How Many Months Pregnant Are You At 33 Weeks?
At the 33rd week of pregnancy, you are about seven months and one week pregnant, which means you are in the eighth month of pregnancy.
How Big Is Your Baby At 33 weeks?
In this week, your baby is the size of a pineapple (1). The baby will measure 17.2in (43.7cm) in length and weighs 4.23lb (1.92kg) (2).
Baby Development At 33 Weeks
By this week, the baby gets into a head down position and begins to press down into the cervix. Read on to know how the baby has developed so far.
The movements of the fetus slow down by this week of pregnancy as there isn’t enough space inside the womb. The kick count will also be less this week, ideally around ten kicks in two hours. If you notice a significant drop in the number of kicks, let your doctor know about it. The symptoms you have been experiencing in the past few weeks will persist this week as well. More about it next.
Symptoms Of Pregnancy At 33 Weeks
Here are the symptoms you may experience during the 33rd week of pregnancy:
Weight gain: Weight gain should be as per your BMI (7).
As the body works extra to support the pregnancy, your metabolic rate gets higher and extra heat is generated in the body.
Stress, dehydration, and hormonal balances can cause a headache.
You could experience shortness of breath due to the pressure exerted by the enlarged uterus on the diaphragm.
Lack of sleep, stress, and anxiety can cause forgetfulness, a phenomenon called pregnancy brain.
The extra weight of the baby puts pressure on the lower back and causes back pain. Using hot and cold compress or taking a bath in warm water can help alleviate the back pain.
Sciatica, which is an excruciating pain felt in the back and down in the back of the legs, is common when the growing uterus puts pressure on the sciatic nerves.
The ankles and feet swell due to water retention in the body, also referred to as edema.
Body aches and cramps make sleeping difficult during this time, resulting in insomnia.
You could become clumsy due to the change in the center of gravity of your body.
The enlarged uterus pushes the stomach upward, causing the gastric acids to move into the esophagus that leads to heartburn.
Braxton-Hicks contractions are less painful and irregular contractions that help the body prepare for labor.
The loosening of abdominal muscles and ligaments cause round ligament pain.
Pregnancy hormones can make the nails grow faster and become brittle. Increasing your biotin intake can help prevent such changes in the nails.
The excess blood flow to the lower part of the body can cause swelling of the blood vessels in the legs, a condition called varicose veins.
The increased blood flow to the rectal area causes hemorrhoids, which is the swelling of the blood vessels.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is the tingling or numbness in your fingers and wrists. Wearing a hand brace can help relieve the discomfort.
Frequent urination is common due to the pressure exerted by the enlarged uterus on the bladder.
Apart from these symptoms, you will continue to experience bodily changes this week.
Changes In The Body At 33 Weeks
The physical and emotional changes you might notice during this week include:
Physical changes:
Enlarged abdomen from the enlarged uterus
The areola becomes darker and starts leaking colostrum.
The abdomen stretches further, causing stretch marks, and becomes more sensitive and itchy. Applying a moisturizer can help relieve the itchiness of the belly to some extent.
Emotional changes:
The anxiety level will be higher with increasing thoughts about labor pain and delivery.
The hormonal fluctuations will make you moody and take a toll on your mental health.
You develop nesting instincts and start preparations for welcoming the new member.
Since you are nearing the due date, chances of preterm labor exist this week.
Preterm Labor At 33 Weeks Of Pregnancy
Labor before 37 weeks of pregnancy is termed preterm. Some of the signs of preterm labor include (8):
Menstrual-like cramps Abdominal pain Lower backache Change in vaginal discharge (pink or bloody in color) Vaginal fluid leak Pelvic pressure Uterine contractions (five or more in one hour)
If you have more than five contractions in an hour or the time between the contractions is less than 10 minutes, then:
Keep your bladder empty Drink a lot of fluids Lie on the left side for an hour and check the timing of the contraction.
If the contractions persist, then call your doctor right away as it may be an indication of preterm labor.
Your Ob/Gyn Visit
During this week’s prenatal check-up, the doctor will check for:
Weight Blood pressure Fundal height
You also need to get an ultrasound scan. In the case of twin pregnancy, there will be frequent visits to the doctor as they need to monitor the babies closely. The doctor will focus on your diet and nutrition and tells you about the ideal weight gain. As there is also a risk of gestational diabetes, high blood pressure and anemia in multiple pregnancies, the doctor monitors your health condition on a regular basis. Even as you are nearing your due date, the healthy regimes should not be overlooked. You still need to practice healthy habits to have a healthy baby.
Tips For Mom-to-be
Avoid standing for long. Avoid lying on the back. Drink a lot of water to stay hydrated. Stay calm and relaxed. Follow a healthy diet and eat home-cooked meals. Have smaller meals at regular intervals. Eat fiber-rich foods such as plums and apricots. Avoid lifting heavy objects. Engage in regular and moderate exercises like walking. Practice Kegel exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles.
Wear loose, comfortable clothes. Get lots of rest. Read pregnancy related books. Enroll in childbirth classes. Do maternity and newborn’s shopping. Start packing your maternity bag. Spend quality time with friends and family.
