Week 33 Of Pregnancy

About the baby …

In week 33 of pregnancy, the baby measures around 44 centimeters and weighs about 2 kilograms. His vision is good, he closes and opens the eyes, blinks and it seems that during sleep, the eye movements show that the baby dreams (REM – rapid eye movement). His bones are strengthened, besides the bones of the head (these bones still harden and form during childhood).

He is consciously practicing breathing, by inhaling amniotic fluid. If he has not positioned properly for birth, upside down, the doctor may recommend frequent monitoring to follow his movements and the change of his position.

… and the future mother:

In the week 33 of pregnancy, you’ve gained about half a kilogram (with each remaining week, you take a little weight – usually about half a kilogram a week, a significant portion of this surplus being actually represented the baby that grows). The pressure of the uterus on the stomach is uncomfortable and you will not escape indigestion, bloating, heartburn until the end.

Wrists and fingers can hurt you, can be numb or you can have cramps, so avoid long repetitive tasks, like writing or crafts – take frequent breaks and remember to rub your wrists gently.

What to do in week 33 of pregnancy:

Healthy eating and calcium. Make sure the baby’s getting a healthy diet, with many vitamins and minerals. To reduce the discomforts of indigestion and heartburn, have meals as small as you can, but very frequent, and do not eat two to three hours before bedtime. It is not the time to try new foods – you’ll have time to experiment after breastfeeding, so you will avoid the risk of an allergic reaction. Rely on your healthy diet you had until now and do not forget snacks that provide you calcium – which helps your weakened joints.

How does the baby move? Especially if he has not found the position for birth, it may be better to watch his movements and their frequency. You should not take into consideration the various statistics that say that the baby must move X times in Y hours: every baby has his own schedule of sleep and “activity”. It is best to compare his movements from one day with the ones from the following day and if you notice any major changes in the frequency or intensity, call your doctor.

Urinary incontinence. It is very uncomfortable and can be embarrassing, but it is normal that the increased pressure also causes incontinence, episodes in which drops of urine escape, especially if you laugh, sneeze, cough. To reduce this inconvenience, go to the bathroom frequently, always before leaving the house – even if you do not feel the need to right then. Do not forget to practice Kegel exercises, which help you a lot with this little problem, but especially at birth.

Varicose veins. You have on the legs many prominent veins, unaesthetic, of a dark color? It is a common symptom of pregnancy. Do not stand a lot and sit with your legs up when you can. You can try, if it is not very hot outside, to use compressive stockings.

Planning the birth. If you have not established to the smallest detail how you will give birth, it is time to do it! Talk to your doctor and establish the details of how you want to relieve your pain (if you want an epidural) and the method you want to use (episiotomy, induction, cesarean). Think carefully if you want an epidural or you rely on natural methods of pain reduction. Establish also who will be with you in the delivery room if you want to have there your husband or a relative / dear friend to support you morally. It is necessary to have a plan, though sometimes things do not go exactly as you planned. In some cases, you might need a cesarean section, although you opted for normal delivery – do not get upset, it is important that the baby comes out healthy!

Did the water break? Do not be sure that you will know when the real labor started because you will feel the water breaking! If it happens during sleep, you cannot feel it or you confuse it with an episode of incontinence. So you need to know exactly how a false labor looks like and how the real labor looks like.

False labor – Braxton Hicks contractions: they are not very painful, but they may seem unpleasant, much like a cramp during menstruation; these contractions do not occur at regular periods of time and do not increase in intensity or frequency, while if you change your position, walk a little in case you were standing or lay down in case you were doing something, if you drink some water and have a snack, if you take a shower or bath, they will stop. You feel them in your abdomen, in front.

Real labor: is just a little like a cramp during menstruation, but more painful and occurs at regular periods of time; it is intensified and lasts more, does not stop whatever you do and if you move, they may become more powerful, so you feel as if the pain starts from the back and comes to the front. Stay calm, count the interval between contractions and if they are indeed regular, call your doctor.