And that is one more week closer to the D day. There are not many evident changes occurring in this
Pregnancy Week 33. The development is all complete. Any further growth and development is oriented towards survival in the outside world.
Changes in the Baby
Babies gain good amount of weight in the final weeks. Ideally a 33 week old baby now weighs around 4.5 pounds to 5 pounds and is almost 17.5 inches in height. The baby’s brain is growing and so is the circumference of the head. Now the movements of the
baby are restricted, i.e. the baby still moves normally but the intensity is reduced due to the lack of space. During this 33rd week of
Pregnancy the baby sleeps a lot, just like a newborn, and that may also be the reason for reduced movement.
Fat deposits under the skin are increasing so that the baby is warm and protected. Wrinkles on the skin reduce and the skin becomes pinkish of the Labor. Now the sense organs are fully developed and the baby can hear, feel and somewhat see. The eyes can sense light and the pupils can dilate and constrict in light. The baby also experiences the REM stage, rapid eye movement stage, the sleepy state in which our dreams occur.
In this week the baby’s reproductive system is changing. If you are pregnant with a baby boy, his testicles are moving from the abdominal area to the pelvic area. And if you are
Pregnant with a baby girl, then her reproductive organs are also developing.
In
Week 33 the bones are hardening. But the skull still remains soft and pliable. This will be immensely helpful in a normal delivery. The baby is resting with head down waiting for the right time.
Changes in the Mother
The mom to be is almost in control of what is happening in her body. She continues to gain almost a pound a week. Mils oedema is normal. But, if this is accompanied by headaches, sudden swelling, flashing lights she must consult the doctor immediately to rule out the possibility of preeclampsia.
Balanced diet, regular exercises, massage, relaxation and adequate rest is all she needs. Getting adequate sleep and rest will be a challenge because it will be difficult to sleep with an enlarged tummy in this
Pregnancy Week 33. Also, the baby’s kicks may keep her awake. Sleeping on the left side on a reclining chair will help. In order to get more information visit
Pregnancy Week by Week.
Another thing to remember is that growing impatience keeps her awake. She may be preoccupied with the thought of labour and delivery. The hormones during this
Pregnancy week are creating havoc in her system and she just wants all of this to end and delivery happen fast. The days will be best spent planning the delivery. She can make a list of to do things and see about getting those things done.
She must discuss at length with the physician about issues like episotomy, vacuum delivery, C-section, epidurals etc. She also must gather knowledge about the various stages of labour and what to do in each stage and what she has to do if the water breaks or leaks? Attending child birth classes will be a big help.
In this
Pregnancy Week 33 she must concentrate on mastering the techniques of Lamaze breathing. This will help her in coping with pain during delivery. The concentration in this phase must be on gathering maximum information and being well informed about all aspects of
delivery. This will help in making choices if need arises in the later stages.
