Week 35

The child

Your baby now measures about 17.3 inches (44 cm) from head to foot and weighs around 5.2 pounds (2.38 kg) at the start of the week—and around 5.6 pounds (2.56 kg) at the end of the week. The central nervous system is fully developed, and the digestive system is continuing to develop. Your baby is still putting on weight and now fills nearly your entire uterus.

Mother

The hormones estrogen and relaxin are causing the ligaments in your pelvis to soften. As a result, you may be feeling pain in your back or pelvic area. If you are feeling pain in your pelvic area, this might be unwelcome pain you recognize from last time you were pregnant, or a completely new experience. The reason this happens is to make your pelvis more mobile during birth and allow room for your baby’s head to pass through your pelvis.

Your baby’s head is cleverly designed to change shape and pass through easily. This is why a baby’s head can be significantly molded at birth. To help your baby push through your pelvis during birth, it is important that you move and change position frequently. Your pelvis size changes every time you shift position, which helps the baby to squeeze down. Birth is a joint effort between you and your baby.

If you’re having a lot of pain in your back or pelvic area, speak with your midwife or physician. It might also help to schedule an appointment with a physiotherapist or use a belly band.

If you can, now is a good time to review your birth letter with your midwife. Place it in a folder together with other documents you intend to bring to the birth center.