35 weeks pregnant - abdominal pain? What's happening to the baby?

What happens to the baby at 35 weeks of pregnancy?

By this time, the baby’s body is already quite well developed and functions as a single whole. Thanks to the hormones produced by the adrenal glands, water-salt and mineral balance is maintained and maintained.

At week 35, the baby continues to actively gain weight. Muscle mass increases and subcutaneous fat reserves are replenished. In a week, a child can gain about 220 g in weight, the total body weight is on average 2.5 kg, and the height reaches 47 cm.

The child’s facial features acquire individuality, and a skin pattern is formed. The color of the baby's eyes now remains gray-blue, but very soon they will acquire their final color. The skin gradually smoothes out, folds and original fluff disappear. Although in some places the lanugo may be delayed, and then the baby is born slightly shaggy. The skin color is already closer to pink than to red.

The child's shoulders noticeably rounded. Very soon it will drop lower and get as close as possible to the pelvic floor.

The baby at 35 weeks takes the position in which he is ready to be born. In 95% of cases, the fetus lies head down. This is a physiological position that allows the baby to pass through the birth canal as easily as possible. Although sometimes the baby lies down incorrectly. In this case, they talk about breech or transverse presentation.

Useful advice for future parents

The image of the Kid is rarely clear.
And if it does happen, it is most often tied to the moment of his birth. And there is a simple explanation for this: the image must be holistic, and until the moment of birth the Baby is constantly changing, and it is simply impossible to imagine what he is like at the moment. Ultrasound helps this a little, although the resulting pictures are more likely a positive fact of the child’s existence for you than a portrait that you want to hang on the wall. And yet, you will need to work on the image of the Baby: the more distinct it turns out, the warmer and more active your relationship with the baby will be even before birth. The image of the Kid consists of several components:

visual image. Someone in their imagination makes the Baby look like toddlers from magazine pages, or familiar children, or older children (if there are any in the family), or even like the parents themselves in infancy. And some people develop an image that is independent of anything. There are also those (and perhaps most of them) who do not have a visual image at all. Be that as it may, the visual image is far from the main component of your Baby’s image;
emotional image. It is connected with the feelings that you have for your baby. Your love, tenderness, optimism will allow you to imagine a joyful, active, sunny Baby. Mothers experiencing a decline in mood and physical activity begin to develop images of capricious, sad, empathizing Kids. The emotional image of your Baby is one of the most powerful;
tactile image. It manifests itself in ideas about physical contact with the Baby: how you will feed him, rock him, stroke his head, tummy, back, bend and straighten his arms and legs, etc. Many mothers, without realizing it, actively contribute to the formation of a tactile image: they fuss with babies, sleep cuddled with toys, and if there are cats or dogs in the house, then they will have to try themselves in the role of a Baby who is cuddled and raised. In conjunction with the emotional image, the tactile image creates an almost tangible idea of the Baby.

Information about what he is like in each specific period before birth, information from the leading doctor about the size of his body, how his heart beats, how he has grown over the week (month) and what position he occupies in your tummy helps to create the image of the Baby.

The image of the Baby is closely related to your activities and self-development. So, if you are active, generally satisfied with life, you have many plans for life, and have favorite hobbies, then you will see your Baby as well-rounded, cheerful and talented.

A significant role in shaping the image of the Kid belongs to his dad. Very often, even before birth, fathers boldly create specific images: “When he grows up, we’ll ride bikes with him,” “My daughter won’t be afraid of anything,” “I’ll walk with my son, even in the rain, even in the snow, let him harden himself,” “ Finally, I will have a real rival in computer games,” “When a girl is born, we will grow our braids down to our toes.”

Whatever the image of your Baby, it is needed so that you feel him physically and mentally, strive to communicate with him, feel proud of his success in growth and development, and also love him very much.

Feel

Many women at this stage complain of shortness of breath and lack of air. There is no need to worry about this, as relief will come very soon. Now the uterus puts pressure on the diaphragm, which helps to reduce the volume of the chest. But when the stomach drops, breathing will become easier. It is likely that this will happen even at 35 weeks or a little later. For now, to make breathing easier, you can use this advice: you need to get on all fours, take a deep breath and exhale. The exercise should be repeated until relief occurs. If shortness of breath suddenly increases, it is better to consult a doctor about this.

