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Baby Development, Symptoms and Tips

In this article:
Key takeaways at week 35
Baby's development at week 35
3D anatomy views
Pregnancy symptoms this week
Your body at 35 weeks
Tips for week 35
Checklist for week 35

Key Takeaways at 35 Weeks Pregnant

• At this stage, it might feel like you’re all belly—and with good reason. Believe it or not, your uterus has grown to about 500 to 1,000 times its original size.
• Make sure you know the signs of labor. Braxton Hicks contractions will feel intense at this point; make sure they’re not getting stronger and more frequent. If they are, call your doctor.
• The Group B strep test will be happening in the next week or two. Your doctor will swab your vaginal area and rectum and have it tested for bacteria called Group B Strep. It’s common, but can be harmful to baby. Don’t worry, if you’re positive, you’ll just be given antibiotics during labor to protect baby.

At 35 weeks, some moms-to-be feel like they have a ton of stuff left to do before baby’s arrival. Others can barely wait for baby to make their debut. Either way, try not to stress; baby will show up when they’re ready and won’t care if you haven’t checked every little detail off your list. As long as you’ve got a safe place for baby to sleep, some diapers and an infant car seat for the ride home, you’ve already got a bunch of baby’s basic needs taken care of.

Watch Week 35 Highlights

Baby at Week 35

Baby’s hearing is now fully developed, and your 35-week fetus responds best to high-pitched noises. If you’re pregnant with a boy, you would see on a 35 weeks pregnant ultrasound that his testes have probably fully descended. (Bet you hadn’t thought about that one!)

How big is baby at 35 weeks?

At 35 weeks pregnant, baby is as big as a pineapple. Baby measures about 18.2 inches from head to heel. From here on out, they won't get much longer but will keep plumping up. Your 35-week fetus now weighs about 5.3 pounds, and will put on a pound or more of baby fat before you meet them.

35 weeks pregnant is how many months?

Thirty-five weeks pregnant is eight months pregnant, although doctors refer to your stage in pregnancy by week, not month. Just about five more weeks left!

35 week ultrasound

Wondering if you’ll get an ultrasound this week? Probably not—unless you’re considered high risk. This week or next, you may have a Group B strep test. For it, your doctor will take a swab of your vaginal area and rectum and have it tested for bacteria called Group B Strep. This bacteria is common and isn’t going to make you sick, but it could be harmful to baby if they’re exposed to it at birth, so knowing whether you have it is important. If you do, you’ll be given antibiotics during the birth to prevent exposure, and that’s that. Easy peasy.

3D Views: My Baby, My Body

See their progress for yourself with our 3D interactive tool.

See My Baby in 3D

See My Body in 3D

Pregnancy Symptoms at Week 35

As you wrap up your eighth month, you’re probably feeling some of these 35 weeks pregnant symptoms:

Frequent urge to pee

Yup, your bladder is being pressed on by baby (or babies, if you’re 35 weeks pregnant with twins), who’s likely sitting pretty low in your pelvis, getting ready for birth. Don’t let the extra trips to the bathroom deter you from drinking lots of water, though—dehydration puts you at risk for preterm labor, so drink up.

Constipation

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Make sure to get plenty of fiber in your diet. If you’ve tried everything and are still struggling with constipation, ask your doctor if it’s okay for you to take a fiber supplement or a stool softener.

Aches and pains in the hips and pelvis

These ouchies are continuing—and you may even be feeling a few new ones. While you’re dealing with discomfort, look on the bright side: It’s a sign your body is getting ready to deliver your baby. Yep, all of this pain actually has a purpose! Your ligaments are loosening so that baby can make their way out of your uterus and into the world.

Braxton Hicks contractions

At 35 weeks pregnant, you may have noticed an increase in the number of contractions you're having. It’s kind of crazy how hard your belly can get! Just keep an eye on those contractions; rest when you get them and drink lots of water.

Is it normal to be really tired at 35 weeks pregnant?

