At the 35-week mark, you're wrapping up month 8 of your pregnancy with one month left to go.

Your little one may be starting to make an exit plan by shifting to the heads-down position, all while working on important preparations such as building body fat and brain matter.

Your body is also in prep mode: You may feel some Braxton Hicks contractions as your uterine muscles practice for the big day.

Your Baby at Week 35

At a Glance

Snug as a bug
Snug as a bug
With less space in your uterus now, your baby’s movements have shifted from kicks and punches to rolls and wiggles.
Padding up
Padding up
The majority of your baby’s growth now is fat. His shoulders in particular are padding up for the journey south.
Head down
Head down
By this week, almost all babies are positioned with their heads facing down toward your cervix, ready for their trip out.

35 weeks pregnant is how many months?

If you're 35 weeks pregnant, you're in month 8 of your pregnancy. Only 1 month left to go! Still have questions? Here's some more information on how weeks, months and trimesters are broken down in pregnancy.

How big is my baby at 35 weeks? 

Your baby is standing tall this week at about 18 inches. But at about 5¼ pounds, he's continuing his steady weight gain: He'll pack on anywhere from 1 pound to several, including large amounts of baby fat, up 'til delivery day.

Fetal weight gain

Your baby's once skinny arms and legs are now quite plump…and irresistibly, squeezably soft.

Baby's skull remains soft

Something else that's developing at a mind-boggling pace these day: your baby's brainpower. Luckily, the part that surrounds that amazing brain — the skull — remains soft. And for good reason: A soft skull will allow your baby to squeeze more easily through the birth canal.

Your Body at Week 35

35 Weeks Pregnant

Cheat sheet

Did you know that the measurement in centimeters from the top of your pubic bone to the top of your uterus is roughly equivalent to the number of weeks of pregnancy?

So when you're 35 weeks pregnant, your practitioner will likely be measuring about 35 centimeters on the tape measure. It's an easy way to remember how far along you are — as if you'd ever lose track.

Frequent urination and urinary incontinence

Something else that'll remind you just how far along you are in your pregnancy: frequent urination. Yep, it's first trimester déjà vu all over again, but this time, instead of pregnancy hormones to blame, it's the position of your baby's head.

Now that your baby is head-down in preparation for delivery, his noggin is pressing squarely on your bladder. The result? A need to pee all the time.

As if that's not enough, you may also experience urgency — gotta go now! — or a lack of bladder control when you cough, sneeze or even laugh (though there's nothing funny about it).

Whatever you do, don't cut back on fluids. Instead, empty your bladder as completely as possible by leaning forward — just be careful not to tip over — wear a panty liner if you need one and practice your Kegel exercises, which will strengthen the pelvic muscles and prevent or correct most cases of pregnancy-induced incontinence.

Finding a doula

What's a doula? The literal translation is "woman's servant." Now, if only you could find a chef, massage therapist and chauffeur…

A doula can do double duty when you need it the most. First, there's the birth doula, a companion who's professionally trained to provide support — and a hand to hold — during labor. The other is a postpartum one (read more about them in week 42).

A birth doula knows all about breathing and relaxation techniques for labor, as well as the best positions to alleviate the pain. Some laboring women actually find they need less pain medication — or none at all — when a doula is present, although a good birth doula will explore all pain relief options with you and help you choose what's right for your situation.

But a doula's most important role may be the emotional comfort provided during a potentially frightening time, and that might be just what the doctor — or midwife — ordered.

To find a doula, consult an agency, ask other moms for recommendations and consult our article on hiring a doula.

Pregnancy Symptoms Week 35

Occasional headaches
Occasional headaches
Varicose veins
Varicose veins
Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids
Bleeding gums
Bleeding gums
Skin rashes
Skin rashes
Increasing clumsiness
Increasing clumsiness
Pregnancy brain
Pregnancy brain
Braxton Hicks contractions
Braxton Hicks contractions

Tips for You This Week

Consider your child care options

Whether you’re working full-time, part-time, or simply need a few hours to yourself, it’s never too soon to start thinking about child care (especially because some day cares can have a year-long wait list — or more!). 

Some common options include day care centers and family day cares, which are run out of private homes, but there are also nannies (including overnight nannies), au pairs, relative caregivers, and babysitters.

Start your search by considering what you can afford to pay each month, how many hours of care you’ll need, and how flexible or rigid your schedule is.

Combat nasal congestion

The pregnancy hormones estrogen and progesterone can make the mucus membranes in your nose swell, making you feel all stuffy. (Little wonder this symptom is known as pregnancy rhinitis.)

To find relief, buy a box of nasal strips that open up your nostrils or ask your doctor to recommend a saline spray that can help reduce mucus. If your nose is extra dry, dab a little petroleum jelly in each nostril and place a warm-mist humidifier in your room to add moisture to the air.

Don't stress over stretch marks

Try not to obsess about stretch marks. It's estimated that up to 90 percent of women get them, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), so you’re in fantastic company!

Over time, stretch marks gradually fade away on their own. In the meantime, you can try some lotions and other products to minimize them. And look on the bright side: They’re a sign your baby is growing beautifully.

