When you are 35 weeks pregnant, the mother is only a few weeks from delivering and most women tend to be anxious. It always helps to speak to your healthcare provider to get more information on how to prepare for a smooth birth. This is the right time to start on Kegel exercises. They help strengthen the pelvic muscles thus preparing you for the pressure as the unborn child moves to the pelvic region. Your doctor may want to schedule for more frequent visits just to ensure both mom and baby are in good health.
What Are the Pregnancy Symptoms at 35 Weeks?
At 35 weeks, your uterus is about 1,000 times larger than its normal size. If you had normal weight during pregnancy, normal weight gain would be from 10 kg to 12.5kg which is the same as 22 to 28 pounds. it’s highly unlikely for you to gain more weight. Most women enjoy more lustrous hair which is thicker and this is because the hormones that are thriving during pregnancy help prevent hair loss. Not all expectant mothers will experience this and others may have to be content with dry hair.
How Does Your Baby Grow When You're 35 Weeks Pregnant?
During this period of the last trimester, the unborn baby may be more than 18 inches and weighs about 5 1/4 pounds. This means that they don’t have much room within the uterus and you will not feel major movements. However, the kicking should not subside. The baby’s kidneys and liver are fully developed and much of the physical development is complete. The upcoming few weeks will be more about weight gain for the baby.
You can watch this video and get more information about how your baby grows when you are 35 weeks pregnant:
How Does Your Life Change When You're 35 Weeks Pregnant?
For the mom-to-be, this is a time when the uterus is at its largest. As we mentioned earlier, it’s reached up to the rib cage. The internal organs are crowded by the womb, and this is why pregnant women urinate more often, experience heartburn and other gastrointestinal problems.
Visits to the doctor increase between the 35th and 37th week to ensure that everything is as it should be. Your doctor will perform a rectal and vaginal culture test to look out for GBS bacteria or Group B Streptococci bacteria. GBS may be harmless to the adult but when passed onto the baby, it may cause complications such as meningitis, pneumonia and blood infection. 10–30% of expectant mothers have the bacteria and this makes it important to get the test. If you are a carrier of the bacteria, IV antibiotics are prescribed during labor to prevent infecting the baby.
This is the perfect time to come up with a birth plan and you need to start with who you want present during birth, the pain management you will need and where you will stay after delivery. Of course, we cannot predict childbirth, but it is important to prepare as this alleviates the anxiety.
What About Diet at 35 Weeks Pregnancy?
1. The Most Common Nutrients You Need
Proper nutrition is required during pregnancy and the U.S government has published a dietary guideline that should help you identify the ideal servings.
|
Nutrient |
Function |
Sources |
|---|---|---|
|
Protein |
Blood production, and cell development. |
Fish, lean meat, poultry, tofu, peanut butter, egg whites and beans. |
|
Carbohydrates |
They provide energy. |
Cereals, pasta, potatoes, rice, breads, fruits and vegetables. |
|
Calcium |
It benefits the development of bones and teeth and it facilitates muscle contraction and nerve function. |
Dairy products like cheese, mild and yogurt. Spinach, sardines and others. |
|
Iron |
Production of red blood cells. |
Spinach, lean red meat and iron fortified cereals and whole grain breads. |
|
Vitamin A |
Bone development, healthy skin and eyesight. |
Green leafy vegetables, sweet potatoes, carrots. |
|
Vitamin C |
Aiding absorption of iron for healthy bones, teeth and gums. |
Fortified fresh fruit juices, citrus fruit, tomatoes and broccoli. |
|
Vitamin B6 |
Formation of red blood cells, effective fat, protein and carbohydrate use. |
Bananas, whole grain cereals, ham and pork. |
|
Vitamin B12 |
Maintaining the nervous system and formation of red blood cells. |
Meat, milk, poultry and fish. Vegetarians will require vitamin B12 supplements. |
|
Vitamin D |
Absorption of calcium for healthy teeth and bones. |
Dairy products, fortified milk, breads and cereals. |
|
Folic acid |
Production of protein and blood and efficient enzyme function. |
Beans, nuts, peas, dark yellow fruits and green leafy vegetables. |
|
Fat |
It stores body energy. |
Dairy products, whole milk, vegetable oils, margarine, peanut butter, meat, nuts. Fat intake should be no more than 30% of your daily calorie requirement. |
2. Snacks and Drinks
There are healthy snacks for pregnant women and these include: mint juice, fruit punch and vegetable mocktail, which is alcohol free. Popcorn and some apple kheer also make for healthy snacks.
3. Food and Drinks You Should Avoid
Alcohol must be avoided when pregnant. It’s also important to seek medical advice before taking any herbal or vitamin products as they may harm the unborn child. While it is said that a cup or two of coffee, tea and soda will not harm the baby, caffeine should be avoided. High consumption of caffeine has been linked to miscarriages and other complications. Food borne illnesses like toxoplasmosis and listeriosis can be avoided by steering clear of foods such as: raw eggs, unpasteurized milk, apple cider, raw or undercooked fish, shellfish and meats. Fish with high mercury content such as shark and swordfish should be avoided. Food borne illnesses may bring about birth defects or miscarriages.
What about Exercise at 35 Weeks Pregnancy?
Exercise is important throughout the pregnancy and it’s never too late to start. Walking is safe and acts as great cardio workout. It’s recommended that you walk for half an hour every day. You can also take up prenatal yoga. The poses can help alleviate pressure and pains preparing you for a smoother childbirth.
More Tips on 35 Weeks Pregnancy
1. Deal with Your Pressures
Stress is quite common with expectant mothers. It is important to talk to someone to get through the pregnancy with great ease. Swelling is also common especially if the mom-to-be limits her fluid intake. However, it’s important to decrease the fluid intake as the evening and night draws near.
2. Have a Good Sleep
Relaxing is essential and you need to have adequate sleep. However, insomnia is common as the due date comes to a close. Exercise is recommended as it wears you out and helps you sleep better.
3. Prepare Your Body for Nursing
Prepare your body for nursing by talking to your doctor. Women with inverted nipples usually have a hard time nursing, but with some guidance from your doctor, you should be able to nurse normally.
4. The Additions of Your Checkups
It’s important to preserve your energy during the last trimester, especially when 35 weeks pregnant. Regular exercise and a balanced diet should help.
- Have a test for Group B streptococcus: This test is quite easy and helps prevent the transmission of the bacteria from mother to child during pregnancy.
- Check your baby’s position: This helps identify the position of the baby and in most cases, the child’s head will be down in the pelvis.
5. Prepare Food to Eat after the Birth of Your Baby
You may want to prepare your meals and recipes much earlier since you will not be in a position to cook during the first few weeks after birth. You can freeze some recipes or find alternative sources of food. Pick up a few menus from your neighborhood.
