35 Weeks Pregnant

Baby’s Development

Your baby has grown to about 46 centimeters — roughly the size of a large honeydew — and weighs approximately 2,400 grams, or about 5.3 pounds [1]. The brain and lungs are nearly fully developed now. With most of the available space taken up, the kicks you feel have transformed into more subtle rolls, stretches, and shifts of pressure. Body fat now makes up about 16 to 20 percent of your baby’s weight, giving the skin a smooth, plump appearance. Most of the fine lanugo hair has shed, while the vernix coating is still present. Your baby’s movement patterns are becoming more distinct, with clear active periods and sleep periods — you may notice the movements feel less frequent but more deliberate. If born now, your baby’s survival rate is 99 percent or higher [2].

Body Changes

Your uterus is now about 15 centimeters above your navel, getting close to your sternum. A weight gain of 27 to 35 pounds by this point is typical. Your bump is large, and you may notice stretch marks, the linea nigra, melasma, more visible veins, and varicose veins. Your breasts may have grown by two or more cup sizes, and colostrum may leak occasionally. The “pregnancy mask” (melasma) can appear on your face, and swelling in your feet and ankles is common. Your heart rate may range from 80 to 100 beats per minute. Your weekly OB visits begin this week [2].

Tips for Week 35

• Attend your weekly OB visits, which begin this week. At each visit, your provider will check your blood pressure, urine, fundal height, weight, fetal heart rate, and fetal position, and perform the GBS swab between 35 and 37 weeks.
• Get your Group B Strep (GBS) test, which involves a simple vaginal and rectal swab done between 35 and 37 weeks. If you test positive (about 10 to 30 percent of pregnant people do), you will receive antibiotics during labor to prevent newborn infection.
• Continue perineal massage for about 5 minutes daily, which can help reduce perineal tearing at birth.
• Address sleep difficulties with a pregnancy pillow, side-sleeping, a cool room, magnesium, or Unisom (with your provider’s okay). If anxiety is driving the sleeplessness, talk to your OB.

Things To Do (Checklist)

• Get your GBS test (done between 35 and 37 weeks)
• Continue perineal massage (5 minutes daily)
• Optimize sleep aggressively
• Address labor anxiety through a class, doula, or your provider
• Continue kick counting (aim for 10 movements in 2 hours daily)

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is Group B Strep? A: Group B Strep is a common bacteria found in the vagina or rectum of about 25 percent of pregnant people. It is harmless to you but can cause a serious infection in a newborn. If you test positive, you will receive antibiotics during labor to protect your baby [1].

Q: I’m 35 weeks. Is it too early to deliver? A: At 34 to 36 weeks, your baby is considered late preterm — almost there, but not quite full term. Most late preterm babies do well but may need a brief NICU stay. Once you reach 37 weeks, your baby is considered full term [2].

Q: I have a lot of Braxton Hicks contractions. Is that okay? A: If they are irregular, infrequent, and painless, they are a normal part of your body preparing for labor. You should be concerned if they become regular (following the 5-1-1 pattern), painful, increasing in frequency, or accompanied by bleeding or fluid — in that case, call your OB, as it could signal preterm labor [1].

Sources

1. ACOG — How Your Fetus Grows During Pregnancy
2. Mayo Clinic — 35 Weeks Pregnant
3. What to Expect When You’re Expecting — Heidi Murkoff (Chapters 19-20: Third Trimester)