33 Weeks Pregnant: Baby Development, Symptoms and Tips
Short Answer: At 33 week pregnancy, your baby is about 43 cm from head to heel, roughly the size of a pineapple, and weighs around 1.9 kg. The bones are hardening, the pupils react to light, the immune system is getting antibodies from you and the lungs are nearly ready. Most babies are head down now. The top of your womb is about 12 to 13 cm above your navel, near your ribs. You may feel pressure under the ribs, breathlessness, heartburn, backache, swollen feet and more Braxton Hicks tightenings. This week, learn how to time contractions, practise perineal massage if you plan a vaginal birth, finish your hospital bag and birth plan, and check your emergency plan. Call a doctor the same day for any change in your baby’s movements, and for bleeding, severe pain, fever, fluid leaking, regular tightenings or a severe headache with blurred vision.
Pregnancy weeks are counted from the first day of your last period, not from conception. Thirty-three weeks pregnant means about thirty-one weeks since conception. You are in your eighth month, with about 7 weeks to go.
For the week before, read our guide to 32 weeks pregnant, and to follow the whole journey see our pregnancy guidelines week by week.
34 Weeks Pregnant: Baby Development, Symptoms and Tips
Week 33 at a glance
| Detail | At 33 weeks |
|---|---|
| Trimester | Third |
| Months | About 8 |
| Baby’s length | About 43 cm (17 inches), head to heel |
| Baby’s weight | About 1.9 kg (4.2 pounds) |
| Heart rate | About 120 to 160 beats per minute |
| Weeks to go | About 7 |
| Size comparison | A pineapple |
| Height of womb | About 33 cm from the pubic bone |
Sizes differ a little between guides, because they use averages from different groups of babies. Your own scan results and your doctor’s measurements matter more than a chart.
Your baby at 33 weeks
Growth. Your baby gains about 200 to 250 grams a week, and about 15 percent of the body weight is fat. The skin is pink and smooth now, and the wrinkles are filling out. Your baby has almost reached the length at birth and will mostly add weight from here.
Bones and skull. The bones are hardening in most of the body. The skull stays soft, in separate plates joined by flexible seams, so the head can mould as it passes through the birth canal. It also lets the brain keep growing after birth. Your baby takes calcium from you, so keep up your calcium and vitamin D.
Brain. The brain is growing quickly, with deeper folds and more connections between nerve cells. Babies sleep most of the day, in cycles of deep sleep and dream-like sleep with rapid eye movements.
Eyes. The pupils get bigger and smaller in response to light, and the eyes open and close. Your baby can sense light through your belly. Newborns see best at about 20 to 30 cm, which is the distance to your face during feeding.
Immune system. Your antibodies cross the placenta in large amounts in the last weeks, giving your baby protection against infections in the first months. The whooping cough and tetanus vaccines in pregnancy add to this.
Lungs. The lungs are nearly ready, with surfactant levels rising. Most babies born now can breathe without long-term support, though many need some help in the first days. Your baby keeps practising breathing movements.
Digestion. Your baby swallows and passes urine into the amniotic fluid, about half a litre a day by term. Meconium, the first stool, builds up in the bowel.
Hair and nails. Hair on the head is thickening, and the nails are fully grown, often to the fingertips. The lanugo, the fine body hair, is shedding. Vernix, the white coating, is thicker.
Movement. Your baby is strong. As space gets tight, movements feel more like rolls, stretches and pushes than sharp kicks, and you may see a hand or a foot move across your belly. The total amount of movement should stay about the same. Hiccups, which feel like small rhythmic jumps, are common and normal.
Position. Most babies are head down by now, though some turn later. About 3 to 4 in 100 are still breech at term. Your doctor will check at about 36 weeks.
Chances at birth. Babies born at 33 weeks have a very high chance of survival in hospitals with good newborn intensive care, about 98 percent, and most go home within weeks. In places where newborn care is limited, the chances are lower. Steroid injections given to the mother before preterm birth help the baby’s lungs, and they work best one to seven days before birth. If you have signs of preterm labour, go to a hospital with a newborn unit early.