You are definitely not alone in feeling fatigued at 35 weeks! Your body’s aches and pains, your bursting bladder and your very active baby all make insomnia a very real possibility at this stage of your pregnancy. You may also be experiencing symptoms such as leg cramps or heartburn that can prevent you from sleeping soundly. Just try to get all the rest you can now—in a few weeks, it will be much harder to sleep with a new baby to love and care for!

Your Pregnant Belly at 35 Weeks

Growing, growing, growing. Yup, baby and you. Now that you’ve reached 35 weeks pregnant, your uterus has grown to about 500 to 1,000 times its original size, a number that might sound exaggerated to everyone else—but to you, it probably feels more like a million. You can expect to gain about a half-pound each week until you give birth.

When you’re 35 weeks pregnant, it’s a good idea to review the signs of labor. You may think this is early, but about 11 percent of singleton moms give birth prematurely, while moms who are 35 weeks pregnant with twins are close to being considered full term at this point.

Signs of Labor at 35 Weeks

This is not a drill! Here are signs of actual, call-the-OB-and-grab-your-hospital-bag labor:

Water breaking.

You’ll know your water has broken if you experience something that’s less like discharge and more like a flow of water. It can happen in a big gush (like in the movies) or in a slow trickle that just keeps coming.

Painful contractions

Those Braxton Hicks have nothing on real contractions. If you’re suddenly feeling pain in your 35 weeks pregnant belly or back instead of some mild tightness, it could be time.

Regular contractions

True contractions happen regularly and don’t stop—they get more frequent, and more painful. Your doctor will probably tell you at what point to call and let them know about your contractions. A good rule of thumb is to call when contractions are about five minutes apart for a first pregnancy. If it’s not your first, call earlier—more like when they’re 10 to 15 minutes apart—because those labors tend to be much shorter.

Unsure if any 35 weeks pregnant symptom could be a sign of labor? Always call the doctor just to be safe.

Can baby be born at 35 weeks and be healthy?

Yes! While it’s still a couple more weeks until baby reaches “early term” at 37 weeks, they can still be born now and be just as healthy in the long run as one born later. Don’t be surprised if your doctor wants to extend baby’s hospital stay a bit just to make sure all is well.

"It's not too early to start organizing the pile of goods needed for your hospital (or birth center) stay!… Cluttering your labor and postpartum space will bring unnecessary stress, not to mention tripping hazards in darkened rooms. Think comfort, familiarity and necessities: your bed pillow, personal toiletries, stretchy clothes, special objects for labor focal points, phones/chargers, snacks, baby outfit, car seat. Channel your inner minimalist!" - Julie Lamppa, APRN, CNM, certified nurse midwife at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and the co-author of Obstetricks: Mayo Clinic Tips and Tricks for Pregnancy, Birth and More.

Tips for 35 Weeks Pregnant

Feeling over it? We hear you. Don’t worry, your pregnancy journey will be over soon enough—and the reward will be worth it! In the meantime, here are some ways to stay busy this week.

Pack your hospital bag

If you haven’t done so already, it’s time to prepare for delivery. There are things you’ll need (insurance information, photo ID) and there are things that you’ll want (socks, comfortable clothes for the trip home). Here’s a checklist if you need ideas for what to pack.

Use your pregnancy pillow

At the 35-week mark, this pillow has probably been a lifesaver for you. It helps you maintain that ideal left-side sleeping position, and it also relieves pressure on your hips while you’re lying in bed.

Watch your water intake before bed

There’s not a whole lot you can do about your frequent trips to the bathroom—it’s just part of being 35 weeks pregnant. Up all night? Limit how much water you drink in the hour or two before you go to bed to reduce the number of middle-of-the-night wake ups.

Eat more salads

They’re a great way to get more fiber in your diet to prevent constipation. Start with spinach or kale, add some lentils or roasted chickpeas (or go fruit-forward with pears, berries or apples) and top with sesame seeds or chopped almonds—they’re all tasty fiber-rich foods.

