Pregnancy Week - 33 Weeks Pregnant

Pregnancy Week 32< >Pregnancy Week by Week Guide< >Pregnancy Week 34	Share |

Pregnancy Week 33

**Please note- Your Due Date is calculated from the date of your last menstrual period, which corresponds to our Pregnancy Week by Week articles.

Week 33

Your Baby's Growth and Development
Your baby is busy concentrating on weight gain during week 33 and throughout the remainder of your pregnancy. Your amniotic fluid may be at its highest level this week. Your baby's brain is busy maturing and increasing in size, and your baby's skin will soon start changing from red to pink as fat begins to accumulate beneath its surface.

Your Growth and Development
By 33 weeks pregnant, your uterus is a little over 5 inches above your navel. You may have gained up to 28 pounds by 33 weeks pregnant, though some women will have gained more. During this point in pregnancy, many women find that they gain weight faster than at any other time. This is partly due to the rapid growth your baby is experiencing. Most babies will put on 5-9 ounces every week from this point out!

Changes in You
You are probably giddy with excitement at the thought of delivering your baby. Hold on, you only have a few more weeks to go! You might consider pre-registering at the hospital sometime after pregnancy 33 weeks. Pre-registration will help speed up the admitting process once you are well on your way to delivery. If you are like most women, you probably don't want to think about paperwork when you are in the throws of labor.

You are probably experiencing edema or swelling as you continue your pregnancy week by week. This can be particularly noticeable if you live in a hot climate or are in the throws of the third trimester in the middle of summer. Remember to rest on your left side as much as possible to help minimize swelling.

Some women experience pain, numbness, and tingling in the fingers and wrists at this point in pregnancy. It isn't uncommon for the tissues supporting your hands and wrists to swell, which can cause a condition resembling Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. The Carpal Tunnel is actually a bony structure in the wrist. When the tissues surrounding it swell, the nerves running through the carpal tunnel can get pinched.

If you work in a job that requires frequent typing, your healthcare provider might suggest you wear a brace to help relieve some of the aching. You should also take frequent breaks to help reduce the discomfort in your hands and wrists.

Maternity Pillows
A Great Idea For Traveling

If you plan to be on the road a lot during pregnancy, chances are you will find the pillows offered by the hotel or the B&B much less comfortable than those at home. It is important, however, that you get enough rest, especially when traveling during pregnancy. The simplest way to make sure this happens is by packing your pregnancy pillow with you when travel.

Fortunately, Snoozer Pregnancy Pillows are easily transported from one location to another. Have to fly? Don’t worry. Just check your pillow. You can wrap it in a plastic garment bag if you want to. After all, you want to enjoy yourself on the road, especially if vacationing.
Watch our pregnancy pillows video on youtube.com.

Maternity Clothes
Intimate Apparel:
A Must Have For Expectant Women

What woman doesn’t want to look and feel attractive throughout her pregnancy? Finding intimate apparel to wear during your pregnancy doesn’t have to be a chore. Yes, your body is changing each and every day. Fortunately, there are many quality and elegant options available for mothers looking for maternity intimate apparel during their pregnancy. One of the more important things to look for is supportive and flowing garments that move with you as you grow and expand.

Whether you are looking for something special to wear for a special occasion or simply in the mood for something sexy or romantic, rest assured that intimate apparel from Destination Maternity comes in all shapes, sizes, fabrics, and styles.

Pregnancy Health Tips
By 33 weeks of pregnancy, most women have probably started wondering a little bit about labor and delivery. Labor occurs in very distinct stages. Some healthcare providers divide labor into three stages and include an 'early phase' whereas others divide labor into four stages, which considers the early stage as the first stage of labor. Below we have broken labor down into four distinct stages.

Remember that the rupture of membranes, also known as your water breaking, can occur at any point before or during labor. Some women will start having regular contractions before their water breaks, but sometimes, your water can break before you have contractions.

Stage One
During the early stage of labor (stage one), sometimes referred to as the 'latent' stage, your cervix will slowly start dilating and effacing. Many women don't even recognize the regular contractions that help facilitate this process because they often resemble Braxton Hicks contractions. The latent phase begins when contractions come at regular intervals. Many women will start out having contractions that come every 10 to 15 minutes and last approximately 30 seconds.

During the early stages of labor, you may notice what is called a bloody show. This is a mucous discharge that is tinged with blood, and it is a perfectly common occurrence during early labor. Other women will lose their mucous plug during this time. The mucous plug actually seals off the cervix during pregnancy to prevent infection and invasion of foreign substances. Some women consider loss of the mucous plug a sure sign that labor has begun, but a woman can actually start losing her mucous plug weeks before delivery. The bloody show is a much better predictor of imminent labor than loss of the mucous plug.

The early stage of labor is often the longest. Generally during this time, the cervix will dilate up to 3 centimeters.

Stage Two
During stage two, you enter what is referred to as the active phase of labor. This is where all the fun begins. During this time, your body will be preparing aggressively to deliver your baby. Typically, you will start experiencing contractions that become frequent, longer, and stronger. This will cause your cervix to dilate much faster. If you start having regular and painful contractions that last for at least a minute, and occur every five minutes or so for about an hour, you are considered in the active stages of labor. By this point in time, you should call your healthcare provider to find out if they want you to wait at home or come to the hospital. Most women who live far away from the hospital should consider leaving at this point in time. Second time moms may also be encouraged to get to their healthcare facility sooner, because this stage of labor can go quite swiftly the second time around!

Most first time moms will be in active labor for 6-8 hours, though this can vary.

During the active phase of labor you will want to concentrate on your breathing and relaxation techniques. You may find your contractions get strong enough that you are unable to talk through them. If you have taken any prenatal classes, you will find the techniques offered come in handy.

Many women opt for pain medication during the second stage of labor. At this point, medication is not likely to slow things down.

Transition
After you have been in active labor for some time, your body will enter the transition period. During this time contractions become strong and typically come on every two to three minutes. Most women will find their contractions last a minute or more. During this phase, the cervix will dilate from 8 to 10 centimeters. The transition peroid can take anywhere from a few hours to a few minutes. Typically this is the most painful part of labor. If you don't have any pain relief, you may feel nauseous and dizzy during this part of labor.

Stage Three
Once your cervix is fully dilated, your baby will descend into the pelvis and you will be ready to push out your baby. Stage three is the period of time when pushing begins. Most first time moms will push for an hour or more, though it isn't uncommon for women to push for just 20 minutes. You may feel an urge to push involuntarily.

Many women find this stage of labor exhausting and exciting at the same time. Every contraction that is coming helps push your baby through the birth canal. For some women, the baby will descend rapidly, whereas others may take their time.

Your baby's head will advance down the canal until it reaches the widest part and becomes visible, This is referred to as crowning. At this point, usually everyone starts sharing tears of joy, as your baby is about to make his appearance in the world. Your doctor may note that your baby has a full head of hair, or may comment that your little one is as bald as can be. Right after your baby's head is delivered, your healthcare provider will suction the baby's mouth and nose. Typically with the next contraction, your baby's shoulders and body will be delivered.

Stage Four
Believe it or not, you are still technically in labor after your baby is born. After your baby is born, your uterus will continue to contract to help separate the placenta from the wall of the uterus. Once this happens, you may have to gently push to help deliver the placenta. Typically, these mild contractions occur a few minutes after delivery. For most women, the entire process takes less than 15 minutes. Most women don't even pay attention to this stage of delivery because they are consumed with the sight of their beautiful newborn baby.

There you have it, all the steps of labor easily outlined. Now you can start thinking about your big day, just a few short weeks away!

Read About Pregnancy Week 34