Your Pregnancy: 35 Weeks Pregnant | HuffPost Life

What To Expect When You're 35 Weeks Pregnant

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Parents & Style Editor at HuffPost UK

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Welcome to week 35

You're on the home strait of pregnancy. Birth and motherhood are fast approaching! If you're working, start thinking about whether or not you'll be returning to work. Even if you feel sure of your intentions, it's worth exploring all your options in case you feel completely different after the birth.

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Perhaps you could work more flexibly, combining home working with going into an office? Have you thought about the possibility that your partner could perhaps alter his working hours to give you more options? Is there a chance you or your partner could work closer to home, so the travelling time is reduced? Or maybe you have a family member who would be prepared to offer some free childcare? If you're planning to use formal childcare and haven't got your name on any lists yet, don't delay any longer - you can always cancel your place if you change your mind.

Inside story

Your baby this week weighs around 2.5kg (around 5.5lb). The crown-to-rump measurement is about 33cm (just over 13in). It might be possible for you to identify the way your baby's lying by having a good feel of your bump, especially when you're relaxing in the bath.

The head will feel harder than the backside and you might be able to make out the curve of the spine, as well as getting to grips with those jabbing feet, elbows and hands. This is because there's so little room left for manoeuvre that your baby is pressing tight against the walls of your uterus.

On the outside

Breathlessness might peak this week and next as the top of your uterus has risen again, this time to around 15cm from your belly button. Your internal organs are becoming more and more compressed by your growing bump, so you might feel fit to burst!

Keep practising your breathing exercises to help expand your rib cage; eat little and often in order to reduce bouts of indigestion and heartburn; drink plenty of fluids to avoid constipation and fluid retention, and put your feet up as often as you can.

Uncomfortable at night? Experiment with cushions and body pillows to support your lower back and bump. A pillow between your knees when you lie on your side can help ease lower backache. Raising the foot of the bed slightly can help to ease swollen ankles as it encourages fluids to drain up.

Things to think about

Hot flushes can result from hormonal activity, and the fact that you're so much heavier than you were pre-pregnancy doesn't help. If you're finding it hard to keep cool – especially if you're pregnant during the warmer summer months follow these tips:

• Dress in loose natural fabrics

• Carry a can of special cooling spray (find in supermarkets and pharmacies) and spritz your face, chest and limbs

• Drink plenty of fluids

• Warm drinks like fruit or herb tea will help you to keep cool

• Carry a mini hand-held fan in your bag

• A pack of wet wipes can help give you an instant cooling

• Have a tepid shower or bath whenever you can and allow yourself to air dry

• At night use a low-noise fan next to your bed: if you stand a bottle of frozen water near it (in a drip-tray for when it starts to defrost) it'll cool the air as it blows around

• Beauty creams containing peppermint will leave your skin feeling cool and refreshed.

Foods To Eat And Avoid For Pregnancy

Certain Cheeses (01 of14)

Because your body's immune system is not as strong during pregnancy, registered dietitian Lydia Knorr says you should avoid anything raw, unpasteurized or undercooked.Raw or unpasteurized dairy products like brie and Camembert cheeses, should be avoided if you're pregnant. The following seven slides are foods you should consider removing from your diet. (credit:Christian Hacker via Getty Images)

Some Meats And Fish (02 of14)

When it comes to meat and fish, avoid raw or undercooked meats, poultry, fish, and seafood like sushi, oysters, mussels, clams and smoked fish, Knorr notes. (credit:Gentl and Hyers via Getty Images)

What About Beans?(03 of14)

Most beans and legumes are fine, but avoid raw sprouts like alfalfa, clover, radish and mung beans. (credit:Martin Poole via Getty Images)

Don't Spread It(04 of14)

Avoid refrigerated pates or meat spreads, Knorr says, because the organs used to make them are often undercooked. According to the Daily Mail, 90 per cent of common food poisoning cases are caused by chicken pate. (credit:JacquesPALUT via Getty Images)

Deli Meats(05 of14)

Non-dried deli meats like bologna, turkey breast and roast beef should also be avoided, Knorr says. However, some experts say you can eat these types of precooked meats (including hot dogs), if you heat them until the food is steaming hot, Baby Center notes. (credit:Westend61 via Getty Images)

Eggs!(06 of14)

Avoid raw or lightly cooked egg or egg products, including salad dressings, cookie dough, cake batter, sauces, and drinks like homemade eggnog. (credit:sarahdoow via Getty Images)

Be Aware Of Sushi (07 of14)

Of course, any raw type of fish on sushi should be avoided if you are pregnant. "Fish such as fresh/frozen tuna, shark, swordfish, marlin, orange roughy and escolar should be avoided during pregnancy as they may contain levels of mercury that if ingested in large amounts could be toxic to the nervous system," Knorr says. If you are craving sushi, go veg! (credit:Jean-Blaise Hall via Getty Images)

What About My Coffee Habit?(08 of14)

You can still drink coffee, just make sure you are aware of your consumption. Knorr recommends drinking no more than 300 mg of caffeine per day. A strong cup of joe, for example, can have about 78 to 108 mgs of caffeine. But be aware, caffeine can also be found in other non-coffee beverages like pop and tea. (credit:Cindy Prins via Getty Images)

But What Can I Eat?(09 of14)

In the next few slides, Knorr tells us the foods we should be adding to our diets during pregnancy: "Fish such as salmon, tilapia, shrimp, tuna (canned light) and cod are all good sources of protein and omega 3 fatty acids which will help with baby’s developing brain, eyes and nervous system," she says. (credit:rez-art via Getty Images)

Get Nutty! (10 of14)

Nuts, seeds and legumes are great for pregnant women — they're packed with protein and fibre which will keep you feeling satiated, and keep things moving on the inside. (credit:PhotoStock-Israel via Getty Images)

A New Love For Fruits And Veggies (11 of14)

These foods are loaded with all kinds of vitamins, fibre and water for maintaining good health, during pregnancy and otherwise. "Aim for the colours of the rainbow every day with special focus on leafy greens, bright red and orange fruit, and veggies loaded with powerful antioxidants to help keep your immune system strong," Knorr says. (credit:Maximilian Stock Ltd. via Getty Images)

Not All Dairy Is Scary (12 of14)

Drinking a couple of glasses of skim milk each day will provide you and your baby with the calcium and Vitamin D required to develop healthy, strong bones. Greek yogurt, for example, is also an excellent source of these important nutrients, and as a bonus, it’s loaded with protein, Knorr notes. (credit:amisb via Getty Images)

Think Whole Grain (13 of14)

"Whole grains food choices like cereal are a great addition to your diet, as they are fortified with important nutrients like iron and B vitamins," Knorr says. Many cereals also pack a lot of fibre into each serving which is paramount to keeping things moving during pregnancy — make sure you read your package labels and stick to "whole grain" vs. "whole wheat." (credit:Zeljko Bozic via Getty Images)

And All That Iron (14 of14)

Meat, poultry, legumes and spinach are all good sources of iron. "Just remember when eating a non-animal source of iron such as spinach or legumes, to pair it with a source of vitamin C, like oranges or strawberries for optimal uptake." (credit:Westend61 via Getty Images)

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