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Pregnancy week 35 can be a very exciting time for the mother and father to be. By this time, the mother has been pregnant for around 33 weeks and is probably getting used to the changes her body is going through. With less than two months to go, you're in the home stretch of your pregnancy and should be preparing for the time when your baby comes. At this time, the average fetus weighs about five and a half pounds and is getting fatter every day! Literally, the fat is starting to accumulate around the baby's arms and legs, which means that there is less room to move around in the womb.
As for the mom, soon you'll be looking forward to regular cervical checks to see if there is any sign of effacement and dilation. In case you don't already know, effacement refers to the thinning of the cervix, while dilation refers to the opening of the cervix. The baby has no chance of passing through a normally closed cervix, and until you go into labor there won't really be any effacement or dilation. The cervix is fully dilated when it has an opening that measures about 10 centimeters. Also, at this time your health care provider will be checking what position the baby is in. At pregnancy week 35, you shouldn't have to worry about any of this quite yet.
Soon enough, however, you'll be going through labor and your swollen feet and aching back will be put to rest. Remember the days when you were able to see your toes? Perhaps pregnancy week 35 is the time to go and treat yourself to a pedicure. That way, if you have to go to the hospital, at least you'll be looking and feeling a bit better.
For expectant mothers, pregnancy week 25 should be a pretty big milestone. For one thing, you have passed the point of no return...you are more than halfway to having a baby to hold! At this point, mom has been pregnant for around 23 weeks and is probably getting the hang of the whole pregnancy thing. As for the baby, it is rapidly developing. At 25 weeks into the full term 40, the nostrils of the baby are beginning to open and the blood vessels in the lungs are starting to develop. Also, the baby is beginning to get a backbone during this exciting time! There are 33 rings, 150 joints and 1,000 ligaments that compose the spine, and your baby is starting to form them all.
When it comes to the expectant mom at pregnancy week 25, her uterus is around the size of a soccer ball. It's kind of a miracle to think of how your body is changing to accommodate your young one, but it probably doesn't feel like one. Because of the large size of the uterus, it is beginning to put pressure on the back and pelvis. This translates to shooting pains in the lower back and legs for many women, which can be treated with rest. Other ways to treat these symptoms of pregnancy include taking warm baths, changing positions frequently or even applying ice to the area.
On another note, at pregnancy week 25 it is imperative that you be aware of the preterm labor warning signs. The March of Dimes suggests that you never ignore the symptoms of preterm labor, as how you react to them could make a huge difference in your baby's life. Make sure you go over these symptoms with your primary caregiver, as well as what to do in the event that you experience them. Very important!