You are 35 Weeks and 6 Days Pregnant

35 Weeks, 6 Days

29 days to go...

Your baby today

Most babies will now be positioned longitudinally (lying straight up and down, with their head well in the pelvis). Even now, when space is limited in these final weeks, there is still time for the position to change to head down if your baby is bottom first (breech).

Complex developments are taking place in your baby's lungs that will enable her to breathe unaided once she is born.

The blood flow to your baby's lungs mirrors the development of the airways. Blood leaves the right side of the heart through a one-way valve into the main pulmonary vein. This then divides to give a pulmonary branch to each lung, and also a duct that allows blood to bypass the lungs and travel to the body directly. This will close soon after birth as the lungs expand and their resistance to blood flow falls.

Because your baby doesn't use his lungs for gas exchange in the uterus, the blood supply to them is quite small-only 10 percent of the post-birth supply. At this stage of pregnancy, the lungs' blood supply has completed its development, branching into finer and finer vessels as they come to lie closer to the alveoli.

When your baby is born, her chest is compressed in the birth canal and this helps to push the fluid out of the lungs in preparation for that incredible first breath. If your baby is born by cesarean, she will need first to bring the fluid up by herself. This is not a problem but for this reason the first breaths of a baby born by cesarean can be full of mucus.

Items for your hospital bag

Make sure you have all the items you need for your hospital bag. Remember to include items for yourself as well as the baby and, if you know you're having a cesarean, pack enough items for a few days.

For yourself:

Pajamas
Underwear
Nursing bras
Slippers
Dressing gown
Hairbrush
Toothbrush
Toiletries
Maternity sanitary pads
Breast pads and nipple cream
Comfortable loungewear in case you stay in and want to get dressed.

For your baby:

Undershirts
Footed onesies
Blanket
Diapers
Diaper bags
Cotton pads
Diaper cream, such as Desitin
Baby wipes if you intend to use them
Hat and cardigan for going home – you can also use the cardigan if your baby needs layers to keep warm while she's in the hospital.

Other useful items:

Camera – still camera and/or video camera
Music for the delivery room
Books and magazines
Massage oil
TENS machine
Washcloths

Your partner should also get a bag ready for himself (see What's in your hospital bag?) and ensure the car seat is installed. Pack snacks and drinks closer to the time, but think about what you might need.