The Playbook

35 Weeks Pregnant: Pack the Bags and Learn the Signs of Labor

By the Guide to Fatherhood editorial team. Last reviewed . 2 min read.

Checked against guidance from organizations like the AAP, CDC, ACOG and NHS (linked below). This is general information, not medical advice. Read our medical disclaimer.

Trimester3
Sizea honeydew melon
Length / weightabout 18.2 in (46.2 cm), about 5.3 lb (2.4 kg)

Most of the baby's growth now is fat, which plumps the arms and legs. The kidneys are fully developed and the liver can process some waste.

Your to-do list this week

  • Pack all three hospital bags with the checklist builder, and put them by the door or in the car.
  • Learn the signs that labor is starting, and when her provider wants a call.
  • Bookmark the contraction timer on your phone's home screen.
  • Keep your phone charged and on loud from now on, even at work.
A conversation to have this week

"When you're in pain during labor, what do you want me to do, and what should I absolutely not do?" Some people want touch and talk; some want silence. Ask now.

The baby this week

About five pounds and growing, the baby is mostly adding fat now, which rounds out the arms and legs (Mayo Clinic). The kidneys are fully developed, and the liver can process some waste.

How she may be feeling

Lots of pelvic pressure, especially if the baby has dropped lower. Sleep is hard, bathroom trips are constant, and walking can feel like a waddle. At an upcoming visit, she’ll likely be offered the group B strep (GBS) swab, which ACOG recommends between 36 and 37 weeks.

Pack the bags

If you haven’t already, this is the week. Use the hospital bag checklist builder, which has separate lists for you, her, and the baby. Put the bags in the car or by the front door. The non-negotiables: IDs and insurance cards, phone chargers with long cables, snacks, and a properly installed car seat.

Learn the signs of labor

According to ACOG, signs that labor may be starting include:

  • Contractions that come at regular intervals, get closer together, and get stronger, no matter what she does.
  • The water breaking, which can be a gush or a trickle.
  • Bloody show, a mucus discharge tinged with blood.
  • Lower back pain or cramping that doesn’t go away.

False labor (Braxton Hicks) tends to be irregular and eases with rest or position changes. If you can’t tell, call. That’s what the labor line is for.

Call right away, whatever the contractions are doing, if her water breaks, there’s bleeding, the baby is moving less, or she has a fever, severe pain, or the preeclampsia warning signs from last week.

Be reachable

From now on, your phone is on loud and charged, at work, at the gym, in the shower (well, nearby). Tell your manager you might leave suddenly. Keep the gas tank above half.

Frequently asked questions

What is the GBS test?

Group B strep is a common bacterium that is usually harmless in adults but can cause serious infection in newborns. ACOG recommends testing between 36 weeks 0 days and 37 weeks 6 days with a simple swab. If positive, she gets IV antibiotics during labor to protect the baby.

Sources

  1. How to Tell When Labor Begins, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
  2. Fetal development: The 3rd trimester, Mayo Clinic
  3. Group B Strep and Pregnancy, ACOG

We link to the original source for every medical and safety claim. Guidance changes; if a source has been updated since our last review, the source wins. How we research.