Your body at 33 weeks
Womb. The top of your womb is about 12 to 13 cm above your navel, near the bottom of your ribs. A tape measure from the pubic bone reads about 33 cm. Your doctor measures this at visits as a quick check of growth. A difference of up to 2 cm either way is normal. A measurement that is far off, or that stops growing, may lead to a growth scan.
Weight. A person of normal weight usually gains about 0.4 to 0.5 kg a week. By now most people have gained about 10 to 14 kg in total, though it varies. Sudden rapid weight gain, especially with swelling, needs a check for pre-eclampsia.
Blood and heart. Your blood volume is at its peak, and your heart works hard. You may feel warm, sweat more, have a faster pulse and notice veins on your legs and breasts.
Breathing. The womb presses up on the diaphragm, so you may feel breathless on stairs or when lying flat. Sit upright, rest and avoid rushing. This often eases when the baby drops, usually 2 to 4 weeks before birth in a first pregnancy, and later in later pregnancies. Call your doctor if breathlessness is sudden, severe or comes with chest pain, a fast heartbeat or a cough with blood.
Ribs. The womb pushes the lower ribs outward, and your baby’s feet may press under them, which causes sharp pain. Stretching your arms overhead, changing position and sitting upright help.
Skin and hair. A glow is common, but so are acne, dry skin, dark patches on the face (melasma) and a dark line down the belly (linea nigra). Stretch marks can appear on the belly, breasts, hips and thighs. Genetics matters more than any cream.
Breasts. They are larger and heavier. Colostrum, the thick yellow first milk, may leak. A supportive nursing bra and breast pads help.
Hands, feet and legs. Mild swelling is common, especially in hot weather. Tingling in the hands from carpal tunnel syndrome is common too. Varicose veins and piles can appear or get worse.
Tiredness and sleep. Tiredness is common, because of the weight you carry, poor sleep and the load on your heart and lungs. Rest when you can, and ask for help.
Mind. Vivid dreams, forgetfulness and mood swings are common. Nesting, the urge to clean and organise, is common too. Avoid climbing, heavy lifting and strong cleaning fumes.
Common symptoms and what helps
| Symptom | Why it happens | What helps |
|---|---|---|
| Backache | Growing womb, loosening joints, posture | Flat supportive shoes, good posture, side-sleeping with a pillow, gentle stretches, support belt |
| Pelvic and hip pain | Loosening joints, sleeping position | Pillow between knees, small steps, avoid standing on one leg |
| Braxton Hicks tightenings | Practice contractions | Drink water, rest, change position |
| Leg cramps, mostly at night | Circulation and mineral changes | Calf stretches before bed, drink water, ask about calcium |
| Swollen feet and ankles | Fluid retention | Raise your feet, avoid long standing, drink water |
| Heartburn | Relaxed valve at the top of the stomach | Smaller meals, avoid spicy and oily food, stay upright after eating, raise your head in bed |
| Shortness of breath | Womb presses on the diaphragm | Sit upright, rest, good posture |
| Pain under the ribs | Baby’s feet or head press on the ribs | Stretch your arms overhead, change position, sit upright |
| Constipation, piles | Slow gut, iron tablets, pressure | Fibre, water, daily movement, do not strain |
| Trouble sleeping | Belly size, cramps, heartburn, worry | Side-sleeping with pillows, regular bedtime, cool room |
| Restless legs | Low iron, hormones | Gentle stretches, warm bath, ask about hemoglobin |
| Tingling hands | Fluid squeezing a nerve at the wrist | Shake and raise your hands, wrist splint at night |
| Frequent urination, leaking | Baby presses on the bladder | Pelvic floor exercises, empty your bladder often |
| Itchy, stretching belly skin | Skin stretching | Moisturiser, loose cotton clothes |
| Varicose veins | More blood volume, pressure from the womb | Raise your legs, walk daily, avoid long standing, ask about support stockings |
| Increased vaginal discharge | Hormones | Cotton underwear, no douching |
Do not take any medicine, including painkillers and herbal products, without asking a doctor or pharmacist. Paracetamol at the recommended dose is generally considered safe. Avoid ibuprofen, aspirin and diclofenac unless your doctor prescribes them.
