33 Weeks Pregnant: Oy! Breathlessness + Heartburn
33 Weeks Pregnant: Your Baby at 33 Weeks
Your little one is thirsty lately. She is drinking around 20 ounces of her amniotic fluid every day. That sounds a little gross, but what is truly gross is that she then pees it out—into the amniotic fluid—and then drinks it all over again!
On the totally less icky side of things, this same fluid is helping get her lungs ready for her dramatic entry into the world of air and breathing. Having lungs filled with liquid is fine for babies in the womb because all their oxygen comes from the blood being cycled through the umbilical cord. Amazingly, after birth, she will soon fill her lungs with air—drying up all that fluid almost instantly—and begin breathing oxygen that will sustain her every day for the rest of her life.
In the meantime, her immune system has matured plenty, too. And to double and triple protect her, you are still passing antibodies to her through the placenta and you can continue giving her protective antibodies through your breast milk.
Size of baby at 33 weeks: Your baby is as big as an oven mitt.
33 Weeks Pregnant is How Many Months?
33 weeks pregnant is about 7 months and 1 week.
33 Weeks Pregnant: What To Expect
Fatigue, breathlessness, heartburn, oh my! You are feeling all these and more. Your body is working hard to grow and nourish your baby and to carry all her weight. As in the first trimester, this is a good time to take it easy on yourself. Get help when moving heavy objects, ask your partner to pitch in more around the house, grab couch time when you can, and invite friends to dinner…if they bring the food.
You may find you want to sleep around the clock…or that you can barely sleep at all because you are constantly awakening to pee.
Your expanding uterus has crowded all of the organs in your belly. Your lungs are pushed up, so they have less room to fill with air, leaving you breathless. It can feel pretty disconcerting, but it is normal. Although you are breathing faster or need to sit up a bit more, you and your baby are still getting all the oxygen you need.
Baby and uterus have also squished your digestive system, so you will feel better eating smaller meals so that you do not get overly full. Heartburn may strike, too, as stomach acid gets pushed back up your esophagus. Chugging plenty of water throughout the day helps move the food along faster, so you are not feeling so stuffed. Drinking peppermint tea, sucking on a peppermint candy, or crunching on fennel seeds can ease heartburn as well.
33 Weeks Pregnant Symptoms
- Back pain
- Swelling of feet and ankles
- Heartburn
- Difficulty sleeping
- Shortness of breath
- Braxton Hicks contractions
33 Weeks Pregnant To-Do List
- Install the car seat: Take time to research and select a car seat, install it and get it checked by a certified professional. Find one in your area by going to childseatsafety.co.uk/.
- Create your birth announcement: One of the last things you will feel like doing right after birthing a child is crafting an email. And your partner is going to be pretty occupied, too. Make a quick and sweet note and a list of the people with whom you would like to share the great announcement.
- Pack your hospital bag: Think about what will make the time after delivery more comfortable for you. Maybe that is a warm robe and socks, maybe it is flip flops for the shower and your own toiletries. If you are allowed to eat during labour, packing snacks and beverages is a good idea. Do not forget a change of clothes—and make sure your partner packs clean clothes too.
- If home birthing, start prepping: If you are doing a home birth, your midwife will provide you with a list of supplies. Gather everything together in time for her to do a home visit.
Lingo Lesson: Pitocin
Oxytocin is a hormone made by the hypothalamus and secreted by the pituitary gland. It is called the love hormone, because your body produces it during sex. It also starts and sustains your labour…it signals the body that it is time for contractions.
Pitocin—a synthetic form of oxytocin—is often administered to a mum through an IV to help induce labour and speed up contractions. Sometimes it is administered after the birth, too, to shrink the size of her uterus and prevent excessive bleeding.
Pitocin has benefits and drawbacks. If your labour has stalled, it can speed things up dramatically. And if you need to deliver your baby immediately due to complications, it will help make that possible. But it can also cause increased pain and discomfort due to intensified contractions. These strong contractions occasionally stress babies, which might increase the chances for a C-section. This is one of those areas where your healthcare provider or midwife will make the best call. That is why you want to pick someone that you are confident you can trust.
Quote of the Week
Women's bodies have near-perfect knowledge of childbirth; it is when their brains get involved that things can go wrong. — Peggy Vincent
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