Thirty-third Week of Pregnancy: What to Expect

The ninth month of your pregnancy has begun in the 33rd week of pregnancy. According to the calculated date, the birth will begin in about seven weeks.

In the 33rd week, your baby can already perceive the world around him with his eyes. In addition, the gray cells are formed in the 33rd week.

Your baby is now fully developed. Both the organs and perception have shaped out and will continue to be trained until birth. The child can hear, taste, see and touch with the sensory cells of its skin.

Only the fifth sense, the perception of smells, is still missing. Your baby will not perceive and process smells until after birth. This is because, in the womb, the baby lacks air as a transmission channel for perceiving odors.

It is interesting to know that if a baby is born prematurely in the 33rd week of gestation, its chances of developing healthily would be high.

Maintaining their own body temperature is still a problem in the 33rd week of pregnancy, which is why premature babies are cared for in a special warm bed, the incubator. In the 33rd week of pregnancy, the brain develops very quickly. The head circumference increases by about 0.5″ due to the increase in brain volume during this week. However, the baby has not yet reached the head circumference measured at birth at this time. Two fontanelles develop on the baby’s skull, places where the skull is not closed by bony material. These fontanelles are important because, to protect the brain, they can be pushed together at birth to fit through the birth canal. They also give the brain the space it needs to continue to grow after birth. The small fontanelle at the occiput closes on its own during the first three months after birth, and the second larger fontanelle is centered on the upper skull and will usually close gradually during the first year of life.

The skeletal system is now also mature. However, the baby’s bones still need to harden somewhat so that they can withstand the pressure of birth and labor. At birth, however, the bones are not completely hardened.

Your baby’s development continues during his or her first weeks and months of life. This development is monitored by your pediatrician. Attention is paid to the sensory system and reflexes, as well as to the development of movement, intestines, and growth in length and width. The baby moves more and more into its intended birth position, the cranial position. This is checked by the doctor and your midwife at each appointment. The midwife can feel the current exact position with your hands.

This is how the expectant mom feels in the 33rd week

The fundal position of your uterus, or upper position, is now about three cross-fingers wide below the costal arch. This creates tremendous pressure on the lungs and, in the lower area, on the bladder. As a result, shortness of breath increases for the time being and heartburn may increase again. You will also still experience the more frequent urge to urinate in the 33rd week of pregnancy.

Swollen limbs

Due to the infiltration of fluid into the tissues, you are likely to suffer even more from swollen feet and legs, which may also hurt. Rest and elevating your legs is the first measure here to alleviate this circumstance.

Baby movements become more violent

When the baby moves and turns in your womb, sometimes it literally takes your breath away, and you have to stop. If you are expecting twins, this feeling increases as if a tornado is raging inside you. Don’t worry, this is completely normal and important for your baby to settle into its birth position.

Thoughts revolve around the baby

Your thoughts keep turning to everyday life with your baby. At the moment, you don’t know how to manage it. You have certainly taken away experiences from other mothers that also make you anxious. What is certain, however, is that both the pain of childbirth and the stress of the first weeks of your newborn’s life are largely suppressed by mothers. This is set up by nature so that women are not discouraged from having another pregnancy.

It is now time to pack the clinic bag. Surely you have already procured a lot for baby’s first equipment. Together with your partner, you will now surely set up the crib. When setting up the room, please remember that “safety, not decoration” applies. So remove all superfluous decorative items such as pillows or stuffed animals. In addition, you should also remove bed surrounds when it is warm. Hot water bottles, heating pads, and skins must also be avoided, as this could cause the baby to overheat and create a risk of suffocation.

Exercise contractions prepare for birth

Your abdomen will become harder more often for a short time during the 33rd week of pregnancy. Your body is now vigorously practicing for the upcoming birth of your baby. These practice contractions will increase somewhat in the future until you finally have sink contractions. With the descending contractions, during which the uterus lowers down into the small pelvis, shortness of breath and the pressure on the internal organs decrease. Then you can look forward calmly to the birth of your child and look forward to the moment when you hold your baby in your arms for the first time.

