Changes in you at this stage

• From now on your doctor visits will be on a weekly basis.
• The connective tissues in your body are continuing to soften and loosen in preparation for delivery. This is most obvious in your pelvic area.
• Don't stop exercising although you are more prone to muscle or joint injury now.
• Between this week and week 37 you will be checked for GBS - a vaginal and rectal culture to check for bacteria.
• You may experience lightening several weeks before delivery or the day labor begins. It is hard to tell when your baby will drop in the pelvis.

Good to Know in Week 35Miscellany

• 99% of babies born now survive without any major problems.
• According to many podiatrists swollen feet and flat feet are the two most common pregnancy related feet issues.
• There is no set time when breast milk will replace colostrum though it mostly occurs within 3-5 days of birth.
• Genetics, skin elasticity and weight gain all influence how you will look later. Even if you are small breasted and have breast fed you will lose some of the elasticity in your breasts. Some degree of postpartum sagging is inevitable.

A Scheduled C-section Candidate

• Your doctor will most likely suggest surgery if:
  1. You have had a previous invasive uterine surgery
  2. You have had previous c-sections
  3. You are carrying triplets or more
  4. Your baby is very large
  5. Your baby is breech
  6. You have placenta previa

Wholesome Advice in Week 35

• Wear wide shoes and keep your feet elevated whenever you are sitting or lying down. Walk regularly for exercise and avoid salt and fats and drink lots of water. For flat feet get some good supportive athletic shoes or ready made inserts for your shoes that support and cushion.

Your actions can impact your baby's growth at this stagePosition Matters II Hands and Knees

This position (on all fours) works well during the later stages of labor. It is a good position to take in between contractions. It may not stop the contractions but it certainly takes the edge off them. Other benefits include:

• Helps rotate a baby to the optimal position
• Can provide pain relief especially in cases of back labor
• Is a gravity-neutral position, to slow a fast birth

You can Squat

Once your baby is engaged, you can squat. Practice this position before labor in order to reap the benefit. Use a chair to help you learn the position. When in labor you can squat during a contraction and assume a different position between contractions to take off the pressure on your legs. Other benefits include:

• Opens the pelvis more than other positions
• Uses gravity to help pull the baby down
• Can help prevent tears in the perineum
• Works well for pushing

Common Concerns in Week 35Is there an ideal position for labor that works for the best?

• The answer is No. There in no one position that works best for everyone. With trial and error you will find some provide more comfort or pain relief than others. Use the positions that work in your favor. On that note, avoid lying on your back totally - this position is often painful and a non-productive one during labor as it impedes the birth process.

How long does labor last?

• The first stage of labor - from the start of contractions to your cervix opening fully - takes an average from 10-14 hours. The second stage is your pushing stage and usually takes about one to two hours but it can feel like ten! The final stage begins when your baby is delivered and lasts until the placenta is delivered and on average can take about 15-30 minutes but can be longer.

Weekly Nutrition advice

A well nourished woman usually develops a healthy placenta. Despite a good supply of nutrients a baby can become undernourished if the transportation across the placenta is inadequate. Iron is required by the mother to expand her blood volume and by the baby to establish good levels of hemoglobin. If iron levels fall, the efficiency of red blood cells in carrying oxygen is affected and tissues become deficient in energy.

• Zinc is stored in the placenta. High levels of zinc assure a greater birth weight baby
• Vitamin E, gingko biloba and co-enzyme Q10 are all thought to improve blood supply

You can improve the efficiency of the placenta in the following ways: Eating a balanced diet; good nutrition is vital for a healthy placenta Resting as much as possible - relax the muscles, particularly the abdominals, thereby increasing blood flow to the placenta. Practice relaxation techniques that help eliminate stress and tension from your system.

Sleeping:

Most cell repair and cell growth takes place when you are asleep Giving up work - you should try and stop work by week 32-34. To maintain adequate blood supply you need to rest in the last 2 months of pregnancy. Stress causes the blood cells to constrict thereby restricting flow. Overwork may cause premature birth and or low-birth weight baby.

Problems with the placenta are always linked to raised blood pressure, tobacco, caffeine, alcohol, and overwork and lack of rest. Tests can be conducted to detect placental malfunction; ultrasound measures flow to see if baby's growth is being retarded because of oxygen depravation.