Week 35 of Pregnancy

Get ready for baby's grand entrance

35 weeks pregnant and you're officially heading into the home stretch of your pregnancy. It is a moment that is a blend of emotions — anticipation, excitement, nervousness and, perhaps, some fatigue. As you are feeling the physical weight of pregnancy more than ever, there's also a mental and emotional weight that comes with knowing your baby could make an appearance anytime in the next few weeks. Each flutter, kick or cramp may make you ask: "Is this it?" "Am I ready?" These feelings are totally natural, and this week is a wonderful chance to reflect on your physical wellness and getting in an emotional state for birth and motherhood.

Your baby, medically and developmentally speaking, is adding significant finishing touches as you both prepare for life outside the womb. Most of the major work has been done — organs, basic body functions and so on — but now the finishing touches are happening. For you, that involves paying diligent attention to your symptoms, getting as much rest as possible, not falling behind on your health care visits and starting to make your final preps like packing your hospital bag and reviewing your birth plan. Here's a rundown of what you can expect of your baby, your body and your health in the 34th week — including the joys and the challenges, along with practical advice to support you.

Your Baby This Week: Growing Strong and Getting Comfortable

By now your baby is about 18 inches long and weighs around 6 pounds — about the size of a honeydew melon. From this week on, your baby will continue to gain around half a pound a week. This extra weight is primarily fat that helps to regulate the newborn's body temperature and energy after birth. Beneath the skin, your baby's nervous system is developing, and reflexes are becoming more and more refined, with the ability to grasp objects.

There's one notable sign your baby (and your body) have prepared for the birth with: lightening, when your baby drops down into your pelvis. This is your baby settling into position for birth, preferably head down and facing your back — the best position for you both. So you may feel less pressure on your lungs — making easier to breathe — but more pressure on your bladder, which explains the frequent bathroom runs. But movement may feel different now — a little less doing acrobatic moves and a little more jabs, wiggles and well-placed kicks, as your baby has less room to stretch out.

The kidneys are now fully developed, and the liver is beginning to process some waste, which means your baby is beginning to function more on his or her own. It may come as a shock to many parents, but at this point in baby's development, a lot of the work is fine-tuning. These last few weeks are important for further brain growth, lung maturation and immune development.

Your Body This Week: You're Ready for Baby, If…

Your body is also doing double time, and the changes can seem continual. As you near your due date, your health care provider will begin doing more frequent checkups — typically weekly or even more often — to check both your own health and your baby's progress. During these visits, they might check for cervical changes, such as effacement and dilation of the cervix — early signs that childbirth is imminent. They'll also assess the baby's positioning, making sure your little one is optimally positioned for birth.

You may also be feeling Braxton Hicks contractions — irregular, "practice" contractions that can help prepare your uterus for labor. These are usually neither painful nor particularly bothersome, and they don't come at regular intervals. But the question can begin nagging at you: "How will I know when it's the real thing?" Real labor contractions increase in strength, duration and frequency as time goes on. If you should notice the contractions becoming more rhythmic, intense, and spacing about five minutes apart, the call to your provider is in order.

Another sign that you're going to go into labor soon is the passing of your mucus plug, a thick mucus barrier that's clogged your cervix throughout your pregnancy. You may notice it in the form of a one-time glob, or as an increased vaginal discharge over a few days. It's at times tinged with blood and can appear pink or brown — known as "bloody show". When you lose the plug, it doesn't always mean you're going into labor, but it's a more concrete indication that your body is preparing.

Your Health This Week: Keep Your Guard Up and Trust Yourself

There are some key moments to watch, for instance if your water breaks — meaning the amniotic sac surrounding and protecting your baby has ruptured. This can be a sudden gush or a slow trickle of fluid that you notice from your vagina. This may not look the same as it does in the movies, but it's a sign that labor could be beginning or starting soon. Whether as a trickle or a gush, you should also always call your doctor, midwife, or doula right away (even if the fluid is yellow or green or if it has a foul odor) to be evaluated for infection.

Also important this week: counting fetal movements. It's true, your baby has more wiggle room these days, but you should still feel regular movement. A sudden decrease in movement can be a sign that something isn't right, so let your care provider know if you experience a sudden change. This kind of self-monitoring is one of the most powerful ways to help protect your baby's health in these final weeks.

And keep in mind log cabin tasks of hydration, nutrients and protecting sleep! Even a quick snooze will help your body to recover and enable you to maintain the strength you need for the rest of your pregnancy and through labour.

Tips & Tricks: Baby Sleep Know-How and Pre-Planning

"Sleep while you can" is among the most prevalent pieces of advice new parents are given. But that's easier said than done when you're waking throughout the night, shifting positions, and hoping the next wave of contractions doesn't come. Sleep difficulties in late pregnancy are very real, but now is also a great time to start looking forward to your baby's sleep.

Newborns tend to sleep a ton — between 16 and 18 hours a day — but not in long stretches. Your baby may rouse every 2-3 hours for night feedings, changing, or cuddling. Even more shocking is when your angel baby suddenly becomes a night owl, waking up at all hours of the night. This is to be expected and in no way is an indication that you're doing things incorrectly.

There are kindergartens of thought around infant sleep strategies — co-sleeping, crib-only, feeding-to-sleep, sleep training — and all have pros and cons. Research now so you're not scrambling later. Speaking with friends or family members who have young children, reading reviews, and most importantly, thinking about what jibes with your parenting philosophy. And remember that what works for one baby doesn't necessarily work for another, even if they are in the same family.