Week 35: Your Baby is the Size of a Honeydew Melon
You may experience a strong nesting instinct - an urge to clean, organise, and prepare everything for the baby. Heartburn may be at its worst. Frequent trips to the bathroom are constant as the baby's head presses on your bladder.
Your baby at week 35
🍉
Size of a Honeydew melon
Baby Development
The baby's kidneys are fully developed and the liver can process some waste products. Fat continues to accumulate, especially around the shoulders. The baby is getting into position for birth, and most babies are head-down by now. The baby's reflexes are coordinated - they can grasp firmly, turn their head, and respond to light, sound, and touch.
Week 35 Highlight: Your baby now has a firm grasp and coordinated reflexes - they are ready to grip your finger after birth!
Common Symptoms
Tips for Week 35
Embrace the nesting instinct - prepare the house for baby's arrival.
Practise the route to the hospital and have a backup plan.
Make sure your birth partner knows the signs of labour.
Prepare freezer meals for the first weeks after birth.
South Africa Specific Info
Antenatal visits are now weekly in many practices. Your healthcare provider may begin checking your cervix for dilation and effacement. If you are seeing a private gynae, they may schedule a Group B Streptococcus (GBS) swab around 36 weeks. In the public sector, GBS screening is not routinely done but prophylactic antibiotics may be given during labour if risk factors are present.
All Pregnancy Weeks
Frequently Asked Questions
About the Author
Due Date Calculator SA Editorial Team
Our content is reviewed by healthcare professionals familiar with South African maternal health practices. We combine evidence-based medical information with local knowledge to support South African mums throughout their pregnancy journey. Our team includes contributors with backgrounds in midwifery, obstetrics, and maternal health education.
Last reviewed: February 2026