What's happening with your baby at 35 weeks
By 35 weeks, most of your baby's major organs are fully developed. Kidneys are working, and the liver can process some waste products on its own — the lungs and brain are the main systems still maturing before birth.
Baby is around 46 cm long and weighs roughly 2.2 to 2.9 kg (about 5 to 6.5 lb), with weight continuing to climb by close to half a pound a week. Baby fat is filling out under the skin, which is smoothing out and losing its wrinkled look.
There's much less room to stretch now, so movements often feel like slow rolls, stretches, and pushes rather than sharp kicks. You should still feel regular movement every day — a real drop in how often baby moves is worth reporting.
What does the Group B strep test involve?
Most providers screen for Group B streptococcus (GBS) between 35 and 37 weeks using a quick swab of the vagina and rectum. GBS is a common bacteria that's usually harmless to you but can be passed to baby during vaginal delivery, so it's checked before labor rather than treated now.
The swab itself takes seconds and isn't painful, though it can feel a bit odd. Roughly 1 in 4 pregnant people test positive — it's not linked to hygiene or anything you did, and a positive result just means you'll get IV antibiotics during labor to protect baby.
Common symptoms at 35 weeks
Third-trimester symptoms are often at their most intense right now: pelvic pressure, heartburn, swelling in feet and ankles, disrupted sleep, and a heavier, slower-moving feeling as baby takes up more room.
Braxton Hicks contractions — irregular, painless tightening of the uterus — usually become more frequent this week. Some people also notice baby settling lower into the pelvis, sometimes called 'lightening,' which can ease breathing slightly while adding pressure lower down.
Increased vaginal discharge and mild swelling by the end of the day are common too. Sudden or severe swelling, especially in your face or hands, is different from ordinary swelling and needs a same-day call.
What to do this week
Finalize your hospital bag if it isn't packed yet, and ask about hospital pre-registration if it's offered — it can save time on paperwork later.
Go over the signs of labor with your partner or support person: contractions that get closer together and stronger, your water breaking, or a bloody show. Confirm your route to the hospital and any backup plans for childcare, pets, or work.
Keep doing kick counts and rest whenever you can. Fatigue is common now, and comfortable sleep positions are harder to find with the size of the bump.
When to call your provider
Call the same day for a noticeable decrease in fetal movement, regular contractions, vaginal bleeding, a sudden gush or steady trickle of fluid, or a severe headache with vision changes or swelling.
Any of these could point to preterm labor, membrane rupture, or preeclampsia even this close to your due date, and all of them warrant same-day evaluation rather than waiting to see if things settle.