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Pregnancy Checklist at 35 Weeks Pregnant

Reminders for the week:

• Get ready to announce baby's arrival
• Get to know the signs of labor
• Program important numbers into your phones

35 week

34 week Week 36

About the child

By the 35th week of pregnancy. The child becomes well-fed, meconium accumulates in his intestines (he will leave 6-7 hours after birth). All his organs are formed and working. The immune, nervous and endocrine systems mature. Surfactant continues to accumulate in the lungs - a substance that straightens the alveoli of the lungs at the first breath of the baby.

About health

Another month until the key moment. Weight is added, shortness of breath may appear when moving. The diaphragm rose and changed the location of the stomach, which decreased in volume. At this stage, a woman may be disturbed by heartburn and frequent urination. From this week she visits the doctor every seven days. The doctor monitors the condition of the child, listening to his heartbeat, for weight gain and blood pressure figures. This period is dangerous for the mother by the development of edema and an increase in blood pressure, that is, the appearance of toxicosis in the second half of pregnancy. Protein may appear in the urine, which should not normally be present. This condition requires mandatory hospitalization, but does not mean that everything will be bad. Doctors have long learned to help both the woman and the child in such situations. But it is better to avoid complications by following a salt-free diet at the end of pregnancy. nine0003

What should a woman know about childbirth?

Two weeks before childbirth, there are preparatory or false contractions and other signs of future childbirth. The body of a woman prepares for childbirth in the last two weeks of pregnancy. The pubic articulation has already softened, it is rather painful when palpated. The pubic articulation is the front wall of the pelvis, and in order for the child's head to overcome this bone ring during childbirth, the cartilaginous part of the pubic articulation softens in advance. The muscles of the pelvis and perineum also become more elastic. The cervix softens and shortens a little, its outer ring opens slightly. This is a mature neck. The preparation of tissues of a pregnant woman for childbirth occurs under the action of the hormone estriol. When the fetus is fully ready for childbirth, a signal enters the woman’s brain - and real, strong contractions begin. They are quite intense, and most importantly - regular. They begin with pulling pains in the lower abdomen, and then cover the entire abdomen and lower back. After a minute there is a respite, and after 10-15 minutes the contractions resume. In the future, they become more intense and longer. With the appearance of regular contractions with an interval of 10-15 minutes, you must urgently go to the maternity hospital. With irregular contractions, but with spotting, discharge or leakage of amniotic fluid, you should also immediately go to the maternity hospital. There is no need to be scared: the situation is familiar to obstetricians, but in no case should one drag out time. To avoid complications, it is better, after consulting with your doctor, to be hospitalized in advance - a day or two before the expected birth. nine0003

34 weeks 36 week

what is happening, development of pregnancy and fetus

Week by week
33 - 36 weeks of pregnancy
Elena Gevorkova
Obstetrician-gynecologist, Moscow

33rd week

BABY

At the 33rd week, the weight of the fetus is 1800-1900 g, and the body length is 43-44 cm. The amount of subcutaneous fat increases, due to which the folds and wrinkles on the baby's body are smoothed out, the skin turns pink. The fluffy hairs that cover the body of the fetus, which are called lanugo, become smaller, and the hair on the head darkens and thickens. The baby's skin is covered with a thin layer of cheese-like lubricant, its largest amount accumulates in the folds - axillary, cervical, inguinal - as well as on the back of the body and face. Grease is a viscous mass of white color, it is a secret of the sebaceous glands, mixed with skin scales. Its function is to protect the baby's skin from damage and facilitate its passage through the birth canal. nine0003

By this time, fetal movements gradually change their habitual character - they become more and more limited and less pronounced in amplitude due to insufficient space. However, the strength of the movements increases, since by this time the muscular system of the fetus is already sufficiently strengthened. Sharp and strong tremors of the fetus can be sensitive to the internal organs of a pregnant woman. Depending on the position of the baby, the liver, stomach, bladder, ribs, etc. may “suffer”. By 33 weeks, the movements of the fetus are already quite coordinated. nine0003

FUTURE MOTHER

The height of the fundus of the uterus from the level of the pubis at this time is 34 cm. The volume of the abdomen is increased due to the weight of the baby, placenta, amniotic fluid. The increase in uterine pressure and strong tremors of the fetus can cause some discomfort in the pregnant woman. Many movements previously available to the expectant mother, such as squats, become limited. Moderate physical activity - walking, fitness, etc. - Requires frequent respite.

