pregnancy | week by week

Your baby weighs about 5.5 to 6 pounds.

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Week 35: Growing and Preparing for Birth

Learn what else is happening now.

During your 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 1/2 pound a week.
  
• During your 35th week of pregnancy, baby already might be close to his birth length -- about 20 inches from head to toe -- and continues to build up necessary fat, especially in his shoulders.
• Within your now-crowded uterus, your baby might shift his movements from kicks and punches to more rolls and wiggles.
  
• Baby’s brain development continues to advance quickly.
• Your baby floats in your uterus and changes positions, or placement in your uterus, often throughout early and mid-pregnancy:
• Head-first position is called the vertex position.
• Feet-first position is called the breech position.
• Lying-sideways position is called a transverse position.
• When you’re between your 32nd and 36th weeks of pregnancy, your baby usually rotates to a head-down position for labor and delivery. 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 his body.
• 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.

New Ways to Get Calcium

Craving some variety? Try these simple but tasty ideas.

By now, you’ve likely established a routine to meet your daily nutrition needs and those of your growing baby. However, many expectant moms might want to switch things up to get some variety. Here are a few new ways to get your recommended daily calcium intake:

• Swap water in brown rice or oatmeal for nonfat milk or calcium-fortified soy milk.
• Fortify your recipes by adding nonfat dry milk powder to muffins, breads, pancakes, milk shakes or even meat loaf.
• Pack punch in your pasta by substituting low-fat cheese for meat in lasagna, ravioli or stuffed shells.
• Double the dairy in mashed potatoes by adding undiluted evaporated nonfat milk in the mix.
• Make a tropical shake by blending nonfat milk or calcium-fortified soy milk with fresh fruit.
• Can it: Canned salmon and canned sardines are also good sources of calcium.
• Opt for milk-based soups, such as cream of tomato or cream of mushroom.