In general, shortness of breath that occurs at 35 weeks of pregnancy is a physiological phenomenon. After all, the fundus of the uterus is located very high - at a distance of 35 cm above the pubic symphysis (15 cm above the level of the navel). Naturally, this position of the uterus cannot but affect the functioning of the lungs.

No less often, women complain of insomnia. First of all, sleep disorder is associated with the search for the most comfortable position. A large belly does not allow you to lie down comfortably. To make your rest as quality as possible, you can use special pillows for pregnant women, or roll up bolsters from a blanket yourself. They need to be placed on both sides and you should go to sleep on your side or half-sitting. Sleeping on your back at 35 weeks is unacceptable.

Many women cannot get a full night's sleep also because they often have to get up at night to go to the toilet. The enlarged uterus puts pressure not only on the diaphragm, but also on the bladder. Therefore, a woman has to empty it even when partially filled. To avoid this, you need to reduce the amount of liquid you drink before bed.

If insomnia continues to haunt a woman, then there is no need to rush to use sleeping pills.

To get started, you can try the following tips:

Take a walk in the fresh air in the evening;
Listen to calming music before bed;
Ventilate the room;
Eliminate unpleasant situations and stress;
Read suitable literature;
Refuse to watch programs and films containing scenes of violence;
Limit communication with people who evoke negative emotions.

In addition to insomnia and shortness of breath, most pregnant women at 35 weeks complain of discomfort such as:

Back pain, which intensifies if a woman is in a static position for a long time, for example, standing or sitting.
Swelling of the lower and upper extremities.
Heartburn.
The appearance of spider veins on the legs.
Hot flashes, increased sweating.
Increased gas production and inability to hold back gas, especially when laughing, sneezing or coughing.

A woman's breasts are being prepared for the upcoming feeding process. At 35 weeks, nipple discharge may appear - this is the first colostrum. You should not squeeze it out yourself. Moreover, the breasts should generally be left alone; they should not be rubbed, pulled or put pressure on the nipples. Such actions can provoke the onset of premature labor.

How you feel

Most likely, during the 35 weeks of pregnancy you have already become accustomed to the daily presence of a variety of unpleasant sensations in your life - in the spine, lower back, legs. Pain appears due to the enormous load on the body and a shift in the center of gravity. Don't forget to wear a bandage, avoid standing for long periods of time, and periodically unload your spine in a lying or reclining position. Regular warm-up (every 15 - 20 minutes), in which it is advisable to include circular movements of the pelvis: they not only reduce, but also prevent pain in the hips and sacrum, will also help to cope with exacerbations of pain.

Another trouble at 34–35 weeks of pregnancy is possible pain in the wrists and fingers, which occurs in those who sit at the computer for a long time. This is the so-called tunnel syndrome. If you feel heaviness in your hands, numbness and pain in your hands, tingling in your fingers, periodically do relaxation exercises and rub your hands until you feel warm.

You may have a headache from time to time. Cool compresses and rest in a dimly lit room with an open window will help. In addition to general discomfort, nausea sometimes appears at the 35th week of pregnancy. Due to the fact that almost the entire abdominal cavity is occupied by the uterus, digestive function is impaired. Try not to overload your stomach: eat small portions, but often. This way you will avoid overeating and reduce unpleasant symptoms.

At the 34th - 35th week of pregnancy, in the supine position, compression syndrome of the inferior vena cava may occur, when the woman feels dizzy and short of air. In this condition, the fetal heart rate drops sharply, and this is very dangerous. During rest, a semi-sitting position is acceptable, in which the back deviates horizontally by 45 - 30 degrees. It’s better to sleep on the left side or in an intermediate position, with a couple of pillows under your back. The most correct position for blood circulation in the uterus is lying on your side with a pillow between your legs. For convenience, you can place a flat bag under your stomach.

At 35 weeks of pregnancy, you may notice that the nature of your discharge has changed. They are still light milky, but mucus impurities appear in the creamy mass. These are nothing more than particles of a plug that “clogs” the cervix. Shortly before birth, the cervical canal opens slightly and the mucus plug gradually separates. In some women, it comes out not in parts, but entirely - in this case, you will see a clot of mucus streaked with blood. If this happens, you need to be prepared for the fact that labor may begin at any moment, and collect packages for the maternity hospital in advance.

