Pregnancy Week 35
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Your Baby's Growth and Development
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Congratulations! You are approaching the time you will get to meet your newborn baby! During pregnancy 35 weeks your baby probably weights up to five, maybe even five and a half pounds. Your baby is probably still around 20 inches long. Most babies will be born between 20 and 21 inches long.
Your baby is still working mostly on putting on layers of fat this week and in the upcoming weeks prior to delivery. Your baby should be a thumb-sucking machine by this point, though it takes many baby's a few weeks after delivery to figure out how to suck their thumbs once again.
If your baby was born this week, he or she would have a good chance of survival, and may even be able to breastfeed by this point in time.
Your baby is almost ready for delivery, but how about you? Do you own a supportive pillow, one you can use during and after your pregnancy? You’ve probably heard about the infamous “boppy” a tool many mothers use when breastfeeding to support their baby. I can tell you from personal experience; this isn’t always the best choice for everyone. Some of us need a little extra support for breastfeeding, and even for simply kicking back on the couch after our babies arrive.
The Snoozer Full Body Pregnancy Pillow is the ideal tool for any nursing mom looking for a pillow that can act as a full body support mechanism during and after pregnancy, and a pillow that easily can also convert into a supportive, fluffy and full nursing pillow. The first full body pregnancy pillow I ever owned did not even compare to this remarkably soft creature. In fact, my husband is so jealous of the great night’s sleep I get, he is considering his own! I recommend buying a high quality pregnancy pillow no matter what stage of pregnancy you are in, because you will find these pillows incredibly supportive long after you deliver your baby.
As if that weren’t enough, they come with a free pillow case! No searching the isles for something to fit your bulky pillows, Snoozer takes care of that for you. It’s all in the name… it makes you FEEL like sleeping, doesn’t it?
Changes In Your Body
Your body has changed significantly since you first became pregnant. Around 35 weeks pregnant your uterus climbs to roughly 6 inches above your navel. You may find now more than ever you experience some tremendous mood swings. This is a normal side effect of late pregnancy.
I remember between 35 and 40 weeks I spent a lot of time every day crying. Not necessarily because I was sad, but because I consistently felt overwhelmed with emotion. There are many emotions associated with the pending arrival of your baby. Letting your feelings out is perfectly normal, and honestly very healthy.
One thing that always set me off was watching other parents deliver their baby's (usually by watching various birthing channels on television). You can expect that you will feel the same mixed set of emotions even after you deliver your baby. Most women report feeling overwhelmingly elated at times, but also nervous and anxious about their parenting ability at others.
Relax! Your partner might also start worrying around this time about his ability to help you with a newborn baby. If this is your first baby, rest assured parents have been raising babies since the dawn of time. I promise you will figure it out. And, more likely than not, you will have plenty of people in the wings waiting to "help" you ever chance they get!
What Position Is Your Baby In?
Around 35 weeks pregnant your healthcare provider will start paying more attention to the position your baby settles into prior to delivery. Most babies settle in nicely, resting in a head down position. This is exactly what you want.
Some babies however, are a bit stubborn, and may settle into some other position that may make delivery a bit more complicated. Common examples include a breech position, where your baby presents with their butt first rather than their head. While you can sometimes deliver a baby this way, it is much more difficult than delivering a baby in the head down position.
Most babies are hard pressed to move around after about 36 weeks pregnant. They may find they simply don't have enough room in the uterus to move.
The most common breech position is the frank breech position where your baby's buttocks are positioned first and the legs are folded in front. It is possible to deliver a baby this way, though sometimes a breech position may necessitate a cesarean, like if your baby is positioned so one of his or her legs is dangling down, sometimes called a footling breech.
Still another complicated positions it the transverse position, where your baby is lying sideways. In this case it is impossible to deliver your baby. In some cases your baby may be at risk for cord prolapse in this position. Your doctor may recommend you try an external cephalic version in this case or recommend a c-section if your baby doesn't turn. We'll talk more about this next week!
Read next about your baby's growth and development, as well as the changes in your body during pregnancy week 36.