Timing contractions: when to leave for hospital
Braxton Hicks tightenings get more frequent now, and it can be hard to tell them from real labour. Timing them helps. A phone stopwatch or a notebook works.
How to time: write down when each contraction starts, how long it lasts and how long until the next one starts. Count from the start of one to the start of the next.
| Braxton Hicks | Real labour | |
|---|---|---|
| Pattern | Irregular, with no pattern | Regular, getting closer together |
| Strength | Stay the same or fade | Get stronger over time |
| Duration | 30 to 60 seconds | 30 to 70 seconds, getting longer |
| What changes them | Often stop with rest, water or a change of position | Do not stop with rest, water or a change of position |
| Where you feel them | Mostly the front of the belly | Often start in the back and move to the front |
| Other signs | None | Show, fluid leaking, bleeding, pelvic pressure |
Before 37 weeks, treat regular tightenings as possible preterm labour. Lie on your left side and drink one or two glasses of water. If you still have more than four tightenings in an hour after an hour of rest, or you have bleeding, fluid leaking, a steady low backache or pelvic pressure, go to hospital at once. Call 999 if you need help getting there.
From 37 weeks, a common guide for a first baby is to go to the hospital when contractions come every 5 minutes, last about 1 minute and have done so for an hour. If you have had a baby before, if you live far from the hospital, if you have a higher-risk pregnancy or if roads can be slow or flooded, go earlier. Your doctor may give you a different rule, so ask.
Go to hospital at once, whatever the timing, if:
- Your waters break, especially if the fluid is green, brown or bloody, or smells bad
- You have bleeding that is more than a show
- Your baby moves less than usual
- You see or feel the umbilical cord
- You have a severe headache, blurred vision or constant pain with no break between contractions
- You feel that something is wrong
Early labour at home. Early labour can last many hours. Rest or sleep if you can, eat light food, drink water, take a warm shower, walk slowly, lean on a pillow or a person and breathe slowly. Time your contractions, and keep your bag and transport ready.
When to call a doctor
| Usually normal | Call a doctor soon |
|---|---|
| Short, sharp pulls in the lower belly | Severe or constant abdominal pain |
| Mild, irregular tightenings that stop with rest | Regular tightenings that come more often and do not stop |
| Your baby’s movements change a little with time of day | A clear drop or change in your baby’s usual movements |
| A few drops of urine when you cough or sneeze | Watery fluid that keeps leaking, or a gush |
| Occasional headache | Severe headache with blurred vision, flashing lights or upper belly pain |
| Itchy stretching belly skin | Intense itching of palms and soles, or yellow skin |
| Tiredness, mood swings | Fainting, chest pain or sudden breathlessness |
| Mild swelling of both feet late in the day | Sudden swelling of the face and hands, or one swollen, painful calf |
| Light, milky discharge | Any bleeding that soaks a pad, or any fresh bleeding |
Bleeding. Any bleeding in the third trimester needs urgent care, even if it is painless. Painless bright red bleeding can be a sign of placenta praevia, and bleeding with pain and a hard belly can be a placental abruption. Both are emergencies. Do not examine yourself internally, and go to hospital at once.
Pre-eclampsia. A serious blood pressure condition. Signs include a severe headache that will not go away, blurred vision or flashing lights, sudden swelling of the face and hands, pain under the ribs on the right side, vomiting and rapid weight gain. It needs urgent care.
Preterm labour. Call straight away if you have regular tightenings, more than four in an hour, a steady low backache, pelvic pressure, a change in vaginal discharge, bleeding or fluid leaking before 37 weeks. Go to hospital if the signs continue for an hour, or at once for bleeding or fluid leaking.