Ultrasound and other examinations at 35 weeks of pregnancy

Most often, by the 35th week of pregnancy, a woman has already undergone a third planned ultrasound. If she has not done this, then she needs to go for an ultrasound examination as soon as possible. During the procedure, the doctor evaluates the fetal heartbeat, motor activity, height and weight. The degree of maturity of the placenta is also determined (the norm is the third degree of maturity), and the readiness of the cervix for childbirth.

If any abnormalities are detected, the doctor sends the woman for other studies, for example, a Doppler scan of the umbilical cord vessels. Placental insufficiency is dangerous because it can lead to delayed fetal development.

During an ultrasound, the volume and quality of amniotic fluid must be assessed. If you visualize coarse suspension in it, you should think about early delivery, as this indicates oxygen starvation of the fetus.

During an ultrasound, it becomes clear what position the child is in and whether there are any developmental defects.

Most gynecologists at this stage of pregnancy take a smear from the vagina, which is necessary to assess the microflora. It is important that the woman does not have any infectious diseases at the time of birth. Otherwise, there is a risk of infection of the child.

In addition, the pregnant woman donates blood for general and biochemical analysis, and urine to detect protein in it. The hCG level at 35 weeks of pregnancy is 2700-78100 mIU/ml.

Also at the appointment, the doctor must measure the woman’s blood pressure, weight, volume of her abdomen, and height of the uterine fundus. The doctor must listen to the fetal heartbeat.

The height of the uterine fundus should be 35 cm (+ or – 1-2 cm). If the uterus rises more than 2-3 cm, then this indicates polyhydramnios.

Necessary studies and analyzes

At 35 weeks of pregnancy, if you have an appointment with a gynecologist, you need to take a general blood test. Towards the end of pregnancy, this analysis is especially important, because its results can be used to judge the presence or absence of gestosis in the pregnant woman. The doctor could also prescribe a blood test to monitor hemoglobin levels if there was previously a tendency to decrease them. Other tests could be prescribed according to indications.

An ultrasound at 35 weeks is usually not performed, because the third planned ultrasound examination has already been carried out. However, when a pregnant woman’s condition requires urgent additional examinations, she will definitely undergo an additional ultrasound to identify pathology.

At the appointment, the gynecologist checks the same parameters as the previous time. The doctor will look at how much the height of the uterine fundus and abdominal circumference have increased. The baby's heart rate will be listened to and its position in the mother's stomach will be determined. When examining a woman, the doctor can look at the condition of the cervix and also check changes in weight and blood pressure.

CTG during pregnancy, interpretation (35 weeks)

Carrying out fetal cardiotocography at 35 weeks of pregnancy allows us to assess the condition of the fetus. During this study, the CTG device records several indicators responsible for the activity of the baby’s heart, as well as for the contractile activity of the muscles of the uterus. Analyzing the results obtained, the doctor assigns a certain number of points, which characterize the condition of the fetus.

8-10 points indicate that there are no problems and the baby is in good health.
5-7 points indicate the initial stage of hypoxia (oxygen starvation). In this case, there is no great threat to the baby’s life, but it will be necessary to conduct a CTG again to assess the dynamics of the condition.
Less than 5 points is severe hypoxia. In this case, most likely, an emergency delivery by cesarean section will be performed.

What happens to a woman's belly?

The woman’s belly, as already mentioned, rises to its maximum height. The navel protrudes forward and becomes darker in color. The skin on the abdomen becomes tight, so women often experience itching. These are temporary difficulties that will soon pass.

It is possible that at 35 weeks of pregnancy a woman will experience Braxton-Higgs contractions for the first time. They are training and prepare the uterus for the upcoming process of giving birth to a child. Such contractions are not very intense and do not cause severe pain, however, it is impossible not to notice them. The maximum duration of such contractions is 2 minutes, after which they go away on their own.

The larger a woman's belly becomes, the more her center of gravity shifts. This makes her clumsy and clumsy. Moreover, the risk of falls increases significantly. Therefore, you need to be as careful as possible, do not make sudden movements, do not rush and do not be nervous. But this does not mean that physical activity should be reduced to zero.

