Welcome to the 35th week of your pregnancy journey! You are almost there, just a few more weeks, still, you can expect to pop any time from now till week 40. Most women start their maternity leave around this stage of their pregnancy, other women choose to continue working until the delivery. However, choose what is best for you, your intuition will lead the way!
Your baby has been working on gaining more and more fat over the past weeks, especially in his shoulders as they are padding up for the journey south. With your baby getting bigger, the free space in your womb is now very little. So, your baby’s kicks and punches are now changing to wiggles and rolls.
By the 35th week, your baby’s head will be facing down towards your cervix in preparation for the delivery. If your baby is not there yet, no need to worry, give him some more time to change position, if you felt like his movements are slower or he still hasn’t changed positions, contact your doctor or midwife to make sure everything is on the right track.,
Changes Happening in Your Body by Your 35th Week
Your breasts are the highlight of your past few weeks and even the upcoming few weeks, they have probably gone too big by now that you are busting out of your bras. The first milk you will produce is called the colostrum, which is a yellowish liquid that has antibodies to help protect your baby against many infections such as stomach bugs.
Some women start producing colostrum weeks or months before the delivery. If it starts happening to you, try using breast pads to protect your clothes from any stains.
Around 3 to 5 days after the delivery, your actual milk will start pumping, and your breasts will look even bigger by the time you start breastfeeding on a regular basis. Make sure to have a stock of breast pads to soak up any extra fluids that come out after you breastfeed your baby.
Not every woman can breastfeed, depending on their physical and health situation. But even if they could not breastfeed, there are formulas to replace breast milk that will also give your baby a headstart in his life against diseases and infections.
Delivery Pain Control
There are plenty of ways that you can use to relieve the pain of the delivery, you do not need to choose only one method or the other. You could start with one type of pain killer, and then move to another one. Here are some of the most famous methods to relieve the delivery pain.
Water Birth
Waterbirth is when you give birth in a special pool that is designed to keep you warm and comfortable. Most hospitals or birth centers have birthing pools, some of these institutions offer you to hire a specialist to do a home birth.
The warm water is very soothing and it makes it easier for you to move around in the pool. Most women who do pool births do not need any other drugs or sedatives to help them relieve pain. And on the plus side, your partner can join in with you so that you have them by your side for emotional support and for sharing this experience together.
On the downside though, your labor could be slowed down if you went into the pool too early. And on the other hand, if you experience any complications, you will have to get out of the pool to get immediate help.
TENS Machine
TENS stands for “transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation” which is quite a big name considering that it is in fact a very small machine. This little machine delivers small amounts of electrical currents through pads placed on your back.
Those small electrical currents encourage your body to produce more of its own natural pain killer known as endorphins. This technique is completely safe, no side effects, and is drug-free. This machine can help you in case of early labor but not for the later stages of labor. To use TENS, you will need to either hire a specialist or buy your own machine.
Symptoms of the 35th Week of Pregnancy
It is quite common to feel like your ribs are sore at this stage of pregnancy, mainly it’s because your baby has changed positions to head down, legs up, and he is kicking away! However, if you felt like the pain was too much, or the pain is placed under your ribs, contact your doctor or midwife just to make sure that everything is on track.
Your 35th week of pregnancy symptoms might include:
- Sleeping problems
- Baxton Hicks
- Bleeding gums
- Snoring
- Backache
- Headaches
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Random pain around muscles
- Dizziness
- Tiredness
- Sore breasts
- Leg cramps
- Stretch marks
- Thicker hair
- Swollen gums
- Urine infection
- Bloating or constipation
- Spotty skin
- Feeling too warm
- Greasier skin
- Piles
- Vaginal infection
- Thicker hair
Your Baby’s 35th Week Development
Your baby is growing nicely in your womb, making it tighter and tighter in there, but you can still feel all of his kicks and movements. By your 35th week, your baby is now around 2.4kg in weight and is about 46.2cm in length from head to toe.
Your baby is now working on gaining more fat, the fat he gains at this stage of his growth will help him stay at the right temperature when he is born.
Keep track of your baby’s movements and kicks, if you felt like they are slowing down or they are stopping at any point, make sure to contact your doctor or midwife immediately.
This Week’s Tips
Monitor Your Sugar Intake
Always keep track of what you eat and choose the right amounts of sugar, salt, and even snacks. if you like to eat some snacks such as fruit yogurt or a candy bar, try looking for labels that are under 20 grams per serving.
Stock Up Some Nasal Strips
Your pregnancy hormones are going wild these days, they can make the mucous membranes in your nose swell, which would result in you feeling all stuffy. Buy a box of nasal strips and keep it handy to help open up your nostrils.