unless you have a car seat. 

Besides, especially for first-time parents, car seats may feel like rocket science, so it won’t hurt to have some practice.

Babies whose mothers exercised with them in utero tend to be less prone to colic, can self soothe better, and sleep through the night sooner. Keep hitting the gym, but don’t overdo it. If something hurts, lighten up, slow down, or stop.

One of the best ways to prepare for motherhood is to take an infant CPR class. Your baby will truly be in the best of hands if you are prepared with these skills. The chances of you needing them are slim, but it never hurts.

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