Day 250 of 280, third trimester
You are 35 weeks and 5 days
It's a good idea to make practical arrangements now for when you go into labor.
30 days until your due date
With about four weeks to go, make sure you have all your partner's contact details and know exactly how to reach him if you go into labor while he's at work. He may want to keep his cell phone switched on and close at hand in these final weeks, and avoid traveling too far away.
If you have other children or dependants, such as a dog, arrange what will happen to them when you go into hospital. Explain to older children what will happen so they're prepared to stay with Grandma, or whoever will look after them. If you're having a cesarean, you may also want help with older children once you're home.
Reassure your children that you'll be coming back and that you're not sick, but that you need to go to the hospital when the baby comes. Depending on their ages, you could shop with them for a present for the baby or give them a special job, such as opening all the new gifts. A present "from" the newborn to older siblings is a nice gesture too.
As a matter of fact
Pain relief: expectation versus reality
In one study of women who expected not to need pain relief, 52 percent actually used it. According to research from NICE (the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence), women underestimate how much giving birth will hurt and don't find out enough about the pain-relief options available.
Ask a Doctor
My baby was premature and is in the NICU. I'm trying to express milk. Am I helping?
Yes, very much so. Breast milk passes the mother's natural immunity to her baby, and since premature babies are more prone to infection, expressing is a great way to help while she's in the NICU. Breast milk is also much easier to digest, which matters because a premature baby's digestive tract may be less developed than a full-term baby's.
It's also a lovely way to bond and build a relationship with your baby. This is likely to be a very stressful time and you may feel helpless, so knowing you're doing something so valuable for her will help enormously.
Explainer
Preparing your toddler
In the run-up to the birth, make sure your toddler spends time with the family members who'll look after him while you're in hospital, so he can cope without you and without getting upset.
Appointments and key dates around now
- RSV vaccineFrom 28 weeks
Read the full 35 weeks pregnant guide
This is general information based on NHS guidance, not medical advice, and every pregnancy is different. Talk to your midwife or GP about anything that worries you. If your baby's movements slow down or change, or you have bleeding, severe pain or leaking fluid, call your maternity unit straight away. In an emergency, call 999.