At 35 weeks pregnant you are about 8 months along, in the third trimester, with about 5 weeks to go until your estimated due date.
At 35 weeks pregnant your baby is filling most of the space in your uterus and putting on weight fast, and the end of pregnancy suddenly has a date attached. Group B strep testing starts next week, the Tdap and RSV vaccine windows are about to close, and this is a good week to finish the bag and the paperwork.
This guide covers development and size, your baby’s position, symptoms, appointments, a practical checklist, sleep help and the signs that mean you should call. Every clinical detail was read in October 2026 on the primary sources named in the text.
Key Takeaways
35 weeks pregnant is about 8 months, or 33 weeks after conception (Mayo Clinic), with about 5 weeks to go.
Mayo Clinic says the baby fills most of the amniotic sac but you will probably still feel stretches, rolls and wiggles.
The CDC says to get screened for group B strep during the 36th or 37th week, so the swab is coming next week.
Mayo Clinic says most babies are head down by week 36; MedlinePlus says turning is more likely to work at about 36 to 37 weeks.
Call right away for less movement, leaking fluid, bleeding, regular contractions, a severe headache or vision changes.
Table of Contents
35 Weeks Pregnant at a Glance
Quick Answer
At 35 weeks pregnant you are about 8 months along, at the end of your 8th month, with about 5 weeks to go until your estimated due date. You are in the third trimester on every definition we checked. Mayo Clinic says your baby now fills most of the amniotic sac, the CDC’s group B strep screening window opens next week (the 36th or 37th week), and the Tdap and RSV vaccine windows close at the end of week 36.
35 weeks pregnant
What to know
Trimester
Third trimester. ACOG, as reported by UPMC, starts it at 28 weeks, 0 days; the Office on Women’s Health starts it at week 29. See the table below.
Month
About 8 months, the end of your 8th month. This counts 4 weeks and a few days per month. Months are a convention, not a medical unit, and other sites may round differently.
Weeks to go
About 5 (40 minus 35, counted from the first day of your last menstrual period).
Baby’s size
No week 35 figure on our sources. Mayo Clinic: more than 4 1/2 pounds at week 34. Office on Women’s Health: about 6 to 6 1/2 pounds at week 36.
Your baby’s movements and position, last call for Tdap and RSV vaccines if needed (CDC), and getting your bag and plans ready before group B strep testing.
35 weeks pregnant: quick facts with sources.
How the weeks are counted. The Office on Women’s Health says pregnancy lasts about 40 weeks, counting from the first day of your last normal period rather than from conception. That is why Mayo Clinic describes 35 weeks of pregnancy as 33 weeks after conception. If an early ultrasound changed your due date, go by your updated dates.
Which trimester is 35 weeks? Week 35 sits well inside the third trimester on both definitions we read:
Source
Third trimester
Where week 35 falls
ACOG, as reported by UPMC
Starts at the beginning of the 29th week (28 weeks, 0 days) and runs until delivery
Eighth week of the third trimester
Office on Women’s Health
Week 29 to week 40
Seventh week of the third trimester
Trimester definitions differ by source, so both are printed.
Your Baby’s Development at 35 Weeks
Most of your baby’s building work is done. Mayo Clinic says that by week 31 most major development is finished and the baby’s job is to gain weight quickly. Here is what our sources tie to the weeks around 35.
Source and timing
What it says is happening
Mayo Clinic, week 34
The fingernails have reached the fingertips.
Mayo Clinic, week 35 (33 weeks after conception)
The baby fills most of the space in the amniotic sac. You will probably still feel lots of stretches, rolls and wiggles.
Office on Women’s Health, week 32
The bones are fully formed but still soft, and the baby is gaining about one half pound a week.
Office on Women’s Health, week 36
Body fat increases, and the protective waxy coating called vernix gets thicker.
Mayo Clinic, week 36
The skin becomes smooth as more fat is added, the limbs start to look chubby, and most babies have turned head down.
