Pregnancy at 33 Weeks

Baby is the size of a pineapple

Well into the third trimester of pregnancy and baby is weighing in at about 4 pounds and is probably more than 17 inches in length. He is looking more and more like a soft cuddly baby as time goes on. His bones are hardening although his skull bones are not fused so they can “mold” into a slight “conehead” shape during delivery.

Your life:

• You may find yourself waddling.
• You may have a difficult time sleeping or finding a comfortable position
• You may be experiencing achiness and maybe even a little numbness due to fluid retention.
• If you have carpal tunnel syndrome it may be aggravated by this fluid retention.
• It is also okay to have sex until your water breaks unless you have been told by your practitioner to avoid it.

“Every time I start to get bored with my pregnancy, I lie down and rub my belly. Sure enough, my baby starts to kick, and I think about how wonderful it will be when I’m able to hold him.”

Source: | BabyCenter

 

Your baby’s movements.

• Every baby has their own pattern of activity.
• As long as you do not notice any major changes everything should be fine.
• Kick counts are recommended by some practitioners after 28 weeks.

 Here’s one common approach: Choose a time of day when your baby tends to be active. (Ideally, you’ll want to do the counts at roughly the same time each day.) Sit quietly or lie on your side so you won’t get distracted. Time how long it takes for you to feel ten distinct movements — kicks, twitches, and whole body movements all count. You should feel at least ten movements within two hours. (Don’t worry; it probably won’t take that long. Sometimes you’ll feel ten kicks within the first ten minutes.) If you don’t feel ten movements in two hours, stop counting and call your midwife or doctor.

What should I do if I think my baby’s movements have slowed down or changed?
Let your practitioner know right away if you notice a slowdown of your baby’s movements. A decrease in fetal movement may signal a problem, and you’ll need a nonstress test or biophysical profile to check on your baby.

Getting everything ready schedule:

• Wash baby clothing.
• Use a gently detergent. I always recommend Dreft because that is what my grandmother used. But actually any mild hypoallergenic one designed for baby would be great.

Your pregnancy is almost over!

Don’t forget yourself…try to take some time out just for you. A mani and pedi is my recommendation.