35 weeks pregnant

What to expect this week

What's happening in week 35

Week 35, and your baby looks just like a little newborn – and it's only a few weeks until you meet them!

Your baby at week 35

Your baby has only a few weeks left 'inside' and they are now almost ready for life outside the womb! They’ll probably weigh in at around 5.5lbs in week 35 and will be close to 50cm in length.
They will be doing lots of practise sucking movements ready to latch on for that first post-birth feed, and will be starting to move further down your pelvis ready for D-day. 
Your baby looks much the same as a newborn now, although they will get a little bit heavier before they are born. They currently have close to 15% fat on their body, but this will be closer to 30% by the time they’re born in a few weeks’ time.

You at 35 weeks pregnant

As only 5% of babies are born on their actual due date, you might already be wondering if every twitch and ache is a sign of impending labour! If your baby was to arrive now, they would still be considered  moderately premature, but would most likely be absolutely fine with a little extra care.
With just a few weeks left, now is a good time to make sure your hospital bag is good to go, that your freezer is full of lots of batch-baked meals, and the cupboards are well stocked.
It's also a good idea to have all your important phone numbers – and by that we mean for the maternity unit, GP etc – noted somewhere accessible (and not just to you!). Make sure everyone knows what they should be doing once you go into labour – this is particularly important if you have other children to arrange childcare or school run picks up and drop offs for.

What to think about  in week 35

If your baby has not yet got themselves into the optimum position for birth (head down) you could try and give them a helping hand by doing a bit of moving around yourself! Some mums swear by spending time on all fours and wriggling their hips to encourage their baby to turn, while others gently bounce on a birthing ball to help get the pelvis to open.
Scrubbing floors and sitting backwards on a seat – so your bump is towards the backrest – are also tried and tested methods for getting stubborn babies to be where they are supposed to be!