Mayo Clinic, week 37
The baby can grasp things firmly, and the head might start going down into the pelvis to get ready for birth.
Fetal development around week 35, by source.
Your baby’s position. Mayo Clinic says most babies have turned head down by week 36, and that if your baby is not head down, your provider may talk with you about ways to move the baby, usually around week 37. MedlinePlus says that if the baby is not head down after the 36th week, your provider can discuss options, and that an external version (turning the baby from outside the belly) is more likely to work at about 36 to 37 weeks. If you are told your baby is bottom first, our guide to a breech baby explains what to expect. At 35 weeks there is still time for many babies to turn.
Two weeks from early term. Mayo Clinic says that at 37 weeks your baby is considered early term. Each week before then gives your baby more time to add fat and grow.
How Big Is Your Baby at 35 Weeks?
None of the primary sources we read gives a single figure for week 35, so here are the closest numbers on either side, printed as each source wrote them. Your baby sits somewhere between the week 34 and week 36 rows.
Source
Week
Length
Weight
Mayo Clinic
34
Nearly 12 inches (300 mm), crown to rump
More than 4 1/2 pounds (2,100 g)
Office on Women’s Health
36
About 16 to 19 inches
About 6 to 6 1/2 pounds
Baby size near 35 weeks, by source.
Mayo Clinic measures crown to rump, which leaves out the legs, so its length is shorter than a head to heel figure. The Office on Women’s Health does not say how it measures. The gap between the two rows also shows how quickly weight is going on now. Healthy babies vary, and any single number is a rough guide, not a target.
A 35 week ultrasound? MedlinePlus says the only routine third trimester test for every pregnant woman is the group B strep test. UPMC says ultrasounds or non-stress tests may be ordered if there are concerns about the baby’s growth, the amniotic fluid, the placenta or your symptoms. Near the end of pregnancy, MedlinePlus says, providers also check whether the baby is head down.
35 Weeks Pregnant Symptoms
These are the late pregnancy changes the Office on Women’s Health, UPMC and MedlinePlus describe. Most are the same as last week, just more so.
Shortness of breath: MedlinePlus says some women feel short of breath at times. UPMC says breathing may get easier when the baby’s head drops lower, which can happen around week 36.
Heartburn: MedlinePlus says food stays in your stomach longer in pregnancy, and UPMC says smaller meals through the day can help.
Frequent urination: MedlinePlus says that as your baby descends into your pelvis you will need to pee much more. Pain or burning, or a change in urine odor or color, is a reason to call.
Swelling: MedlinePlus says leg swelling is common and may increase closer to birth. Sudden or severe swelling of the hands or face needs prompt care (UPMC), because it can be a sign of preeclampsia.
Braxton Hicks contractions: UPMC says they are not regular and go away with rest or a change of position.
Pelvic and hip discomfort: UPMC says pelvic and hip pain may increase once the baby drops.
Trouble sleeping: listed by the Office on Women’s Health. See the sleep section below.
Practice contractions or the real thing? Braxton Hicks tightenings come and go without a pattern. Contractions that are regular, getting closer together or stronger, or that come with fluid leaking, bleeding or pressure low in your pelvis need a call to your provider. For what labor looks like once it starts, see early labor vs active labor.
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Your bump is close to its largest now. MedlinePlus says your provider measures your abdomen at each visit to check that the baby is growing as expected, and checks your weight, blood pressure and the baby’s position.
Belly button: the Office on Women’s Health says it may stick out.
Dropping: the Office on Women’s Health lists the baby moving lower in your abdomen as a third trimester change, and UPMC says it can happen around week 36. After it happens you may breathe more easily but feel more pressure low down.
Colostrum: tender breasts may leak a watery pre-milk called colostrum (Office on Women’s Health).
Appetite: UPMC reports that ACOG puts your extra need at about 450 calories a day in the third trimester.
