Your Baby at 35 Weeks

A Closer Look at Week 35

At 35 weeks, your baby's kidneys are fully mature and capable of filtering waste efficiently. The liver can now process some metabolic by-products independently. With these developments, virtually all of the major organ systems are functionally complete. From this point forward, your baby's primary task is to gain weight — putting on approximately 200-250 grams per week — building up the fat reserves that will be essential for temperature regulation and energy after birth.

Most of your baby's physical development is now complete. The lungs are maturing rapidly, with surfactant production increasing daily. The brain, while functionally mature for most basic processes, will continue to develop complex neural connections well into childhood. Your baby is now about the size of a honeydew melon and weighs approximately 2.4 kilograms.

Frequent urination is reaching its peak intensity as your baby descends lower into the pelvis, placing direct pressure on your bladder. You may find yourself needing to visit the bathroom every hour or more, including multiple times during the night. This is one of the most universally shared experiences of late pregnancy, and unfortunately there is no real solution other than continuing to stay hydrated (reducing fluid intake can lead to urinary tract infections and dehydration).

If you haven't already, this is the week to install your baby's car seat. Many hospitals will not discharge a newborn without a properly installed car seat, and figuring out the installation process while sleep-deprived with a newborn is not ideal. Most fire stations and automobile associations offer free car seat installation checks — take advantage of these services to ensure your seat is fitted correctly and safely.