Pregnancy week 35

Your baby’s development

At week 35 your baby is about the size of a honeydew melon: roughly 46.2 cm long and 2383 g. The kidneys are fully developed and the liver is beginning to process waste. Your baby swallows amniotic fluid and passes it back as urine, which keeps the fluid cycle going. Most babies settle head down around now, and the head may move toward the pelvis and closer to the birth canal. The lungs continue to prepare for the first breath after birth. Brain growth is fast and the bones are firming up, but the skull stays flexible. A good share of the weight is fat, which makes your baby look rounder. With little space left to turn, movements may feel more like wriggles and squeezes than kicks; still, they should continue regularly. The liver also begins storing iron, which supports your baby in the first months after birth.

Changes in the mother

As the baby's head settles into the pelvis, some people find breathing easier, while pressure on the pelvis and bladder grows and bathroom trips become more frequent. Falling asleep and staying asleep can be harder; short afternoon rests help. In these weeks your healthcare provider may mention Group B Streptococcus (GBS) screening. This simple swab test is usually offered between weeks 35 and 37, and your provider decides whether it is needed. The result helps plan any precautions during labour. Mild contractions may continue, and learning to tell them apart builds confidence. Excitement about the approaching birth and worry about the unknown can sit side by side. Ask loved ones for support, hand heavy tasks to others, and make room for small pleasures.

To do this week

• Ask your healthcare provider whether GBS screening is right for you (usually weeks 35–37).
• Finish packing your hospital bag and keep it somewhere easy to reach.
• Talk through your birth plan draft with your doctor or midwife.
• Finish setting up the baby's room or sleeping space.
• Keep paying attention to your baby's movements each day.

Tip for the partner

Having phone numbers and the route to the birth place ready helps you stay calm when the moment arrives.

Nutrition tip

Drink plenty of fluids and balance carbohydrates with protein so your energy lasts longer.