Relate: Third Trimester of Pregnancy: What to Expect

33rd week of pregnancy: your symptoms

• Pain in the wrist. Many pregnant women suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome. It occurs, for example, when the nerves in the carpal canal become constricted due to swelling of the hands during pregnancy. The pain and swelling usually disappear after delivery. In the meantime, you could help yourself by changing your sleeping position so that there is no pressure on your hands and wrists. You could also wear a forearm splint to immobilize the affected wrist.
• Gum growths. Some pregnant women experience hormonal growths on their gums during the 33rd week. These should be treated by your:r dentist.
• Colostrum. Don’t be surprised if some kind of fluid comes out of your breasts. This is usually what is called colostrum (colostrum). The milk ducts and milk sacs in your breasts are already preparing during pregnancy for the time after birth and breastfeeding. In the second trimester, the colostrum is already present.
• Shortness of breath. Do you get out of breath even with minor exertion? Due to pregnancy hormones, fluid accumulates in your lungs, which may make it difficult for you to take deep breaths. Later, the growing uterus puts extra pressure on your diaphragm, narrowing the space where your lungs normally expand.
• Hemorrhoids. These are veins in the rectum that expand too much due to increased blood volume and circulation in the pelvic area. For mild discomforts such as itching or swelling, ointments or sitz baths that you can get at the pharmacy are helpful in the short term. However, it is best to ask your midwife, doctor, or pharmacist for advice.

At the beginning of your pregnancy, the expected date of birth was calculated. However, your baby may want to come into the world a little earlier.

What is preterm birth?

A baby is called premature if he or she is born before 37 weeks gestation. From the 34th week of gestation, your baby would also be called a late preterm baby. This refers to babies who are born between the 34th week of gestation and the 37th week of gestation.

Did you know that about 9% of all babies are born before 37 weeks?

Symptoms of premature birth in the 33rd week of pregnancy

It is super important to know the symptoms that can indicate a premature birth. We have summarized all the symptoms for you at a glance:

• Bleeding during pregnancy
• Premature contractions
• Loss of amniotic fluid or premature rupture of membranes
• Open cervix
• Severe pain in the abdominal region and in the back

Caution: These are signs that may indicate premature birth. Of course, these symptoms can also have another origin.

It is important that you observe and notice changes in your body. If you notice even one of these symptoms, you should be taken to the hospital immediately. The birth could begin at any moment.

What are the causes of preterm birth in the 33rd week of gestation?

Doctors and scientists believe that a premature birth does not necessarily have to be triggered by one cause. It is much more a combination of different factors.

Here you can find the most common factors that can lead to premature birth:

Causes and risk factors on your part:

• (Vaginal) infections or hormonal disorders.
• Malformations of the uterus or fibroids (growths)
• High blood pressure, pre-eclampsia, or gestational diabetes
• Placental insufficiency
• Psychological stress
• Women under 20 or over 35 years of age are often affected
• Nicotine or alcohol consumption
• Previous miscarriages

Infantile causes of premature birth:

• Deficiency development
• Chromosomal defects
• Malformations
• Multiple pregnancies

The best tips at a glance

• Packing your hospital bag is now the main focus. Basically, you can also reduce it to the bare essentials – such as weather-appropriate clothes for your baby, a baby seat for a safe way home with the child, breastfeeding-friendly things that fit you in the 6th month.
• Continue to make sure you are eating well. Especially calcium is important now because baby’s bones harden and store calcium.
• For pain and tension in the abdomen due to the strain on the mother’s ligaments, a fragrant relaxing bath will help, during which you can let your mind wander.
• This will give you new strength for the last weeks of pregnancy.
• You can relieve the strain on your back by lying on an exercise ball with your arms and upper body and slowly rolling back and