A change in the center of gravity increases the load on the spine, which can manifest itself as pain in the lower back, sacrum, and pelvic region. The pressure of the uterus on the stomach can cause or increase nausea, heartburn, and a feeling of heaviness. An increase of almost 1 liter of the volume of circulating blood in the body of a pregnant woman increases the load on the kidneys, and the growing uterus puts pressure on the bladder. All this can be manifested by frequent urination. nine0003

These ailments are usually associated with the mechanical pressure of the uterus on the surrounding organs; they are not symptoms of the disease and are temporary. And to relieve nausea, heartburn and a feeling of heaviness in the stomach, frequent meals in small portions are recommended.

34th week

BABY

By this time, the weight of the fetus is approximately 2100 g, and the height is 45 cm. From this period, the cheeks are very pronounced, because, developing a sucking reflex, the fetus often sucks its thumb. This leads to the fact that the baby strengthens the facial muscles, in particular the buccal. The total muscle mass of the fetus increases, the bones become denser. nine0003

There is an intensive functioning of the baby's internal organs. During the day, he repeatedly swallows portions of amniotic fluid. Passing through the gastrointestinal tract, the amniotic fluid stimulates the work of the muscular wall. The dense part of the amniotic fluid, which is a suspension of skin flakes, lubricant, vellus hair, is processed by the enzymes of the liver and pancreas, and the liquid part is intensively excreted by the kidneys of the fetus.

Approximately 500 ml of amniotic fluid is treated in this way per day. The production of bile continues, which accumulates in the gallbladder and, as the stomach fills with a suspension of amniotic water, enters the lumen of the small intestine. The functional development of the liver and pancreas during the prenatal period does not play a significant role, since the fetus does not have digestion; processes for the production of bile and enzymes: lipase, which breaks down fats; trypsin, which breaks down proteins; amylase, which breaks down carbohydrates, etc. - are preparatory in nature. nine0003

FUTURE MOTHER

Most pregnant women begin to feel rather intense false contractions at this time. Strictly speaking, false or training contractions, which are also called Braxton-Hicks contractions, can occur after the 20th week of pregnancy: the longer the period, the more frequent and pronounced the contractions. They are episodic contractions of the muscles of the uterus, lasting from a few seconds to 3-5 minutes. Braxton-Hicks contractions are not pathological - this is a completely normal process of preparing the muscles of the uterus for the difficult process of childbirth. This phenomenon with varying degrees of intensity is observed in almost all pregnant women. nine0003

Many primiparas are concerned about the difference between preparatory contractions and labor.

Here are some differences:

• Frequency of contractions. Training bouts do not become more frequent, the intervals between them may be different. Labor pains are regular, the interval between them is reduced.
• Duration of contractions. Training bouts have different durations, from a few seconds to minutes, their duration does not increase over time. Labor pains tend to lengthen. nine0073
• Soreness. Preparatory contractions may not be accompanied by pain at all, or they may be quite noticeable, up to a feeling of sharp pain. However, their intensity weakens over time and the pain disappears. Labor pains are painful and constantly intensify.
• Localization. Braxton-Hicks contractions can be felt in various places - in the lower part of the uterus, in the region of its bottom, along the side walls, covering the entire abdomen. Labor pains begin with a contraction of the lower abdomen, spreading to the front. Often in childbirth, pain in the lower back is felt, while the nature of the pain resembles menstrual pain. nine0073
• Relationship with body position. Preparatory contractions may disappear after walking or, on the contrary, rest. A change in body position can relieve the tension in some muscles, which also causes a decrease in the appearance of training contractions. Labor pains may be somewhat relieved in a certain position - when leaning forward, in the knee-elbow position, etc. - but their frequency and duration will still increase.
• Reaction to medication. The use of antispasmodic drugs - NO-ShPY, BUSCOPAN, PAPAVERIN, etc. - approved by the attending physician, can weaken or completely stop false contractions. The effect of antispasmodics on labor pains is minimal. nine0073

Any pain or discomfort should be reported to the gynecologist: this will help the expectant mother to resolve doubts and cope with anxiety. Feeling safe is the best companion of pregnancy.