Fever. In Bangladesh a fever can also mean dengue, so do not treat it at home. See a doctor straight away.
If you feel sad, anxious or hopeless for more than two weeks, tell your doctor. If you ever have thoughts of harming yourself, seek help right away.
Tests and visits
| Test or step | When | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Blood pressure and urine check | Every visit | Screens for pre-eclampsia and infection |
| Hemoglobin check | Third trimester, or as advised | Looks for anaemia |
| Whooping cough vaccine | About 27 to 36 weeks | Protects your newborn. Last weeks to get it |
| Tetanus-diphtheria vaccine | During pregnancy, as your doctor advises | Protects you and your baby |
| Growth scan or repeat placenta scan | If advised | Checks your baby’s size, fluid and placenta position |
| Group B strep test | About 35 to 37 weeks, where offered | Checks for a bacterium that can infect newborns |
| Position check | About 36 weeks | Checks whether your baby is head down |
Visits. Many doctors see you every two weeks until 36 weeks, then weekly. The World Health Organization recommends contacts at about 34, 36, 38 and 40 weeks, with more if there are problems. Keep every appointment, even if you feel well, and bring your prenatal card.
Group B strep. Group B streptococcus is a bacterium that lives in the gut or vagina of about 1 in 5 healthy women. It is harmless to you, but it can cause serious infection in newborns, such as sepsis, pneumonia and meningitis. Some hospitals test for it at 35 to 37 weeks, and give antibiotics through a drip during labour to carriers. Other hospitals use risk factors, such as preterm labour, waters broken for more than 18 hours, a fever in labour or a previous baby with the infection. Ask your doctor what your hospital does.
Anaemia. Ask for a hemoglobin test if it has not been done in the last month. The World Health Organization defines anaemia in the third trimester as hemoglobin below 11 g/dL. If it is low, your doctor may increase your iron dose or change the type.
Keep your records. Carry your prenatal card and test results to every visit and to the hospital.
Perineal massage and tear prevention
Many women who give birth vaginally have a tear or a cut in the area between the vagina and the anus, called the perineum. Most tears are small and heal well. A few are deeper and involve the muscle around the anus (third and fourth degree tears), which can cause long-term problems.
What helps: studies show that perineal massage from about 34 to 35 weeks reduces the risk of deep tears and the need for an episiotomy, especially for first-time mothers. It is safe for most women. Ask your doctor first if you have a low-lying placenta, bleeding, an infection or waters broken.
How to do it, from about 34 to 35 weeks, starting next week:
- Wash your hands, and trim your nails.
- Sit or lie in a comfortable, semi-reclined position, with your knees bent and supported.
- Use a clean, natural oil, such as sweet almond, olive or coconut oil, or a water-based lubricant.
- Place one or two thumbs about 3 to 4 cm inside the vagina, and press down toward the anus and to the sides.
- Hold the stretch for about 30 to 60 seconds, until you feel a gentle stretch or slight burning.
- Massage in a U-shape, moving the thumbs from side to side, for 3 to 5 minutes.
- Do it daily or several times a week, for about 10 minutes. Relax your pelvic floor, and breathe slowly.
- Your partner can help, and the same technique applies.
Stop if you feel sharp pain, bleeding or an infection, such as itching, burning or a change in discharge.
Other things that help in labour:
- Choose a hospital and a birth attendant who support upright or side-lying positions, not only flat on your back
- Ask for a warm compress on the perineum in the second stage
- Push slowly and steadily as guided, without forcing
- Ask your doctor about when they do an episiotomy. The World Health Organization advises against doing it routinely
- After the birth, keep the area clean, change pads often, use a water bottle to rinse when you pass urine, and do pelvic floor exercises as soon as you can
- Eat fibre and drink water to avoid straining, and ask about a stool softener
See a doctor if the area becomes red, swollen or smelly, you have a fever, a wound opens or you cannot control your bladder or bowel after the birth.
