There are now only six weeks left until your baby's calculated due date. For many pregnant women, pregnancy becomes increasingly strenuous in week 35. Statutory maternity leave starts now, so you can prepare for the birth and make final arrangements.
We show you how your baby develops in the 35th week of pregnancy and how much it grows in the final weeks of your pregnancy. At the same time, we summarize complaints and symptoms. You will also learn how the innovative automatic baby hammock from swing2sleep can make it easier for your baby to fall asleep and stay asleep.
How your baby develops in the 35th week of pregnancy
In the 35th week of pregnancy, your baby has less and less space in your uterus. Due to its strong growth in recent weeks, it is no longer swimming in amniotic fluid: instead, it lies close to the walls of the uterus and is restricted in its movement.
Nevertheless, you will still feel the baby's movements. Your baby now has a pronounced sucking and grasping reflex. It continues to train these during this phase of pregnancy. If light falls on your belly, your baby turns towards the bright rays.
If you don't feel your baby for a few hours, it could be sleeping. Your baby has developed sleep and wake phases over the past few weeks. It already closes and opens its eyelids, just as you can observe in newborns directly after birth.
In week 35, your baby's immune system is already working hard. During pregnancy, your baby received antibodies from you: normal environmental influences will not harm your baby after birth. Your baby's immune system will continue to grow during the first years of life.
Would you like to make the final preparations six weeks before the calculated due date? We recommend taking a look at the automatic baby hammock from swing2sleep before delivery. It acts as a cozy nest for your baby and ensures easier falling asleep and staying asleep with its gentle movements.
Size & weight in week 35
In the last few weeks, the focus for your baby has been on weight gain. In week 35, it weighs an average of 2,500 grams. The size is approximately 46 centimeters. This means your baby now has roughly the dimensions of a honeydew melon. You are probably slowly noticing that the additional weight in your belly is increasingly restricting and straining you.
In the coming weeks, your baby will continue to grow and gain weight. At birth, it will weigh around 3,500 grams. However, there are some differences and not all babies have the same size and weight at birth. Be prepared, however, for the additional weight from your baby to increase significantly in the coming weeks.
How you are doing in the final phase of your pregnancy
In week 35, you probably feel that the pregnancy is slowly becoming really exhausting. Many pregnant women find it hard to breathe due to the pressure on their lungs. They are short of breath and can only inhale with difficulty. This will change in the coming weeks, however: through lightening contractions, your baby will slide deeper into your pelvis and you will be able to breathe better again.
Do you feel like you've been getting tired more quickly lately? This could be because your baby is drawing iron from your body. It is now building up a store. This can lead to you developing an iron deficiency, which makes you tired and exhausted more quickly. Your gynecologist can tell you whether you should take additional iron supplements.
However, you can also make sure to eat iron-rich foods yourself. These include spinach and legumes, among others. The decisive factor is which other foods you consume with them. If you drink a glass of orange juice with a meal, your body can absorb the iron better thanks to the vitamin C.
If you feel exhausted, you should allow yourself enough breaks. Dedicate yourself to birth preparation and prepare everything for your baby's arrival. The automatic baby hammock from swing2sleep rocks your baby to sleep with gentle movements. Your baby can fall asleep and stay asleep better. This relieves you as parents and is also beneficial for your baby.
Lightening contractions & co.: These symptoms are bothering you
In week 35, you will probably feel the first contractions. However, these are not labor contractions, but lightening contractions. These ensure that your baby is pushed closer and closer to the birth canal. Your baby slides deeper and your shortness of breath should slowly decrease.
You can usually distinguish lightening contractions well from labor contractions. This is because lightening contractions do not occur regularly and do not become more intense. Most pregnant women report that their belly becomes hard during a lightening contraction. Six weeks before birth, it is quite normal to feel the first practice contractions. If you have a midwife, she can help you better assess the type of contractions.
You may also notice a slight pulling sensation in your lower abdomen. These are probably your round ligaments, which are being strained by your baby's increasing weight and are therefore painful.
But it's not just your round ligaments that are under pressure: your baby also exerts pressure on your stomach and bladder. You may suffer from heartburn again and have a weak bladder. If you have to go to the toilet more often now, that's completely normal.
Checklist: Prepare for the upcoming birth
Your baby's birth is slowly approaching and you should make the final preparations. You have certainly already prepared and planned a lot. If this is your first pregnancy, you surely have a variety of things you still want to think about. We have therefore put together a checklist for you with important birth preparations:
Pack your hospital bag:
In week 35, you should start packing your hospital bag. This should include clothing for you and your baby, among other things. Pay attention to the expected temperatures at the time of birth.
Introduce yourself at the hospital:
If you haven't yet decided where you want to give birth to your baby, you should definitely take care of it. Introduce yourself at the hospital or birth center of your choice. Usually, you can make an appointment for this where all the details are discussed.
Decide on your companion:
Decide who should accompany you during the birth. Coordinate with the person in advance and tell them what is important to you and what tasks they should take on as a companion.
Make a plan for the birth:
Many women have great concerns about the birth. It can help if you prepare a birth plan in advance. Consider which birth position is an option for you and whether you might prefer a water birth.
Prepare for your baby's arrival:
Now it's time to make the final preparations for your baby's birth. Wash the clothes, set up the nursery, and take care of all the necessary applications. Your baby's sleeping place is also of great importance.
If you are currently busy with the final preparations for your baby, we recommend taking a look at our automatic baby hammock. In the secure nest, your baby lies closely embraced and finds sleep more easily.
Automatic baby hammock from swing2sleep: Intuitive swinging rocks your baby to sleep
Before your baby is born, you should finish their sleeping area. With the automatic baby hammock from swing2sleep, you are making the right choice: a silent motor rocks your baby to sleep with gentle movements. This makes it easier for your baby to fall asleep and stay asleep. They become more relaxed, which is also an advantage for you as parents.
For over 24 years, we have been offering parents great support with our automatic baby hammock. We are continuously developing the sleep aid and have already convinced more than 170,000 families. Midwives and osteopaths also recommend our automatic baby hammock, as it can promote your baby's development.
If you are pregnant in week 35, buying our sleep aid is one of the last important preparations for your baby's arrival. Feel free to take a look at our models and complete packages.
