you're 35 weeks pregnant.
last revised · baby is about 46.2 cm (18.2") · 2400 g (84.7 oz)
At 35 weeks pregnant, your baby is about 46.2 cm and 2400 g — Brain growth is rapid — adding billions of new connections every week.
about the size of a…
Brain growth is rapid — adding billions of new connections every week. Your baby is finishing up the final preparations.
this week's highlights
- Brain growth peaks
- Body fat percentage rises
- Most organs mature
- Kidneys fully developed
how your baby looks
Chubby with smooth pink skin. Most of the lanugo is gone but vernix still coats parts of the body, especially folds.
body in focus
- head
- Brain adds billions of new connections each week.
- body
- Most organs are fully mature; final fat layers add.
- hands
- Grip strength increases.
- feet
- Kicks shift to rolls and pushes as space gets tight.
what's happening in your body
You may feel the baby drop lower — easier breathing but more pelvic pressure. Practice contractions feel more like real ones.
symptoms at 35 weeks
- Lightning crotch
- Sudden sharp, electric zings in the pelvis or inner thighs happen when the baby's head presses on nerves. They last seconds, are harmless, and unfortunately have no reliable fix beyond changing position.
- Easier breathing, heavier pelvis
- If your baby has dropped, your lungs get room back while your bladder and pelvic floor lose it. The trade shows labour's direction of travel.
- Increased discharge
- Discharge typically increases in the final weeks. Report anything bloodstained, green, itchy, or foul-smelling, or any gush or trickle of watery fluid, to your maternity unit.
- Fatigue with bursts of energy
- Deep tiredness alternating with nesting surges is the classic late-pregnancy rhythm. Spend the energy bursts wisely and honour the tired spells.
- Sharp cervical twinges
- Brief stabbing sensations deep in the cervix are common as it begins softening. Regular painful tightenings, bleeding, or fluid loss are the signals that need a call to your maternity unit.
- When to call
- From here, contact your maternity unit about regular contractions, waters breaking, bleeding, severe headache or visual changes — and immediately about any reduction in movements.
gentle tips
- Take maternity leave preparation seriously — finalize handoffs.
- Practice labor positions with your support team.
- Install the carseat in your vehicle.
- Stay hydrated — late-term dehydration triggers contractions.
- Discuss labor signs and timing with your provider.
your week 35 checklist
- Pack the hospital bag completely this week and keep it by the door — include maternity notes, chargers, snacks, and going-home outfits.
- Attend your Group B Strep screening if your unit offers it around weeks 35 to 37.
- Fit the car seat in its final position and have your installation checked if possible.
- Write down your maternity unit's guidance on when to call, and pin it somewhere visible.
what to expect next
Group B Strep test usually now. Babies born after week 37 are full-term and most go home with parents directly.
common questions at week 35
How big is the baby at 35 weeks?
At 35 weeks, the baby measures about 46.2 cm and weighs approximately 2400 g (46.2 cm (18.2") · 2400 g (84.7 oz)).
What is developing at 35 weeks?
Chubby with smooth pink skin. Brain adds billions of new connections each week. Key milestones this week include: Brain growth peaks; Body fat percentage rises; Most organs mature; Kidneys fully developed.
What symptoms are common at 35 weeks pregnant?
You may feel the baby drop lower — easier breathing but more pelvic pressure. Practice contractions feel more like real ones.
What should I do at 35 weeks pregnant?
Group B Strep test usually now. Take maternity leave preparation seriously — finalize handoffs. Practice labor positions with your support team. Install the carseat in your vehicle.
What should I pack in my hospital bag?
For you: maternity notes, comfortable nightwear that opens at the front, maternity pads, big comfortable underwear, toiletries, lip balm, snacks, a long phone charger, and a going-home outfit sized for around six months pregnant. For the baby: several vests and sleepsuits, a hat, nappies, cotton wool or wipes, a blanket, and the car seat ready in the car. Pack as if staying two nights — most stays are shorter, but the buffer removes stress.
What does a positive Group B Strep result mean?
Group B Strep is a common bacterium carried harmlessly by many adults, but it can occasionally cause serious infection in newborns during birth. A positive result simply means you will be offered antibiotics through a drip during labour, which greatly reduces the risk to your baby. It does not change how you give birth and is not a reflection of anything you did.
What is lightning crotch and is it a sign of labor?
Lightning crotch is the nickname for sudden sharp, electric pains in the pelvis, vagina, or inner thighs caused by the baby's head pressing on nerves as it settles lower. On its own it is not a sign that labour is starting — just that the baby is getting into position. If the zings come with regular contractions, waters breaking, or bleeding, then call your maternity unit.
helpful tools
- Kick Counter
Daily kick counts are an important reassurance in the third trimester.
- Contraction Timer
Time contractions and track frequency when the moment comes.
- Hospital Bag
Curated packing checklist for labor and delivery.
Medically aligned with guidance from WHO, NHS and ACOG. How we write.