35 Weeks Pregnant – What to Expect Your 35th Week of Pregnancy

by Claire October 15, 2015, 4:35 am 2k Views 39 Comments

It’s Week 35 and at about five and a half pounds, your baby is continuing her steady weight gain: She’ll pack on anywhere from one pound to several, including large amounts of baby fat, up ’til delivery day!

This is an exciting time, so let Heidi Murkoff walk you through your pregnancy at week 35, and talk about all the exciting developments this week!

At week 35, your little bundle is not so little any more. She’s pretty much maxed out in the length department at about 20 inches. But at five and a half pounds, your bambino still has some ounces to gain, and those will pile on quickly. In fact, she’ll likely pack on a whole pound or two or more before she heads down the exit ramp.

Back in mid-pregnancy, when baby’s physique was more birdlike than brawny, only two percent of that itty-bitty body was fat. Now, that percentage has grown to 15 percent and by birth will double to 30 percent. As that all-important insulation distributes across her body, your little one’s legs, arms, torso, and face are filling out nicely. Bye-bye birdie. Hello cherub!

Fetal brain development is also moving at a cracker jack pace and will continue to do so throughout childhood. In this last trimester, your baby’s brain weight increases by almost ten times and, by age 12, that same brain will be more than three times the size it was at birth. Just in time for pre-algebra!

As your baby fills out and her uterine confines get tighter, her movements will feel less like individual kicks and more like slithers and rolls. Don’t be surprised if the contours of your tummy change from time to time. It’s not an alien you’re gestating, just your baby shifting position!

Got twins in your tank? Uterine conditions are getting pretty cramped by now, and you should expect to deliver earlier than if you were just carrying one baby – in the next couple weeks. In fact, 37 weeks is considered full term for twins. So get ready mama!

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Written by Claire

Claire is our Community Manager here at New Moms Forum. A mom of two (almost grown-up babies), Claire has been building and operating community-based websites for almost 20 years. In her downtime, Claire enjoys spending time with her family and drinking copious amounts of red wine!