Try to stave off pregnancy insomnia

Pregnancy insomnia affects an estimated 75 percent of moms-to-be — and it can hit especially hard in the third trimester (just when you need sleep the most!).

What’s more, even if you are tired, your burgeoning belly — and active baby — can prevent you from getting comfortable again and falling back to sleep.

Before you go to bed, try to wind down with a soothing bedtime routine: Do some light reading, take a warm bath, and try meditation or relaxation exercises.

If you can’t drift off after 20 to 30 minutes, get out of bed and find a small, boring task to do — like sorting baby onesies. Then try to nod off again.

Relieve heartburn

Nearly half of all moms-to-be have heartburn during pregnancy — so if you’re feeling the burn, rest assured you’re in good company.

Rule number one: Make sure to sit upright while eating and stay that way for a couple of hours after you eat if possible. Lying down, slouching, slumping and stooping will do you in. When you have to bend, do it with your knees instead of your waist — otherwise, you'll send all that acid for a repeat ride up your esophagus.

While you're eating, try to avoid triggers like citrus and tomato (unfortunately that includes your pizza sauce!). And do your body a favor: Eat slowly. Chewing is the first step in the digestive process, but it's the one that's most often neglected when eating's done on the run. The more you chew, the less work your stomach has to do.

Another chew that's good for you: sugarless gum, which will increase saliva and help neutralize acid in the esophagus. Just don't overdo it — too much can cause a laxative effect thanks to the sugar alcohols in it.

Lastly, try to leave stress off the menu whenever possible (easier said than done, we know) — anxious eating compounds digestive distresses of all kinds, including heartburn.

Prep for your hospital stay

It never hurts to be prepared, especially before you go into labor. To get ready for your hospital stay, scout out the entrance — some hospitals require you to enter through the emergency room — and figure out where you’ll park the car.

If you haven’t driven to the hospital yet, map out the most direct route and consider doing a dry run with your partner or labor coach. If you have children at home, line up babysitting patrol and ask a family member or friend to feed your pets, if you have them.

Do squat exercises

Ever heard about women of yore squatting wherever they happened to be to give birth? Well, it turns out there's something to it: Squatting actually speeds labor because it increases the pelvic opening, providing more room for baby to descend.

Don't worry — this isn't to suggest that you take to the fields when those contractions start coming. But start working squats into your workout routine now so you'll be a stronger squatter when the time comes — in the hospital or birthing center, that is.

From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You're Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.

  1. What to Expect When You're Expecting, 5th edition, Heidi Murkoff.
  2. What to Expect the First Year, 3rd edition, Heidi Murkoff.
  3. WhatToExpect.com, Heartburn During Pregnancy, October 2022.
  4. WhatToExpect.com, Insomnia During Pregnancy, November 2022.
  5. WhatToExpect.com, Stuffy Nose and Nosebleeds During Pregnancy, June 2023.
  6. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Exercise During Pregnancy, December 2021.
  7. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, How Your Fetus Grows During Pregnancy, December 2021.
  8. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Medications for Pain Relief During Labor and Delivery, 2022.
  9. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Problems of the Digestive System, November 2023.
  10. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Skin Conditions During Pregnancy, December 2021.
  11. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Urinary Incontinence, November 2021.
  12. American Heart Association, CPR & First Aid Training Classes.
  13. American Red Cross, CPR Training with Red Cross.
  14. DONA International, How to Hire a Doula, November 2022.
  15. Mayo Clinic, General Anesthesia, February 2023.
  16. National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Symptoms & Causes of Bladder Control Problems (Urinary Incontinence), July 2021.
  17. National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, National Center for Biotechnology Information, The Effect of Chewing Sugar-Free Gum on Gastro-Esophageal Reflux, November 2005.
  18. National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, Newborn Head Molding, December 2021.
  19. National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, The Influence of Prenatal Exercise on Offspring Health: A Review, October 2016.
  20. National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, Your Baby in the Birth Canal, November 2022.
  21. WhatToExpect.com, Braxton Hicks Contractions and False Labor, September 2021.
  22. WhatToExpect.com, How Many Weeks, Months and Trimesters in a Pregnancy?, May 2022.
  23. WhatToExpect.com, When Does Your Baby Develop a Brain?, June 2021.
  24. WhatToExpect.com, Frequent Urination During Pregnancy, September 2022.
  25. WhatToExpect.com, Controlling Your Bladder During Pregnancy (Urinary Incontinence), September 2022.
  26. WhatToExpect.com, Kegel Exercises During Pregnancy and Postpartum, October 2022.
  27. WhatToExpect.com, What Is a Doula and Should You Hire One for Your Baby's Birth?, April 2022.
  28. WhatToExpect.com, How to Choose the Best Child Care for Your Baby, May 2022.
  29. WhatToExpect.com, Best Products for Pregnancy Congestion, According to an OB/GYN, August 2023.
  30. WhatToExpect.com, Stretch Marks During and After Pregnancy, April 2021.
  31. WhatToExpect.com, Hospital Pre-Registration for Labor and Delivery, May 2021.
  32. WhatToExpect.com, How to Do Squats During Pregnancy, December 2021.

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