Your pregnancy is close to over now. This week marks your thirty-fifth week of pregnancy. Hard to imagine that your pregnancy is almost over. It won’t be long before you will be holding your little boy or girl in your arms. By now you have probably taken a childbirth class and have most of the things you need for your baby. If you haven’t written your birth plan yet, this week’s newsletter is for you. We are going to help you with ideas for your birth plan this week and also give you some things to remember for when you are in labor.
Baby’s Development
By now at thirty-five weeks of pregnancy, the baby will weigh about 5-1/2 to 6 pounds and measures in at 18 inches long. Keep in mind that these numbers are guidelines and are not gospel. Every baby is different and they may weigh a bit more or less than these guidelines suggest. By this week, the baby’s organs are complete by this week. The liver and the kidneys are starting to produce waste.
The baby now has less space in the uterus to move, so now you will start to notice a slight decline in fetal movement. The baby’s hearing is fully functional, now is a great time to talk to your baby. Start the bonding process before they are born. When they hear your voice after birth, they will respond to the sound of your voice. Some women use baby talk and they feel silly sometimes but it is said that the baby respond better to higher pitch sounds than lower pitch.
If the baby is born at week thirty-five, they have a 99% chance of survival. The nervous system and circulatory systems are fully functional. The baby’s lungs are now 99% developed. The baby fat continues to grow underneath the baby’s skin to help protect them while they are being born, plus the baby fat keep the baby warm inside and outside the womb.
Changes in You
You may start having more mood swings from pregnancy at 35 weeks and beyond. You may start to worry incessantly about things that are generally nothing to be concerned about. If this is your first pregnancy you might be worried about the labor and delivery process. As you continue your pregnancy you and your partner might start to worry about whether or not you are prepared to raise a child.
Rest assured, parents have been birthing babies since the dawn of time. Despite your worries, you will likely do a fine job raising your baby from the very second she is born. Most parents have a natural instinct that kicks in sometime around labor and delivery.
Now might be the time to start considering who you want to have present during the delivery. Some people prefer to have many family members present, whereas others prefer the birth to be an intimate experience between two partners. This decision is up to you. Your healthcare provider and nurses will ensure that your wishes are met during your stay at the birthing center.
If you find yourself swinging wildly from one thought to the next, it is time that you start relaxing. One of the best ways to relax is by communicating. Be sure to keep the lines of communication open with your partner have ample opportunities to share your concerns about the changes that are about to occur in your lives.
If you feel that you are having serious mood swings, talk with your doctor, who can help you feel more at ease during this critical time of pregnancy.
One of the best things an expectant mom can do for herself in the last few weeks of pregnancy is to indulge in a full body massage. Massage can be extremely helpful in relieving pain, swelling, discomfort, and fatigue associated with the latter stages of pregnancy. There are numerous spas that offer prenatal massages for expectant mothers. There are even chiropractic clinics and other wellness centers that offer prenatal massage at a reasonable rate.
At this point in your pregnancy, it is definitely worth a little extra, if you can afford it, to indulge in a weekly or bi-weekly massage. Be sure you call ahead to ensure that the therapist is trained in prenatal massage. There are even some studies that suggest that stimulation of certain points may help initiate labor. In three to five weeks, you can start enjoying the benefits of any massage that may or may not trigger labor.
Start Thinking About Breastfeeding
As you and your partner are preparing for your baby’s arrival at pregnancy week 35, this is a wonderful time to start thinking about breastfeeding. While bottle feeding has become more popular in recent years as the method of feeding your newborn, breastfeeding is absolutely the preferred method of pediatricians and other doctors.
In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that you breastfeed your baby. Breast milk is the perfect baby food. It’s easier for your baby to digest, compared to formula. It does not need to be prepared, and it is always available. Plus, it contains all the nutrients, calories, and fluids that your baby requires to be healthy. Breast milk also contains antibodies that protect your little one from many diseases and infections. Breastfed infants are less likely to suffer from ear infections, diarrhea, obesity, pneumonia, and research has indicated that it might even protect your baby from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Another perk of breastfeeding is that it helps your uterus to return to its pre-pregnancy size more quickly. You will burn calories when you breastfeed, which might just help you lose your pregnancy weight! With all these perks, breastfeeding is definitely something you will want to consider, if you care about your baby.
However, in the event that you have a STD or disease, or you are taking a medication, you will not want to breastfeed.
Tips/Advice
Before you start any of the Kegal Exercises, talk to your doctor about doing these exercises correctly. They can really help you with stress but they can help with childbirth as well. If you have any questions, there only is about 7 weeks or less in the pregnancy. Now is a great time to ask your doctor any questions that you may have.