Weight

Although a woman feels very large, on average she gains 12-13 kg of her original weight. A balanced menu and maintaining an active lifestyle can prevent you from gaining extra pounds.

Don't worry about gaining a lot of weight during pregnancy. To a greater extent, these figures consist of the mass of the fetus, placenta, amniotic fluid, etc. Only the blood in the woman’s body began to circulate per liter more. Therefore, after childbirth, the extra pounds will quickly go away.

With significant weight gain, and especially with rapid weight gain, medical consultation is necessary. You may need to reduce your daily calorie intake. As a rule, you will have to give up flour and sweet dishes, but at the same time you need to enrich your menu with fruits and vegetables.

Recommendations for the expectant mother

Despite the fact that it’s hard for you now, you’re very tired and you don’t want to concentrate on anything at all, try to be attentive to your health. There is very little time left until that happy moment when you can touch your baby. Therefore, it is in your interests to do everything possible to ensure that no complications arise and your baby is born healthy. To do this, visit the antenatal clinic in a timely manner and undergo all prescribed examinations. Do not forget about your doctor's recommendations and do not refuse the treatment prescribed to you. Monitor your well-being and your baby's activity. Also, be careful in public places and avoid falls.
physical activity seem impossible at this age? If you already find it difficult to move, try to maintain daily walks, which will provide your body with oxygen. This will be useful for the baby too.
Things and documents for the maternity hospital should be collected and at hand, so that in case of an emergency you do not have to be distracted by searching for everything you need and waste precious time.
Rest is an important part of your regimen. Even if you decide to work until the birth, you should abandon your idea if such activity does not give you the opportunity to rest. Sometimes, in order to relax a little, you need to lie down. And in order to restore strength after exertion during the day, you need good sleep. Don’t forget, your baby feels your condition perfectly. It is also important for him that his mother gets enough rest.
Continue to communicate with your child . Sing and read to him, listen to calm music with him. In addition, this will be a good way to prepare for communicating with him after his birth.
And most importantly, try to worry less about anything! This will not bring any benefit to you, and even less so to the baby. Take care of yourself, look forward to your meeting and stay calm.

Abdominal pain at 35 weeks of pregnancy

Pain at 35 weeks of pregnancy is a completely natural phenomenon. Most often they occur in the legs, back, and pubic area. It is not surprising, because the load on these areas has increased significantly. To periodically relieve your back, you can use a prenatal bandage.

Quality and frequent rest helps reduce pain in the lower extremities. You should not test your own strength and go on walks over too long distances. It is necessary to change the position of the body every quarter of an hour.

Performing breathing exercises in combination with gymnastics for pregnant women helps relieve discomfort in various parts of the body.

Daytime naps help get rid of headaches. You also need to ventilate the room often and try to protect yourself from stress.

Sometimes women indicate pain in the chest area. They occur because the mammary glands become engorged and heavy. To make your life more comfortable, you can use a nursing bra now. The main thing is to choose it correctly. It is important that the bra did not put pressure on the chest, did not squeeze it, but was not too loose.

Sometimes a woman may experience pain in the hypochondrium. They are especially noticeable when the baby begins to kick his mother from the inside. This is not surprising, because the child has already grown significantly.

Sometimes at 35 weeks of pregnancy the stomach drops, which leads to increased pain in the pelvic area and symphysis pubis. Pain in the anus may indicate an exacerbation of hemorrhoids.

If painful sensations become unbearable or bother a woman for a long time, then it is imperative to seek medical help.

Possible problems

In the last weeks, carrying a baby may be accompanied not only by the usual problems (heartburn, shortness of breath) and painful sensations. Sometimes conditions may arise that require mandatory monitoring by doctors, careful examination and even treatment with medications.

Diarrhea at 35 weeks of pregnancy

This intestinal disorder can occur due to poisoning or if you have developed dysbiosis. By itself, it does not pose any danger to the baby’s life. But it is important to replenish fluid loss, since dehydration is dangerous. In this case, you need not only to drink enough, but also try to “fix” the stool. In some cases, starch-based jelly or liquid rice porridge with water is sufficient. And sometimes even such folk methods cannot help you. If diarrhea continues for a long time, you should definitely consult a doctor so that water-salt imbalances do not affect your condition and, most importantly, the health of your baby.

