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Baby is getting positioned for birth
Week 35: The next three weeks could bring baby's most rapid gains
During this 35th week of pregnancy, your baby's growth has been progressing at a remarkable pace as your due date draws near. But the next three weeks could bring your baby's most rapid weight gains.
- Your baby probably continues to gain at least half a pound a week.
- During the 35th week of pregnancy, she already might be close to her birth length, near 18 inches from head to toe, and she continues to build up necessary fat, especially in her shoulders.
- Within your now-crowded uterus, your baby might shift her movements from kicks and punches to more rolls and wiggles.
- Her brain development continues to advance quickly.
- Your baby already might have settled into a head-down position in your pelvis, if this is your first pregnancy. This is the ideal position for delivery because your baby's head is the biggest part of her body.
- Position refers to your baby's placement in your uterus — whether she is facing right or left or is head-first or feet-first. Your baby floats in your uterus and changes positions often throughout early and mid-pregnancy. When you're between 32 and 36 weeks pregnant, your baby usually rotates to a head-down position for labor and delivery.
- Head-first position is called the vertex position.
- Feet-first position is called the breech position.
- If your baby is breech but is not too far down into your pelvis, your doctor might try to turn your baby into the proper position a few weeks before your due date.
- Lying-sideways position is called a transverse position.
Your Week 35 nutrition and health
Maintain your healthy nutrition regimen
It's more important than ever to maintain your energy and strong health with balanced nutrition and regular exercise. Try to keep up the regimen you’ve maintained through your pregnancy instead of introducing something new or stopping what has been working.
Alternative ways to get your daily calcium
By now you have likely established a routine to meet the daily nutrition needs of you and your growing baby. However, many expectant moms might want to switch things up to get some variety. Here are some different ways to get your recommended daily calcium intake:
- Cook your brown rice or oatmeal in nonfat milk or calcium-fortified soy milk.
- Add nonfat dry milk powder to recipes for muffins, breads, pancakes, milk shakes, or even meat loaf.
- Substitute low-fat cheese for meat in lasagna, ravioli, or stuffed shells.
- Use undiluted evaporated nonfat milk in mashed potatoes.
- Blend nonfat milk or calcium-fortified soy milk with fresh fruit to make a fruit shake.
- Canned salmon and canned sardines are also good sources of calcium.
- Eat milk-based soups, such as cream of tomato or cream of mushroom.