Writing a birth plan
A birth plan is a short note of your preferences. It helps you think through your choices and talk with your doctor. It should fit on one page, and you should be flexible, because labour does not always go as planned.
What to include:
| Topic | Questions to consider |
|---|---|
| Companion | Who do you want with you, and who will look after children? |
| Mobility and position | Do you want to walk, change position or use a ball or a bath? |
| Pain relief | Do you want to try non-drug methods first? Which medicines or an epidural would you accept? |
| Monitoring | Are you happy with checks of your baby’s heartbeat? |
| Interventions | What do you think about an episiotomy, an induction, a drip or forceps? |
| Emergency C-section | Who should be told, and can your companion stay? |
| After the birth | Skin-to-skin contact, delayed cord clamping, who cuts the cord and breastfeeding in the first hour |
| Newborn care | Rooming-in, vitamin K, vaccines and no formula or water without a medical reason |
| Feeding | Exclusive breastfeeding, and who to call for help |
| Special wishes | Religion, culture, privacy, or a female attendant |
Tips:
- Talk to your doctor early, and ask what the hospital offers
- Keep it short, polite and clear, and give a copy to staff and your companion
- Bring your prenatal card, and know your blood group
- Accept that things may change for the safety of you or your baby
- You can say no, ask questions and ask for time, except in a true emergency
If you are having a planned C-section
A planned C-section is advised when there is a medical reason, such as a baby in a breech position, a placenta covering the cervix, a very large baby with a small pelvis, certain infections or heart conditions or two or more previous C-sections. It is usually done at about 39 weeks, unless there is a reason to go earlier.
Before the day:
- Ask for the date, time and place, and who will operate, and who will look after your baby
- Ask when to stop eating and drinking, usually about 6 hours for food and 2 hours for clear water, and what medicines to take that morning
- Have your blood group, hemoglobin and any cross-matching done, and arrange blood donors
- Pack your bag, and arrange help at home and for older children
- Ask about anaesthesia. A spinal or epidural keeps you awake, and general anaesthesia is used in emergencies
- Ask whether your partner can be with you, whether skin-to-skin is possible and whether you can start breastfeeding in the theatre or recovery
After a C-section:
- Expect to stay in hospital for two to four days, and to need help with your baby, walking and daily tasks for several weeks
- Hold a pillow against your wound when you cough, laugh or move
- Walk a little as soon as you are told, to prevent clots and help recovery
- Do not lift anything heavier than your baby for about six weeks, and do not drive until you can brake comfortably
- Take pain medicine as prescribed, and keep the wound clean and dry
- Seek help for a fever, a wound that is red, swollen or leaking, heavy bleeding, severe pain, a swollen painful leg or breathlessness
- Breastfeed in a side-lying or football hold, which keep weight off your wound
A C-section is not the easy option. It is major surgery, with higher risks of bleeding, infection and clots for you, and it can affect future pregnancies. It saves lives when it is needed, but it should be used when there is a reason.
Food and supplements
Iron. Keep taking iron-folic acid tablets as prescribed. Take iron away from tea, coffee and milk, and with something sour such as lemon. Dark stools are normal on iron.
Calcium. Take calcium as prescribed, at a different time from iron.
Iodine. Use iodised salt in your cooking. Iodine supports your baby’s brain development.
Eat more of:
- Protein: eggs, well-cooked fish, chicken, lentils (dal), beans and milk
- Iron-rich foods: leafy greens (shak), lean meat and lentils, with lemon or guava for vitamin C
- Calcium-rich foods: milk, yogurt, and small fish such as mola eaten with the bones
- Fruit and vegetables: a variety of colours every day
- Whole grains and fibre: brown rice, whole wheat roti and oats
- Healthy fats: well-cooked oily fish, nuts and seeds
- Water: about 8 to 10 glasses across the day, more in hot weather
Calories. Your needs rise by about 450 calories a day in the third trimester, such as a glass of milk, a boiled egg, a banana and a handful of nuts. You do not need to eat for two.