35 weeks pregnant: hard to breathe

Shortness of breath during pregnancy is an almost constant phenomenon. It occurs due to increased pressure from the enlarging uterus on the diaphragm. Towards the end of pregnancy, pregnant women experience breathing problems especially strongly. In the last weeks, the stomach should drop, and therefore it will be much easier to breathe. It also happens that the tummy may not fall down until the very birth, which cannot be called some kind of deviation.

Sometimes it becomes very difficult to breathe, as if there is not enough air. This can be extremely dangerous to the health of both of you. Therefore, in the case when there is absolutely not enough air, and outwardly you observe blue lips, it is worth calling an ambulance. To alleviate your condition a little, you can take a knee-elbow position and try to breathe deeply.

Polyhydramnios at 35 weeks of pregnancy

This pathology, like oligohydramnios, is life-threatening for the baby. Polyhydramnios occurs in the presence of any disturbances in the body of the pregnant woman or fetus and is characterized by excessive enlargement of the abdomen, a feeling of heaviness and increased tone of the muscles of the uterus. In this case, the woman may experience weakness, shortness of breath and pain in the abdominal area. Also, polyhydramnios can be acute (occurring quickly, instantly) and chronic. It causes a number of problems due to which the fetus suffers. For example, fetoplacental insufficiency may develop, which leads to disturbances in the processes occurring in the baby’s body.

In any case, this pathology requires additional examinations and drug therapy. If polyhydramnios was detected in a timely manner, the amount of water can be adjusted. And if the lives of the mother and child are at risk, an emergency delivery is necessary.

Is intimate life possible at 35 weeks of pregnancy?

The question of the possibility of having sex at 35 weeks of pregnancy should be decided on an individual basis. If a woman feels well and the doctor does not see any pregnancy pathologies, then intimate life is not prohibited.

If earlier doctors believed that sex in the third trimester could provoke premature birth and were categorically against any intimacy, now their opinion has changed dramatically.

Many experts advise couples who are confident in each other's purity to refuse to use a condom. The fact is that male sperm contains substances that make the cervix more elastic and prepare it for childbirth. Moreover, the use of a condom can provoke the development of an allergic reaction and lead to disruption of the vaginal microflora.

However, during intimacy, you must adhere to some rules. For example, you should not allow even minimal pressure on your stomach. Therefore, it is better if the man is behind his partner.

For some women, gynecologists recommend that they avoid intimacy at 35 weeks of pregnancy. This applies to women expecting twins, and those whose fetus is in a breech or transverse presentation, as well as pregnant women at risk of developing premature birth. You should immediately stop having sexual intercourse if a woman experiences pain or discomfort.

You cannot have sex after the mucus plug has come out, or if your sexual partner has sexually transmitted diseases.

Risk factors

At the 35th week of pregnancy, the expectant mother may experience worsening swelling of the soft tissues. And the greater the swelling, the more dangerous it is for the woman and baby. You should be wary if:

Swelling appeared not only on the legs, but also on other parts of the body;
They don't last long;
Have difficulty breathing;
Blood pressure has increased;
Protein was found in the urine.

A common occurrence at 34–35 weeks of pregnancy is premature birth. Although fetal development is at the final stage, it is better not to provoke the uterus and reach at least 37 - 38 weeks. Precursors of labor manifest themselves in different ways: some “symptoms” may be present, while others may be absent. It is important not to confuse false Braxton Hicks contractions with real ones.

Additionally, there are a few signs of impending labor that you need to be aware of:

Loss of body weight. If at 35 weeks of pregnancy you begin to suddenly lose weight, it means your body is preparing for childbirth by getting rid of excess fluid through frequent urination. On average, weight loss in the last stages is 1 – 2 kg;
Prolapse of the uterine fundus. You will understand that this has happened by specific sensations in the abdominal area;
Pain in the area of the pubic fusion. To allow the baby to exit unhindered, the pelvic bones expand, which causes pain;
Removal of the mucus plug;
Regular nature of contractions;
Rush of amniotic fluid.

Discharge at 35 weeks

Discharge should normally be light and transparent, or have a milky tint. They should not emit an unpleasant odor and there should be no foreign matter in them. In this case, we can talk about complete well-being in the woman’s genitourinary system.

