Your Pregnancy Week 35
Baby
Your baby continues to grow and develop inside of you, now measuring about 18 inches long, and weighing about 6lbs!
If you have been noticing that you need more bathroom breaks than usual, it may be due to the fact that your baby has "dropped". As your due date grows near, your little one will settle deeper in your pelvis. This reduces pressure on your rib cage, allowing you more room to expand your diaphragm, but now there may be more pressure on your bladder.
By week 35, your baby's kidneys are completely developed. His liver is also beginning to produce waste. In fact, a majority of his growth is already done. However, you should expect him to put on some more weight over the next few weeks. As space is at a premium, you may not feel as much tossing and turning inside of you, but you will definitely feel some healthy punches and kicks.
Mom
How are you feeling? At week 35, you should be seeing your healthcare provider at least once a week. You may have been experiencing Braxton-Hicks contractions over the past couple of weeks, so you may be wondering how you can tell when it's the real thing.
Regular uterine contractions are the strongest indication that you are officially in labor! These contractions can feel like menstrual cramps or even lower back pain and in early labor they can be 20-30 minutes apart. Over time however, the time between contractions will begin to decrease. It's time to call your healthcare provider when they are consistently 5 minutes apart.
You may also want to call your healthcare provider if you pass your mucus plug. This is a small amount of thick mucus that has sealed your cervical canal during your pregnancy. The plug is released as your cervix dilates to prepare for labor. It can come out all in one lump or over the course of a couple of days as vaginal discharge. This mucus may be tinted with blood, so it could be pink, brown or even red.
If your water breaks, it may be another sign that you are going into labor. You may have heard the term before, but what does it actually mean? The amniotic sac surrounding your baby is filled with fluid, when it ruptures, the fluid leaks from your vagina. It may come out in a large gush, but for a lot of women, it isn't that dramatic. Some women only notice a small trickle. In either case, it's time to call your doctor, midwife, or doula!
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