Limit: caffeine to about 200 mg a day, which is one or two cups of tea or a single small coffee. Limit sweets, sugary drinks, juice and fried snacks. Large portions of white rice and bread push blood sugar up, so pair carbohydrates with protein and vegetables.
Avoid: alcohol, all tobacco (including zarda and jorda), raw or undercooked meat, fish and eggs, unpasteurized milk and cheese, unwashed produce, large predatory fish such as shark and swordfish, high-dose vitamin A supplements and herbal tonics your doctor has not approved.
Smaller, more frequent meals help with heartburn and breathlessness as your belly grows. Eat slowly, and avoid lying down for an hour after eating.
Weight gain. Total gain over the whole pregnancy depends on your weight before pregnancy, and Asian-specific BMI ranges may apply, so ask your doctor.
| Weight before pregnancy | Recommended total gain |
|---|---|
| Underweight | 12.5 to 18 kg |
| Normal weight | 11.5 to 16 kg |
| Overweight | 7 to 11.5 kg |
| Obese | 5 to 9 kg |
Exercise, sleep and posture
Exercise. The standard advice for healthy pregnancies is about 150 minutes of moderate activity a week, such as 30 minutes of brisk walking on most days. Walking after meals helps blood sugar. Swimming, prenatal yoga, stationary cycling, sitting on a birthing ball and pelvic floor exercises are good choices. You should be able to talk while you exercise. Avoid hot yoga, lying flat on your back during exercise, contact sports, heavy lifting and anything with a risk of falls. Stop and call your doctor if you have pain, bleeding, dizziness, trouble breathing, regular tightenings or fluid leaking.
Pelvic floor. Squeeze and lift the muscles you use to stop urine flow, hold for a few seconds and release. Do 10 repetitions a few times a day. Breathe normally, and do not tighten your buttocks or hold your breath. Also practise relaxing the pelvic floor fully after each squeeze, which helps in the second stage of labour.
Sleep. Sleep on your side, either side, with a pillow between your knees and another under your belly. Sleeping on your back in the third trimester is linked to a higher risk of stillbirth. If you wake on your back, turn onto your side. Do the same for naps. A long body pillow helps. Keep a regular bedtime and avoid screens at night. Hot, humid nights and power cuts can disturb sleep, so use a fan, wear loose cotton clothes and keep water by your bed.
Posture. As your belly grows, your centre of gravity shifts forward. Stand tall, keep your shoulders back, avoid high heels and use a chair that supports your lower back. Lift by bending your knees. A support belt can ease back pain, so ask your doctor.
Movement tracking. Keep tracking your baby’s movements. Learn the usual pattern, and if you want a method, count distinct movements until you reach ten, which usually takes under two hours. If you notice a clear drop or change, call your doctor the same day, and do not wait until the next day or rely on a home Doppler.
Getting your home ready
- Sleeping space. Set up a firm, flat cot or sleeping space, with a clean cotton sheet, no pillows, loose blankets or soft toys. Place your baby on the back to sleep.
- Mosquito protection. Hang a net over the cot or bed, and remove standing water around your home.
- Clothes and wraps. Wash newborn clothes, wraps and sheets in mild soap, rinse well and dry in the sun, and iron them if you can.
- Basics. Have a few cotton suits, caps, mittens, nappies or cotton cloths, a soft towel, a baby nail file, a thermometer and a clean bucket or tub.
- Breastfeeding corner. A comfortable chair, a footstool, a pillow, water and snacks.
- Safe water and cooking. Boil or filter drinking water, and use a clean stove. Avoid smoke near the baby.
- After-birth supplies for you. Maternity pads, loose clothes, nursing bras, breast pads and a water bottle.
- Food. Stock easy, nutritious food, and ask relatives to cook in the first weeks.
- Contacts. Write down numbers for your doctor, the hospital, an ambulance, your driver and a paediatrician.
- Help. Arrange who will look after other children, the house and visitors.
Work, leave and money
- Notice. Give your employer written notice of your pregnancy and your expected delivery date, if you have not already.