If the discharge changes color, becomes green, yellow, bloody, blistering or flaky, this indicates an infection. In this case, you need to seek medical advice as soon as possible.

The most common disease diagnosed in pregnant women is thrush. It is accompanied by swelling and itching of the genitals, and the appearance of cheesy clots in the discharge. They also begin to give off a yeasty smell. Thrush should be treated in the same way as any other sexually transmitted infection. If this is not done, then there is a high probability of infection of the baby during its passage through the birth canal.

Also, mucus impurities may be found in the discharge. They indicate the release of the mucus plug. This is a harbinger of imminent labor, so if parts of the mucus plug are detected, or if it has come off completely, you should see a doctor.

The release of water is indicated by streams of liquid flowing down the legs. In this case, you need to quickly call an ambulance and go to the maternity hospital. But even when the water breaks in small portions, you shouldn’t linger at home. This may be dangerous for the child.

If labor began at 35 weeks of pregnancy, what to do?

If labor began spontaneously at 35 weeks, then there is no need to panic. You just need to carefully follow your doctor’s instructions, which will make this process as easy as possible.

Babies born at 35 weeks' gestation are sometimes able to breathe on their own, but are usually placed on a ventilator. In any case, having a baby prematurely requires a longer stay in the hospital.

The chances that a baby born at 35 weeks will be absolutely healthy in the future are very high. As a rule, such children do not lag behind in development compared to babies born on time.

In order not to provoke premature birth on your own, you must adhere to simple rules: follow all the doctor’s recommendations, maintain personal hygiene and daily routine, eat a balanced diet, do special exercises, and minimize the impact of stress on the body. In this case, the chances of giving birth to a healthy baby on time are significantly increased.

Relief of pain during contractions. Which method is best for you?

Good to know

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How to choose a nursing bra

Is a pregnant woman beautiful?

What worries a woman during pregnancy?

What are the methods of preparing for childbirth?

All texts for pages about mother and baby were kindly provided by RAMA Publishing - these are chapters from the book by Svetlana Klaas “Your Favorite Little Man from Conception to Birth”, reviewer Irina Nikolaevna Kononova, Candidate of Medical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the Ural State Medical Academy (Ekaterinburg).

What dangers can await a woman at 35 weeks of pregnancy?

One of the significant dangers at 35 weeks of pregnancy is placenta previa. This happens when the placenta is not firmly attached to the wall of the uterus, and then changes its position and prevents the birth of the child. Placenta previa is manifested by the appearance of bloody discharge in the last weeks of pregnancy. Therefore, it is so important to regularly see a doctor in order to identify the existing threat in time.

Also, at 35 weeks of pregnancy, a woman may experience worsening varicose veins and hemorrhoids. This is primarily due to a lack of calcium in the body, because the child continues to “take” it to build his own skeletal system.

If by the 35th week of pregnancy a woman gains a lot of weight, then the baby will be large. During childbirth, this can lead to perineal lacerations and an increased risk of fetal injury. Moreover, after childbirth it will be more difficult to get rid of excess body weight, and against this background type 2 diabetes may develop.

Finally, the most dangerous complication of pregnancy is gestosis, which can develop into eclampsia. In particularly difficult situations, emergency delivery by cesarean section is required. Even in developed countries, eclampsia still occupies a leading position among complications leading to the death of mothers and babies. The first signs of impending gestosis are increased blood pressure, severe swelling and deterioration in general well-being. Such symptoms cannot be ignored; you should seek medical help as soon as possible.

Factors negatively affecting fetal development

A child in the womb is reliably protected by the membranes and placental barrier. However, this does not mean that it is impossible to harm him. What the expectant mother eats is of particular importance. If her diet is not balanced, then this may threaten the child’s developmental delay. Overeating is no less dangerous, which often leads to more difficult childbirth.

Substances such as alcohol, nicotine, and drugs should not be allowed to enter a woman’s body. The placenta is not an obstacle for them, so even at a long stage of pregnancy they can provoke various malformations of the fetus and its death.

A woman should minimize contact with harmful substances, for example, paint products, insecticides and herbicides.

For any health problems, you should consult a doctor. Self-medication is unacceptable; it is even more dangerous to prescribe medications on your own. They are capable of penetrating into the blood of not only a woman, but also a child, thereby causing irreparable harm to his health.