My Body – Pregnancy Week 35

Your doctor may regularly check your cervix at each appointment from here until the baby is born. Your doctor is looking for signs of effacement (the stretching and thinning of your cervix) and dilation, as well as checking to see which position your little one is in.

How are you feeling? At week 35, you should be seeing your healthcare provider at least once a week. You may have been experiencing Braxton-Hicks contractions over the past couple of weeks, so you may be wondering how you can tell when it's the real thing.

Regular uterine contractions are the strongest indication that you are officially in labor! These contractions can feel like menstrual cramps, or even lower back pain; and in early labor, they can be 20-30 minutes apart. Over time however, the time between contractions will begin to decrease. It's time to call your healthcare provider when they are consistently five minutes apart.

You may also pass your mucus plug at this time. This is a small amount of thick mucus that has sealed your cervical canal during your pregnancy. The plug is released as your cervix dilates to prepare for labor. It can come out all in one lump, or over the course of a couple of days as vaginal discharge. This mucus may be tinted with blood, so it could be pink, brown, or even red. There is no need to call your healthcare provider if you pass your mucus plug, but if you start experiencing any symptoms of labor, such as back pain, regular contractions or any fluid of bleeding, you should head to the hospital.