- Maternity leave. Under Bangladesh’s labour law, working mothers in the private sector are entitled to 16 weeks of paid maternity leave, eight weeks before and eight weeks after the birth. Government employees receive six months. Check your own contract and your employer’s policy, and confirm your start date in writing.
- Work. If you keep working, take breaks to sit, eat and drink, avoid heavy lifting and long standing and tell your doctor about night shifts or hazards. Stop work and call your doctor if you have regular tightenings, bleeding, fluid leaking or severe headaches.
- Money. Budget for delivery, newborn care, a possible hospital stay and emergencies. Ask the hospital for a written estimate that includes tests, delivery and complications, and what is paid in advance.
- Emergency plan. Know your blood group, arrange transport and blood donors, keep money and documents ready and agree with your family to go to hospital at once if there is a danger sign. The national emergency number is 999.
- Birth registration. Register your baby’s birth with the local authority after the birth. It is free within 45 days.
If you feel unsafe at home, tell your doctor or a trusted person. In Bangladesh you can call the national helpline 109 for support with violence against women and children. It is free.
Checklist for this week
- Keep your visit this week, and check your blood pressure, weight, womb size and hemoglobin
- Ask about the whooping cough and tetanus-diphtheria vaccines if you have not had them
- Ask about the group B strep test and your baby’s position
- Take iron-folic acid and calcium as prescribed, at different times, and use iodised salt
- Keep tracking your baby’s movements, and call the same day if the pattern changes
- Sleep on your side every night, including naps
- Learn how to time contractions, and when to go to hospital
- Learn the danger signs: bleeding, severe headache, preterm labour signs, fluid leaking and fever
- Pack your hospital bag, and write a one-page birth plan
- If you plan a vaginal birth, ask your doctor about perineal massage from 34 to 35 weeks
- Review your emergency plan: hospital, transport, blood donors, money and who decides
- Prepare your home, and arrange help for after the birth
- Tell someone if you feel low or anxious
- Save your doctor’s number and the nearest hospital’s emergency number
FAQ
How big is the baby at 33 weeks?
About 43 cm from head to heel and 1.9 kg, roughly the size of a pineapple. Sizes vary a little between guides and between babies.
Can a baby survive if born at 33 weeks?
Almost all babies born at 33 weeks survive in hospitals with good newborn intensive care, about 98 percent, and most go home within weeks. Chances are lower where newborn care is limited. Go to hospital early if you have signs of preterm labour.
How do I know when to go to hospital?
Before 37 weeks, go for regular tightenings that continue after rest and water, bleeding, fluid leaking or less movement. From 37 weeks, a common guide for a first baby is contractions every 5 minutes, lasting about a minute, for an hour. Go earlier if you live far away, and at once if your waters break or you have bleeding.
What is perineal massage?
A gentle stretching of the tissue between the vagina and the anus, done from about 34 to 35 weeks, that reduces the risk of deep tears in a vaginal birth, especially for first-time mothers. Ask your doctor first if you have any complications.
What is group B strep?
A bacterium carried by about 1 in 5 healthy women. It is harmless to you but can infect newborns, so some hospitals test at 35 to 37 weeks and give antibiotics in labour to carriers.
Do I need a birth plan?
It helps you think through your choices and talk with your doctor. Keep it to one page, and stay flexible.
Why is a C-section planned?
For medical reasons, such as a breech baby, a placenta covering the cervix, a very large baby or certain infections. It is usually done at about 39 weeks.
Is it safe to exercise at 33 weeks?
Yes for most healthy pregnancies. Walking, swimming, gentle yoga and pelvic floor exercises are good. Avoid contact sports, heavy lifting, hot yoga and lying flat on your back during exercise.
Note: This article gives general information and does not replace advice from your doctor or midwife. Every pregnancy is different. Call your doctor or go to a hospital if you have bleeding, severe pain, fever, fainting, fluid leaking, a change in your baby’s movements or any symptom that worries you.
