Pregnancy Update: 35 Weeks
It feels so good to be 35 weeks pregnant—one week closer to meeting our baby boy or baby girl. Yes, we still don’t know the sex of our baby.
After losing our babies in 2017 and 2018, I made the decision that I would never find out the sex of my babies again before birth. And here’s why.
Each time we went to our anatomy scans—the same scans where you usually find out the sex of your baby—I received devastating news about my cervix funneling and shortening.
In 2017, we received our baby’s sex in an envelope because we planned to do a gender reveal. We ended up opening that envelope right before I delivered our first son at just 19 weeks.
In 2018, because we were having twins, we had to split our anatomy scans—one at 16 weeks and another at 18 weeks. Hubby and I did a private gender reveal, just the two of us. But three weeks later, cervical funneling and contractions sent me to the hospital for weeks, and we tragically lost our twin boys soon after.
So this time, we chose peace. We chose to wait.
Setting Rules
Our baby will be here very soon, and I honestly cannot wait to see and hold our little one.
Since I’ll be having a C-section, only one person is allowed in the operating room with me—my husband, of course. After delivery, I will only allow a few visitors while we’re in the hospital. I don’t know how I’ll feel after birth, so I’ll determine the best timing for visits once I’m ready. I may even need to set schedules so the room doesn’t become overwhelming.
Hubby and I have also had to set clear rules when it comes to visitors and our baby:
TDAP shots are required for all visitors to prevent whooping cough
If you don’t want to get the TDAP shot, you can visit after six weeks
No exceptions
My grandmother is having a hard time accepting this rule, but here’s where I stand:
If you want to see my baby, you WILL get the TDAP shot. Period.
There are too many viruses and infections going around, and newborn immune systems are extremely fragile—especially during flu season.
Other rules:
No kissing the baby, including hands and feet
All hands must be washed before holding the baby
If you are sick—or have been sick within the last two weeks—you will not be allowed in the room
DO NOT share photos or delivery news before we do
These boundaries are non-negotiable.
Prepping for Baby Goodwin
Our nursery is so beautiful, and I cannot wait to share it with you all. Stay tuned to our YouTube channel, GoodwinSZN, for our nursery tour.
We’ll also be organizing baby clothes, shoes, and all the little things soon. I find myself going into the nursery every day, playing with gadgets, and sitting in our glider just soaking it all in. I still need to grab an end table for next to the glider to hold bottles and essentials—but we’re almost there.
New Symptoms
Honestly, this has been the smoothest pregnancy I could have ever imagined. I’m still dealing with the same symptoms I’ve had throughout—mostly lower back pain, which is being managed with chiropractic visits.
Constipation still gets the best of me sometimes, so I occasionally rely on prune juice or a milkshake to get things moving.
Weight Gain?
At 35 weeks, most of my weight gain has gone straight to my belly. So far, I’ve gained about 23 pounds total. My doctors recommend gaining 25–30 pounds, so I’m right on track.
My arms have gotten a little bigger, but I expected way more water retention in my legs and body—and surprisingly, everything seems stable.
Belly circumference: 42 inches
Fundal height at 35 weeks: measuring 40 weeks
This is expected because I have a TAC, so my belly won’t drop like it normally would in pregnancies without one.
Boy or Girl?
Everyone keeps trying to guess what I’m having. Here’s the truth:
There’s a 50% chance it’s a boy
And a 50% chance it’s a girl
At the end of the day, all I want is a healthy baby. We’ll find out the sex when our baby arrives—and we are just weeks away from meeting our bundle of joy.
Let’s see how fast (or slow) these last weeks go by.
Also—our baby shower video is now live 🎉
With love,
Mrs. Goodwin 🐝🤍
