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 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 pregnancy week 33 and during the remainder of your pregnancy week by week. Your amniotic fluid may be at the highest level it will reach during your pregnancy at 33 weeks. Your baby's brain has been busy growing rapidly during pregnancy at 33 weeks, increasing the size of your baby's head by as much as 3/8 of an inch. Your baby's skin will 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 by pregnancy 33 weeks at the thought of delivering your baby. Hold on however, you still 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 about 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 B&B you are staying at much less comfortable than those at home. It is important however 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 traveling.

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 intimate apparel from Destination Maternity comes in all shapes, sizes, fabrics and styles for women during pregnancy and after.

Pregnancy Health Tips
By thirty three weeks 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 for your consideration.

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 however when contractions are coming 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 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 into the cervix. 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. For first time moms it can last 14 hours or more. Generally during this time the cervix will dilate between 1 and 4 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. Most women's cervix will dilate 5-7 centimeters during this stage of labor. Generally if you start having regular and painful contractions that last 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. The length of time second time moms are in the active phase is typically much shorter as mentioned above.

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 at this point in time.

Many healthcare providers encourage walking to help speed things along during active labor. One thing you may try to help relieve the pain and discomfort associated with this phase of labor is take a warm shower or bath. This often helps induce greater relaxation, which can also speed along the process. Other women find leaning against their partner comforting and helpful during this phase of labor.

Many women opt for pain medication during this phase of labor. By this point in time medication is not likely to slow things down, though you may be confined to your bed if you have an epidural.

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 (though some women will find their contractions remain five minutes apart during the entire delivery, every woman is unique!). Most women will find their contractions last a minute or more. During this phase the cervix will dilate from 8 to 10 centimeters. It can take anywhere from a few hours to a few minutes long. 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 if fully dilated your baby will descend fully into the pelvis and you will be ready to push out your baby. Stage three is the period of time 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. One thing you can to do prepare yourself for this stage of labor is practice your kegels. This will help tone the pelvic floor muscles and enable you to push harder and more efficiently during labor.

Many women find this stage of labor a combination of exhaustion and excitement. Every contraction that is coming at this point in time 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. Usually this is the time when people start laughing and sharing tears of joy, as your baby is about to make his presence known to the world. Your doctor may note that your baby has a full head of hair, or may comment that your little one is 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 will be delivered followed by the body!

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 site 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