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Congratulations! You have just seven weeks to go. Your little treasure is growing steadily in your womb. Your pregnancy is now in the middle of the third trimester growth, and you are getting closer to labor.
Baby is gaining weight rapidly, they now gain about half a pound per week and by the time they are born, their weight will have almost doubled.
Baby’s bones are now properly developed. However, the bone plates in their skull must remain soft and flexible to make it easier for them to pass through the narrow birth canal.
Your little bean drinks up to an ounce of amniotic fluid per day, which helps get your baby’s gastrointestinal system ready for action.
Baby is gaining weight rapidly, they now gain about half a pound per week and by the time they are born, their weight will have almost doubled.
Baby’s bones are now properly developed. However, the bone plates in their skull must remain soft and flexible to make it easier for them to pass through the narrow birth canal.
Your little bean can consume up to an ounce of amniotic fluid per day, which helps get your baby’s gastrointestinal system ready for action.
Right now, your baby has accomplished a significant milestone as they now have their own immune system. Your baby is receiving antibodies from you as he continues to develop his own immune system, which will be useful once he is outside the womb and fighting off various germs.
The bones of the head are not fused and are very flexible. This allows for ease of the baby coming out of the cervix during childbirth. It also doubles as a way to protect the baby’s delicate brain from the contracting pressures during delivery. Your baby has started a prep class for the real world during this week. Their movements become more frequent.
Your baby’s liver is storing iron. This iron stored will help your baby’s development up to 4-6 months after birth.
At week thirty-three, your baby is about 17.20 inches in length. This roughly equals the size of a large strawberry and weighs about 1918 grams.
At this stage, your baby bump is pronounced since your baby is growing at a considerably faster rate. The measurement from the top of your uterus to your belly button is around 5 inches or 13cm.
At 33 weeks pregnant, you have 7 more weeks to complete your pregnancy journey.
It’s no surprise that sleep is interrupted by leg cramps, heartburn, hormonal fluctuations, and midnight bathroom trips, leading to insomnia.
Third-trimester insomnia affects roughly 1 out of 3 pregnant women, who may also be dealing with nervousness about the upcoming birth and thinking about the to-do list for the baby’s arrival. But, of course, your body needs to rest at 33 weeks pregnant, so remember that worrying about it won’t help.
Instead, make an effort to relax before going to bed. For example, before going to bed, take a warm bath and possibly a warm cup of milk, and avoid screen time, exercising, eating, or drinking right before bedtime. A gentle massage done by your partner can also help.
Back pain is another major concern this week, if you experience this, do some gentle back bends to help ease the discomfort: As you stand upright, place your hands on your back and bend slightly backward (about 15 to 20 degrees). Repeat this movement a few times, as needed.
Pregnancy symptoms you should expect in Week 33 include rapid tiredness. Your body now has to bear a weight that increases every second. You should pay a lot of attention to taking rest during this period. Rib pains are also not uncommon in Week 33. The growing baby in the uterus places more pressure on the ribs and might be kicking into it as well. This causes a little more strain than usual.
Many pregnant women at this stage of pregnancy experience shortness of breath. The growing baby takes up space in the mother’s cavity and compresses the lungs. It would help if you focused on your mild aerobic exercises to aid your breathing rhythm.
Back pain is also common in week 33, and you should expect the intensity to increase as the week progresses. This is because the weight and movement of the baby strain the spine. You could get ahead of the pain by using heating pads/warm baths and switching the side you sleep on can also help.
This week, you are also likely to experience swelling of the ankles/feet, Braxton-Hicks contractions, leg cramps, insomnia, heartburn, sleep difficulty, and clumsiness. It is important to note that many of these changes are related to the hormonal changes in your body. It’s best to seek guidance from your medical practitioner on managing these symptoms best.
Pregnancy symptoms you should expect in Week 33 include rapid tiredness. Your body now has to bear a weight that increases every second. You should pay a lot of attention to taking rest during this period. Rib pains are also not uncommon in Week 33. The growing baby in the uterus places more pressure on the ribs and might be kicking into it as well. This causes a little more strain than usual.
Many pregnant women at this stage of pregnancy experience shortness of breath. The growing baby takes up space in the mother’s cavity and compresses the lungs. It would help if you focused on your mild aerobic exercises to aid your breathing rhythm.
Back pain is also common in week 33, and you should expect the intensity to increase as the week progresses. This is because the weight and movement of the baby strain the spine. You could get ahead of the pain by using heating pads/warm baths and switching the side you sleep on can also help.
This week, you are also likely to experience swelling of the ankles/feet, Braxton-Hicks contractions, leg cramps, insomnia, heartburn, sleep difficulty, and clumsiness. It is important to note that many of these changes are related to the hormonal changes in your body. It’s best to seek guidance from your medical practitioner on managing these symptoms best.
Pay more attention to sleeping on your side if you haven’t started doing so. If you have, then you are doing great. Keep it up. Sleeping on your sideways reduces the risks of having a stillbirth. You should practice this whether you are having a nap or night sleeping.
Healthy nutrition is key at this stage. Your diet should contain a lot of calcium and vitamin D. This is quite useful for developing the baby’s bones and nervous system. A great source of calcium you should consider at this stage is milk. If you are lactose intolerant, then you should consider lactose-free milk. Vitamin D can easily be generated when your skin is exposed to mild sunlight.
It is tempting to slack into the bad posture in week 33 due to the baby’s weight. Therefore, pay attention to maintaining good posture. This would make delivery relatively easy for you and help your little treasure with a smooth passage. A good posture also reduces the effect of pregnancy symptoms.
Strep B bacteria: You are fast approaching the day your little treasure finally comes to see the world; you should be more proactive than ever. You should look out for protecting yourself, and your little treasure from the Strep B bacteria. Forty percent of people carry these bacteria in their bodies without realising, and it is potentially harmful during pregnancy as it can be passed to the baby during childbirth. This infection in newborn can cause severe complications that can be life threatening but is uncommon. You should speak to your medical practitioner about ways to avoid it.
Nesting: Now is also a great time to start preparing your delivery supplies. This is just in case your little treasure arrives at a much earlier date. In week 33, an instinct to clean and organise stuff can suddenly kick in. This is called nesting. It is a behaviour attempt to prepare for the baby’s arrival. While this is not a bad thing, you should be careful not to overextend yourself.
© Mindsmaking 2024
