Welcome to week 35 of your pregnancy! You’re at the end of your eighth month of pregnancy. Can you believe you only have one month (or less) left?

Even though your due date is a few weeks out, it may be a good idea to practice installing your car seat this week. You’ll want to know how to correctly and safely install your baby’s car seat in a vehicle and strap in your baby before your little one arrives. Check out our car seat guide for more helpful tips and resources.

On your radar: more frequent visits to your doctor or midwife. By this point, you’re probably seeing your provider every other week. These appointments will likely be more of what you’re used to, but between now and 37 weeks, your doctor or midwife may test you for the group B streptococcus (GBS) bacterium.

Group B strep is usually harmless to adults but may cause problems for newborn babies who become infected while passing through the birth canal. If you’re positive for Group B strep (about 1 in 4 pregnant women are) you’ll likely be given antibiotics during labor to help protect your baby. If you test positive, talk to your provider about when you should head to the hospital or birthing center – you may need to go as soon as your water breaks or earlier rather than laboring at home. 

As your body at 35 weeks prepares for the big day you may be experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions more frequently. This week, your baby is the size of a honeydew melon, but they aren’t considered full term yet. Health care providers consider a pregnancy to be full term between 37 and 42 weeks.

35 Weeks Pregnant Symptoms

Pregnancy Insomnia

Did you know that about 75 percent of moms-to-be experience pregnancy insomnia? It can hit especially hard in the third trimester.

The good news is that insomnia during pregnancy isn’t harmful to your baby.

One of the best things you can do for your pregnancy insomnia is to establish a good bedtime routine that promotes quality sleep. Set a bedtime – yes, really – and try to start your routine with something relaxing that will help you unwind. Doing breathing exercises or reading a book before bed can work wonders.

If you’re feeling anxious, try writing down all of your worries and coming up with possible solutions. This can help you empty your mind so you can actually get some sleep.

Lightening

You may feel a unique sensation known as lightening as your baby settles or drops lower into your pelvis. Lightening – also known as dropping – might lead to easier breathing and less pregnancy heartburn. You may, however, experience more pressure on your bladder leading to more frequent urination as your baby drops.

While dropping might help you breathe easier, dropping doesn’t indicate labor. If you’re pregnant with your first baby, dropping can occur 2 to 4 weeks before delivery but sometimes even earlier (with a subsequent delivery, your baby may not drop until labor actually begins). Some people might be able to see a difference in the shape of their abdomens after their babies drop.

Baby on Board

At 35 weeks, your baby is around 18 inches long and weighs about 5.25 pounds. In other baby development news, your little one is working on building body fat and brain matter. Fun fact: your baby's brain will triple in weight during your third trimester! At this point, you’re also carrying around nearly a quart of amniotic fluid. 

To continue to support your little one's brain growth in the next few weeks, maintain a well-balanced diet and keep taking a prenatal vitamin, preferably one with DHA. The recommended dosage of DHA is 200 mg daily while pregnant.

Since your baby’s brain will still be developing after delivery, health care experts recommend that you continue taking about the same amount of DHA after you deliver if you're breastfeeding. 

Under Construction: Baby’s Kidneys

Your baby’s kidneys are now fully developed, but did you know they’ve actually been producing urine since you were around 13 weeks pregnant?

They’re also storing their first waste – known as meconium – a sticky, tar-like substance that should pass after birth.

What to Wear This Week

Are you looking for a cute and functional delivery gown to pack in your hospital bag? Our Universal Labor & Delivery Gown has the functionality recommended by health care professionals but will remind you of your favorite T-shirt.

Our hospital delivery gown uses Velcro closures that make the front perfect for fetal monitoring, ultrasounds, C-section incision inspections, nursing, and skin-to-skin contact, and the back easily opens up for epidural placement. Check with your hospital or birth center to see if you’re able to wear your own nursing gown during delivery.

Say goodbye to irritating padding that won’t stay put and say hello to comfort with our Minimalist Maternity & Nursing Plunge Bra. This pretty nursing bra features a plunging neckline and buttery-soft fabric that will remind you of your favorite non-maternity bra. This plunge bra is perfect under nursing T-shirts or maternity dresses with lower necklines.

This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice that has been medically reviewed. Please reach out to your midwife or doctor with any questions.