At 35 weeks pregnant, your baby is still considered late preterm, but development is moving quickly toward being ready for life outside the womb. While many babies born at this stage do well, the final weeks in the womb are especially important for growth of the brain, lungs, and fat stores.

Baby’s Growth & Size

• Weight: Around 5.25 pounds (2.4 kg), the size of a Honeydew Melon!

• Length: About 18 inches (45 cm) from head to heel.

• Baby is gaining about ½ pound (225 g) per week at this stage.

Development & Features

• Brain: Still rapidly developing- the brain at 35 weeks is about two-thirds the size it will be at full term.

• Lungs: Maturing but not fully developed; surfactant production continues, which helps air sacs stay open for breathing after birth.

• Skin: Becoming plumper, smoother, and pinker as fat builds up underneath.

• Bones: Fully formed, though still softer and more flexible than an adult’s- especially the skull, which needs to shift during delivery.

• Reflexes: Sucking, swallowing, and grasp reflexes are strong, preparing your baby for feeding.

• Movements: Still active, though space is tighter, so you’ll notice more rolling and stretching than sharp kicks.

Vernix & Lanugo

• The vernix caseosa (protective creamy coating) is thick now, helping protect the skin in amniotic fluid.

• Lanugo (fine body hair) is beginning to disappear, though some may remain at birth.

Position

• Many babies are head down by 35 weeks, but some may still be breech or sideways. There’s still a little time for them to move into position.

Immune System

• Antibodies from you are still transferring through the placenta, strengthening your baby’s defenses against infections after birth.

Key Point

At 35 weeks, your baby looks very much like a newborn but still benefits from a few more weeks inside the womb to finish maturing—especially the lungs and brain.