Kicks and movement. Mayo Clinic says your baby fills most of the amniotic sac at week 35 but that you will probably still feel lots of stretches, rolls and wiggles. MedlinePlus says movement patterns change near your due date, with active and quiet periods. If movement suddenly decreases, MedlinePlus suggests eating a snack and lying down for a few minutes, and calling your provider if you still feel little movement. UPMC lists reduced fetal movement as a reason to seek care right away. If something feels different, trust that and call.
Prenatal Care, Tests and Appointments Around Week 35
What
Window
Source
Prenatal visits
Every 2 weeks until week 36, then weekly
MedlinePlus
Group B strep screening
During the 36th or 37th week of each pregnancy (next week)
CDC
Tdap (whooping cough) vaccine
During the 27th through 36th week of each pregnancy
CDC
RSV vaccine
During weeks 32 through 36 of pregnancy, during September to January
CDC
Flu vaccine
By the end of October
CDC
Checking the baby’s position
Near the end of pregnancy; options are discussed if the baby is not head down after week 36
MedlinePlus
Tests and vaccines near week 35, as read in October 2026.
Group B strep (GBS) is next. The CDC says to get screened during the 36th or 37th week of each pregnancy. Your provider rubs a sterile swab on the vagina and rectum, and the CDC describes the test as quick and painless. The CDC says women who test positive usually do not feel sick but can pass the bacteria to the baby during birth, so they are given antibiotics during labor. Ask at this week’s visit when your swab is booked, and make sure the result is in your hospital records.
Vaccines, as of October 2026. The windows above are quoted from the CDC page as read in October 2026 (updated October 7, 2026). The CDC also says a COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy can protect you and your baby from severe illness. The Tdap and RSV windows both close at the end of week 36, so if you have not had them, ask now. Guidance changes, so confirm what is right for you with your provider.
At your visit MedlinePlus says your provider may discuss the timing of delivery and possible ways your baby could be born, and may do a pelvic exam. Bring your birth plan and questions; partners and labor coaches are welcome.
What to Do This Week: A Simple Checklist
Finish the hospital bag: UPMC puts it on the third trimester to-do list. Practical basics: photo ID and insurance card, phone charger, toiletries, comfortable loose clothes to wear home, nursing or supportive bras, and a going-home outfit for your baby.
Install and check the car seat: UPMC says to install it before the birth. Follow both the seat manual and your vehicle manual.
Write and share your birth plan: UPMC suggests writing one and discussing it with your provider. Cover who will be with you, pain relief preferences and feeding plans, and treat it as a guide that can change.
Pick a pediatrician: UPMC says the first visit is typically two to three days after you come home.
Line up childcare: if you have other children, arrange who will care for them when you go into labor (UPMC).
Set up a safe sleep space: a bassinet or crib with a firm, flat mattress and a fitted sheet, nothing else. See our safe sleep environment guide.
Book or confirm your GBS swab: the CDC window opens next week.
Sleep at 35 Weeks Pregnant
The Office on Women’s Health lists trouble sleeping as a third trimester change, and by week 35 many people are up several times a night. That is common, and a few small changes can help you get more rest from the hours you have.
Sleep position. UPMC says that as your belly grows you should avoid sleeping on your back, because the weight of your uterus may compress a blood vessel that supplies blood to your uterus, which could make you feel dizzy and reduce blood flow to your baby. If you wake up on your back, UPMC says to just roll back onto your side; the discomfort usually wakes you anyway.
Build a side-sleeping nest: UPMC suggests a body pillow. Our guide on how to use a pregnancy pillow covers setups that support your bump, back and knees.
Front-load fluids: MedlinePlus says frequent urination increases as the baby descends. UPMC says not to limit water, so try drinking more of it earlier in the day and a little less right before bed.
Smaller, earlier dinners: help with heartburn (UPMC).
Breathe and walk: UPMC suggests deep breathing at bedtime and walking during the day.
