Now that you’re 35 weeks pregnant you are probably thinking ahead to the labour and birth. It is good to know that there are things you can be doing right now that might help you when your time comes. Keep reading for tips and tricks for preparing for labour…
35 weeks pregnant – development guide
Your body
Time for the last of your routine blood tests, checking for pregnancy anaemia and other screenings if you are Rhesus negative.
With your baby moving into a head-down position, you are likely to see your belly change shape a little, dropping down and sitting out a bit further.
Your baby
Your baby is now sized at approximately 44cm (head to rump) and weighs around 2.4kg.
The antibodies continue to flow from your body into your baby’s, and they continue to fatten up, although not enough that they are able to easily regulate their own body temperature at birth or for the first few weeks afterwards.
3 things to do now you’re 35 weeks pregnant
Know what to expect when breastfeeding
Learning about breastfeeding when you’re pregnant, while life is relatively calm, will help you to prepare for life with your new baby. Of course you can’t learn it ALL – there’s a lot of on-the-job training once your baby arrives – but it helps if you know what you can expect – like how often a baby feeds and for how long each time. Here is our article on things to know before you start breastfeeding.
Settle on a baby name (or short list!)
If you are still having trouble setting on a baby name, we can help. You try our baby name checklist or run a few options past our forum members in our choosing a baby name forum section. You can also check out the Top 100 Baby Names in Australia, or see our list of Harry Potter baby names.
Get in the best position for labour
Did you know that the way you sit, work, and even the way you travel, all have an important part to play in your labour? The ideal position for delivery is when your baby has its back leaning towards your tummy, slightly to the left or right, its limbs facing inward and its head down. This is called the ‘anterior position’ and there are things you can do now to coax baby into that position already. Check out this article on getting baby into the best position for labour for tips and ideas.
This content is meant as a guide only. If you find anything worrying or unsettling, or experience any bleeding or spotting, contact your local GP, obstetrician or an emergency healthcare provider immediately.