Pregnancy Week 35: Finding a Pediatrician and Your Baby is Dreaming

Your mind will not slow down by your thirty-fifth week of pregnancy. You have a list of things that you still want to do before your baby is born and that may be interfering with your sleep. If you haven't found a pediatrician by your thirty-fifth week of pregnancy, now is the time to start looking.

Pregnancy Week 35: Baby's Development

Your baby weighs about 5 ½ pounds and is between eighteen and twenty inches long by the end of your thirty-fifth week of pregnancy. Your baby's growth rate starts to slow down this week, at least lengthwise. He'll still be gaining weight at about a half of pound per week. This weight goes right to baby fat that will help keep him warm once he is born.

Your little one is also dreaming. When he is sleeping, he is experiencing rapid eye movements, REM, that is indicative of dreams. Makes you wonder what a thirty-five week baby is dreaming about in there.

Pregnancy Week 35: Finding a Pediatrician

Now is the time to find a pediatrician for your baby. First, check who your insurance will cover. Once you have a few names you can ask friends and associates if they know anything about the pediatricians on your list. You can also ask your obstetrician if he or she has any recommendations.

Also ask co-workers especially if they have the same insurance. That is how I found my pediatrician and I was thrilled with my choice.

Next, check the pediatricians' credentials and biographies that are both online and provided by your insurance company.

Lastly, once you have narrowed down your search, you can interview the pediatricians in order to find a good personality and professional match. When you go to the interview have specific questions in mind. These questions should include his office hours, and how he handles after hour calls.

If it is a group of pediatricians you will also need to ask how they handle urgent appointments. There is a possibility that if you need a same day appointment that you will see a different pediatrician that is in the same group as your doctor.

Most importantly during the interviews, try to get a "gut" feeling about the pediatricians that you are interviewing. A doctor may have excellent credentials but if you sit down with him or her and feel rushed or talked down to then maybe he is not the right pediatrician for your family.

Pregnancy Week 35: Mom's Comfort

Your little one may be sleeping and dreaming in his warm cocoon, but you might not be. Your mind is still racing but instead of it giving you vivid dreams, it is now just keeping you up at night.

By your thirty-fifth week of pregnancy it is more difficult to get comfortable and to stay comfortable long enough for a good night's sleep. Pillows are your friend. Use pillows between your knees, under your belly, and under your arms. Support whatever you need to support in order to make yourself comfortable.

You mind is reeling with only five weeks to go before your baby is born. You may never feel prepared, but rest assured that you are. Once your baby is born, all of your nervousness and fears will fade away.

For more pregnancy weeks and fetal development you can read:
Pregnancy Week 31

Pregnancy Week 32

Pregnancy Week 33

Pregnancy Week 34

Click here to find more information on your pregnancy and baby's development.

Sources:

Personal Experience

Fit Pregnancy (2009). Pregnancy Calendar. Retrieved: April 8, 9, 2009. Web Site: fitpregnancy.com/calendar/40251887.html

Myers-Gorrie, Trula, Slone-McKinney, Emily, & Smith-Murray, Sharon (1998). Foundations of Maternal-Newborn Nursing (2^nd ed.). Philadelphia, PA: W. B. Saunders Company.

What to Expect (2009). Weekly Pregnancy Calendar. Retrieved:April 8, 9, 2009. Web Site: whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/week-by-week/landing.aspx