WHAT’S GOING ON WITH BABY?
Your Baby at 33 Weeks Pregnant
Baby’s growth and size
You can expect your little one to be right around 17 inches this week, possibly even a little bit bigger. Baby weighs a little over 4 pounds this week and has really started packing it on.
What’s new developmentally?
Baby is gaining weight at a fast past these last few weeks. You can expect baby to gain about half a pound a week until your due date, which means they will probably double their size between now and delivery.
Your baby has their own immune system now and antibodies are being passed from you him/her. These antibodies are really important and should help protect baby after they are born, until they can build up their immune system a bit more.
Baby continues to grow bigger each week, packing on the pounds as their muscles and bones continue to get stronger and harder.
Fun facts about your week 33 baby
- Baby can differentiate day from night
- The skull bones remain soft and flexible to allow the head to fit through the birth canal
- Baby’s skin is looking less wrinkled and less red
WHAT’S GOING ON WITH MAMA?
Week 33 of Pregnancy
Week 33 pregnancy symptoms
- Shortness of breath
- Leaking breasts
- Frequent urination
- Round ligament pain
- General discomfort
- Sciatica
- Varicose veins
- Stretch marks and itchy belly
- Anemia
- Constipation
- Belly button changes
- Braxton Hicks contractions
- Fatigue & trouble sleeping
- Wrist pain – carpal tunnel syndrome
- Moderate swelling in feet/ ankles
- Heartburn and indigestion
- Low back pain
- Leg cramps
- Hemorrhoids
How should I be feeling at 33 weeks pregnant?
Physically, your body is changing and growing each and every day. As your baby works hard these last few weeks to gain weight, the weight gain will also be noticeable with you.
I know you might be questioning how in the world you can get bigger and but try to focus on how far you’ve come and how little you have left – you can do it, mama!
The more weight you put on, the more uncomfortable you are getting. The increased discomfort can make things like sleeping, relaxing, and resting more difficult. Less sleep can increase irritability and weigh on you mentally, it can turn into a vicious cycle if you let it.
It’s more important than ever to make time for things that help you relax. Some women prefer a warm bath to help them relax while others rely on meditation or listening to music in a dark quiet room. Whatever your “thing” may be, find it, and use it.
Make a point of this over the next 7+ weeks. And don’t forget about it once baby comes, you are still going to need to find some time for yourself here and there.
WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON?
More Week 33 Info
33 weeks pregnant symptoms not to ignore
There are a few things you should notify your OB provider about if they happen. I know I mentioned that mild swelling of your feet and ankles is normal in pregnancy but there are times that swelling can be a cause for concern.
One thing you might be at risk for at 33 weeks, and really any point during pregnancy, is preeclampsia. If your swelling is severe or if it is accompanied by a headache that won’t go away, vision changes, sudden weight gain, stomach, shoulder, or lower back pain, sudden nausea, or shortness of breath or chest pain, it could be something more serious going on and you need to be evaluated.
Other symptoms not to ignore include a decrease or change in fetal movement, any kind of vaginal bleeding, if you think your water might have broken, or an intuition that something might be off.
The last thing we want you to do is sit around your house and worry when you can easily be evaluated and have a peace of mind.
33 weeks pregnant ultrasound
It’s not typical to receive an ultrasound at 33 weeks pregnant if your pregnancy is considered low-risk and without complications. If you are experiencing any kind of complications or being followed by a high-risk or maternal fetal medicine specialist, you might be receiving an ultrasound this week.
If there are concerns about your baby’s growth, being on the big or the small side, you might have an ultrasound to measure baby. If there are any concerns about your amniotic fluid level, you might have one to determine how much fluid is around baby and whether or not it’s in the normal range.
For certain complications, your provider might want to perform a biophysical profile (BPP). A BPP is performed via ultrasound and can be used to evaluate the health of baby.
A BPP evaluates baby based on four different categories: muscle tone, breathing, body movement, and amniotic fluid volume. A score of 0 – 2 is assigned to each of these categories and a nonstress test (NST) can also be performed as part of the BPP.
With the NST, the highest your baby can score is 10 and without it they can sco3re an 8 at the most. Based on the score, your provider might want to do follow-up testing, repeat a BPP in a couple days or deliver you. A BPP is most reliable when performed at 32 weeks and above.
WHAT’S GOING ON WITH YOUR BUMP?
33 Weeks Pregnant Belly
TIPS & RESOURCES FOR WEEK 33
Tips for 33 Weeks Pregnant
- Start stocking up on postpartum essentials
- Start preparing older kids for a new baby
- Prepare your dog for a new baby
- Continue working on your baby registry and nursery
- Start thinking about breastfeeding if you intend to breastfeed your baby – education is key! I highly recommend Milkology’s breastfeeding class
- Wear your belly support band – my personal favorite
- Research and purchase car seats – I recommend installing between 35-37 weeks
- Look into childcare options – trust me on this one, mama, preschools and daycares fill up fast
- Treat yourself to a prenatal massage or pedicure this week – you and your mental health deserve it!
- Talk to your manager or HR department about maternity leave
- Contact your insurance company about maternity leave and FMLA
- Start thinking about whether a doula might be right for you
- Sign up for a birth class – there are SO MANY out there but I actually have online natural, epidural, and C-section courses that you can take all from the comfort of your own home, so check them out here
- Sign up for my free second trimester prep pack to receive my second trimester checklist, baby registry checklist, and old wives’ tales checklist!
- Sign up for MLN weekly pregnancy updates to stay up to date on everything going on with your pregnancy. So much good information and it’s all free!
TIPS & RESOURCES
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