Welcome to Week 35 of your pregnancy journey! As you approach the final stretch, you may be experiencing a mix of excitement, anticipation, and a few discomforts. Here, we’ll cover what to expect for both you and your baby during this week, along with some personal insights from my own experience as I navigate my fourth pregnancy.
What's Happening with Your Baby
At 35 weeks, your baby is nearly fully developed, and while they may still need a bit more time to “cook,” they are mostly ready for the outside world. Here’s what’s happening with your little one:
Size and Growth: Your baby is about the size of a pineapple or a George Foreman grill, weighing around 5.5 to 6 pounds and measuring about 18 inches in length. While their growth in length may slow down, they continue to gain weight, adding some adorable baby fat that will help regulate their temperature after birth.
Lung Development: Although your baby’s lungs are still maturing, they are getting closer to being fully ready to breathe air. This is one of the last organs to fully develop, so every extra day in the womb helps.
Meconium Production: Your baby is now producing meconium, a sticky, tar-like substance that will be their first bowel movement. This substance can sometimes be passed in the womb, but it typically comes out after birth. Parents should be prepared for this sticky substance, and using a bit of petroleum jelly or olive oil can help make cleaning easier.
Movement Changes: As your baby grows and space becomes limited, you may notice changes in how they move. While the movements may feel different—more rolls and stretches than sharp kicks—they should still occur regularly. It’s important to keep track of these movements as they can be an indicator of your baby’s well-being.
Common Symptoms at 35 Weeks
At this stage of pregnancy, you may notice the continuation of some symptoms and the emergence of new ones. Understanding these can help you manage them better:
Heartburn: Heartburn is a common issue in late pregnancy due to a combination of hormonal changes and the growing baby putting pressure on your stomach. The hormone progesterone relaxes the sphincter between your stomach and esophagus, allowing acid to escape more easily, leading to that burning sensation. Eating smaller, more frequent meals, staying upright after eating, and trying exercises to improve diaphragm positioning can help alleviate heartburn.
Vision Changes: Hormonal fluctuations can also affect your vision, making it less sharp. It’s advisable not to get a new prescription for glasses during pregnancy, as your vision is likely to return to normal postpartum. However, if you experience significant vision changes, such as blurry vision or seeing spots, it could be a sign of a more serious condition like preeclampsia, and you should contact your healthcare provider immediately.
Increased Fatigue: With your baby growing and your body working hard to support this final stage of pregnancy, fatigue can be more pronounced. It’s important to listen to your body, rest when needed, and stay hydrated.
Relief Tips!
Here are some personal experiences and tips that might resonate with you as you navigate the final stretch of your pregnancy:
Managing Heartburn: One effective way to combat heartburn is by adjusting your posture. Exercises that bring your rib cage down and improve diaphragm function can significantly reduce symptoms. Additionally, some find relief using papaya enzymes, eating apples, or drinking milk, though these may offer only temporary relief.
Preparing for Birth: Now is a good time to finalize your birth preparation. Ensure you have all the necessary supplies, like a birth pool if you’re planning a water birth, and make sure your home is ready for your baby’s arrival. Preparing early allows you to rest and relax in the final weeks.
Sleeping Better: Insomnia can be a challenge, but maintaining a good sleep routine, using pregnancy pillows, and staying hydrated can help. If you’ve been dealing with insomnia, finding ways to improve your sleep environment might make a big difference.
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My Personal Experience in Week 35
As I enter the 35th week of my fourth pregnancy, it’s a mix of emotions—excitement, anticipation, and a bit of exhaustion. Every pregnancy has been different, and this one is no exception. In this post, I want to share a bit about what’s been going on with me this week, how I’m feeling, and what I’m doing to prepare for the arrival of our baby.
A Weekend Getaway and SI Joint Concerns
This past week, we took a short trip to Kentucky, where my husband is from. It was a great chance to unwind and spend some quality time outdoors. I even did a news interview while we were there, which was a fun experience. However, after spending time outside, I found myself absolutely exhausted and ended up taking a three-hour nap.
Given that I didn’t work out for a few days during the trip and spent about eight hours in the car, I was worried that my SI joint pain might flare up. Surprisingly, it didn’t! I was really pleased and relieved that I managed to avoid any significant discomfort. I believe wearing supportive leggings from Bao Bei, which have a built-in belly band, helped a lot. I also made sure to stay hydrated and took it easy during the trip.
Managing Insomnia and Heartburn
In previous weeks, I struggled a lot with insomnia. However, this week has been a bit different. I’ve been able to fall asleep more easily and even sleep in, which has helped me catch up on the sleep I desperately needed. My Whoop watch, which tracks my sleep, even told me that I’m now debt-free in sleep—a small victory that feels pretty big right now!
Heartburn has been a major issue in my past pregnancies, but thankfully, it hasn’t been a big problem this time around. During my last pregnancy, my midwife recommended dried papaya to help with heartburn, which I found somewhat helpful. This time, I’ve been able to avoid it altogether by staying upright after meals and sleeping in a more reclined position when needed.
Final Preparations for Birth
As we approach the end of this pregnancy, we’re focusing on getting everything ready for the baby’s arrival. We’re planning a home birth, so this week we’re going to blow up the birth pool to make sure it’s in good shape—no holes, clean, and ready to go. We’ve gathered all our home birth supplies and have my labor box ready with all my comfort tools. There are still a few odds and ends to add, but we’re almost there.
We also received the car seat this week, which feels like another big milestone. We’ve got plenty of baby clothes and a baby carrier ready as well. I like to have everything set by week 37, not because I expect the baby to come that early, but because it allows me to relax and focus on spending time with my other kids during those final weeks.
Balancing Work and Rest
As we prepare for the baby’s arrival, I’m also starting to taper down my work at MamasteFit. We’re nearly done filming all the videos we need, and I’m wrapping up the last few projects. The goal is to have everything finished so I can fully focus on the baby when she arrives.
Physically, I’m feeling pretty good—better than I did in my previous pregnancies. Of course, by evening, I’m usually just tired, uncomfortable, and a little grumpy. But overall, this has been the best I’ve felt at this stage out of all my pregnancies. The pregnancy insomnia seems to be resolving, at least for this week, and baby girl is moving a lot, which is always reassuring.
We have an upcoming appointment with our home birth midwife, as well as a visit to our hospital midwife for the GBS swab and to check my iron levels again. I’ve been borderline anemic, so I’m hoping that my levels have improved since I’ve been feeling more energetic and less anxious lately.
Conclusion
As I sit here at 35 weeks, I’m struck by how fast this pregnancy has flown by. We’re nearing the end, and while I’m excited, I’m also trying to soak in these last few weeks of being pregnant. There’s a lot to look forward to, and I’m grateful that I’m feeling well and ready for what’s to come.
If you’re looking for more support during your pregnancy, consider exploring our online prenatal fitness programs and childbirth education courses. You can bundle these for additional savings!
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