Nap if you can: a short rest in the afternoon can make up for a broken night.
Talk to your provider before any sleep aid: MedlinePlus says to call before starting new medicines, vitamins or herbs. See can you take melatonin while pregnant.
If you lie awake worrying about the birth, write the worry down and bring it to your next visit. Naming it often makes the night easier.
For Partners: How to Help at 35 Weeks
Pack your own small bag (clothes, charger, snacks) and know where hers is.
Do a test drive to the hospital, including where to park and which entrance to use at night.
Read the birth plan and ask her which points matter most to her.
Learn the warning signs below and how to reach her provider after hours.
Take over the bending and lifting jobs, including the car seat installation.
Looking Ahead: What Comes Next
Week 36: the CDC group B strep window opens, MedlinePlus says visits become weekly, the CDC Tdap and RSV windows close at the end of the week, and UPMC says your baby’s head may drop. See 36 weeks pregnant.
Week 37: Mayo Clinic says your baby is considered early term, can grasp firmly, and the head might start moving down into the pelvis. See 37 weeks pregnant.
Signs labor may be starting. MedlinePlus lists your water breaking and regular, painful contractions as reasons to call your provider. At 35 weeks, do not wait to see whether they settle: call.
Call right away for any of these. MedlinePlus and UPMC list these warning signs in the third trimester:
Your baby is moving less than usual.
Any vaginal bleeding, or foul-smelling discharge.
Headaches, vision changes or blind spots.
Sudden swelling of your hands or face, or significant swelling or weight gain.
Fever, chills, or pain when you urinate.
Severe cramping.
One leg that is swollen and red.
Thoughts of harming yourself.
If your baby is breech and labor starts. MedlinePlus says that if you have a planned C-section for a breech baby and labor starts or your water breaks first, go to the hospital right away.
Emergencies. MedlinePlus says severe chest pain or shortness of breath that does not go away can be a sign of a serious complication, and to call 911 or go to an emergency room right away. If you cannot reach your provider quickly with any of the signs above, go to labor and delivery or the nearest emergency room and say you are 35 weeks pregnant. This article is general education, not medical advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many months is 35 weeks pregnant?
About 8 months, which is the end of your 8th month if you count 4 weeks and a few days per month. You have about 5 weeks to go until your estimated due date. Because months are only a convention, other sites may round differently, which is why providers count in weeks from your last period.
How big is a baby at 35 weeks pregnant?
Our primary sources give no exact week 35 figure. Mayo Clinic says more than 4 1/2 pounds and nearly 12 inches crown to rump at week 34, and the Office on Women’s Health says about 6 to 6 1/2 pounds and 16 to 19 inches at week 36. Your baby is likely between those.
When is the group B strep test done?
The CDC says to get screened for group B strep during the 36th or 37th week of each pregnancy. A sterile swab is rubbed on the vagina and rectum, and the CDC describes it as quick and painless. If the result is positive, you are given antibiotics during labor to protect your baby.
What if my baby is breech at 35 weeks?
There is still time. Mayo Clinic says most babies have turned head down by week 36. MedlinePlus says that if your baby is not head down after the 36th week, your provider can discuss options, and that turning the baby from outside the belly is more likely to work at about 36 to 37 weeks.
Should my baby still be moving a lot at 35 weeks?
Yes. Mayo Clinic says that even though the baby fills most of the amniotic sac, you will probably still feel lots of stretches, rolls and wiggles. MedlinePlus says to call your provider if movement suddenly decreases and you still feel little after a snack and a short rest, and UPMC lists reduced movement as a reason to seek care.
When should I pack my hospital bag?
UPMC lists packing your hospital bag as a third trimester task, so 35 weeks is a sensible time to finish it. Include photo ID, insurance card, phone charger, toiletries, comfortable clothes to wear home and a going-home outfit for your baby, and make sure the car seat is already installed.
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