35th week

BABY

The body length of the fetus is 46--47 cm, weight - 2200-2300 g. These figures in the last weeks of pregnancy can vary greatly. The growth and weight of the fetus largely depend on heredity, individual parameters. Starting from 35 weeks, the baby will gain 200-250 g weekly. The fetus occupies almost the entire uterine cavity, its back is rounded, arms and legs are bent, brought to the body. The layer of subcutaneous fat increases significantly, which significantly “rounds” the body of the fetus. The closing of the eyelids and the contraction of facial muscles change the baby's facial expression quite often. The skin of the body becomes pink, smooth, the amount of cheese-like lubricant begins to decrease. Vellus hair covers separate small areas of the body - shoulders, back. The nails protrude beyond the tips of the fingers. nine0003

FUTURE MOTHER

The fundus of the uterus is 35 cm higher from the pubis and 15 cm higher from the navel. particularly light. The growing uterus does not allow the lungs to expand, respiratory movements are limited, which is manifested by shortness of breath. Almost all pregnant women to one degree or another experience a feeling of shortness of breath - a feeling of lack of air, frequent and shallow breathing, a desire to take a deep breath. As a rule, these sensations occur for a period of 28 weeks and reach their peak at the 35-36th week. After 37 weeks of pregnancy, the abdomen droops, which greatly facilitates breathing. nine0003

Shortness of breath during pregnancy is associated not only with the mechanical pressure of the uterus on the diaphragm, but also with the relaxing effect of hormones on the muscles of the bronchi and lungs. Most often, it is provoked by physical activity - climbing stairs, a long walk, etc. However, it is not uncommon for shortness of breath to occur at rest, especially when lying down. Both prolonged lying in a horizontal position and excessive exercise can contribute to increased shortness of breath. To alleviate her condition, the expectant mother needs to be rational about the daily routine - it is reasonable to alternate rest and physical activity. It is important to monitor your posture, as slouching exacerbates shortness of breath, reducing the already insufficient lung capacity. If shortness of breath is accompanied by blue lips or nails, sensations of pain behind the sternum, darkening before the eyes, nausea or vomiting, fainting, then an urgent need to consult a doctor. nine0003

36th week

BABY

The growth of the fetus by this term is about 47-48 cm, and the weight is about 2300-2500 g. The fetus enters a period of intensive preparation for childbirth. Each of the organs is already functionally mature enough to ensure the viability of the fetus. 36 weeks is the beginning of the preparatory journey, and the upcoming weeks of pregnancy are designed to finally form the baby's readiness for extrauterine life.

By 36 weeks, the fetus is in its final position in the uterus. As a rule, this is a longitudinal position, occipital presentation - in this case, the fetus is located head down, facing the mother's back. This is the most comfortable position that ensures the greatest safety of the baby during childbirth. More rarely, breech presentation is a condition in which the buttocks and legs of the fetus are located at the bottom of the uterus. This is a relative indication for operative delivery. The final decision on caesarean section or independent childbirth is made by doctors in each case individually. nine0003

A change in the position of the fetus in the uterus is possible, but this happens infrequently, since at this time the fetus occupies almost all the free space in the uterus, which significantly limits its motor activity. As a rule, if a change in the position of the fetus occurs, then only from the pelvic to the head. The reverse cases - the transition of the baby from the head position to the pelvic position - are practically impossible, since the head of the fetus is heavier than the buttocks and occupies the longitudinal position completely, by analogy with a float in water, the heavy part of which always outweighs. nine0003

FUTURE MOTHER

The height of the uterus is 36 cm, the volume of the abdomen is maximally increased, the bottom reaches the costal arches. At this time, the pregnant woman's body also begins its journey of preparing for the upcoming birth.

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