33 weeks pregnant: symptoms, tips and more
You are officially in your third trimester and you are probably wondering what life with your baby will be like....at this point, your body may have been feeling the effects of pregnancy for more than seven months....you may have noticed many changes....you may also have been experiencing nagging pains and swelling in parts of your body....just a few weeks into your pregnancy.
Physical changes
By now you've noticed that many parts of the body change during pregnancy....while some things, like a bigger midsection and bigger breasts, it's clear that many other parts of the body have also adapted to pregnancy....the good news is that most of these changes should return to normal after pregnancy.
Your body produces more blood than usual during pregnancy....blood volume increases by more than 40% and the heart has to pump faster to accommodate this change....sometimes this can lead to palpitations....talk to your doctor if you notice this happening more than usual.
Child
With only seven weeks left in your nearly 40-week pregnancy, your baby is getting ready for birth.. At 33 weeks, your baby should measure 15-17 inches and weigh 4-4.5 pounds.. Your baby will continue to gain weight as you get closer to your due date.
During these last weeks in the womb, the baby kicks vigorously, uses senses to perceive the environment and sleeps.. Babies at this stage can even experience deep REM sleep.. In addition, with eyes that narrow and dilate, they can see and detect light.
Formation of twins in the 33rd week
You've probably noticed that your babies sleep a lot between all the kicking and rolling....they even show their brain's sleep patterns!... By this week, their lungs are almost fully matured, so they're ready to take their first breaths on delivery day.
See more: List of Best Gynecologists
Symptoms of pregnancy in week 33
As mentioned above, you may have noticed changes in your heart.... Some other symptoms that you may experience in the 33rd and last week of pregnancy include:
- back pain
- Ankle and foot swelling
- Difficulty sleeping
- Heartburn
- shortness of breath
- Braxton Hicks contractions
- back pain
As the baby grows, the sciatic nerve, which is the largest nerve in the body, gets compressed. This can lead to back pain called sciatica.. For back pain relief, you may want to try the following:
- Taking a hot shower
- Using a heating pad
- Change position to the side associated with sciatica pain relief
A study in the Journal of Orthopedics and Sports Physiotherapy shows that physical therapy such as exercise and exercise therapy can be effective in reducing back pain and hip pain before and after pregnancy.
If you have severe pain, call your doctor.
You may have noticed that your ankles and feet are more swollen than they have been in months.. This is due to the pressure your growing uterus is putting on the veins in your legs and feet.. Get it.
Now that you are well into the last trimester of your pregnancy, you should be aware of the signs of preterm labor.... Although your baby will not be full term for a few weeks, it is possible to go into labor prematurely... Signs of preterm labor include:
- regularly spaced contractions that converge
- Camp in the lower back and legs that won't get better
- Rupture of the sac of water (can be large or small)
- Blood or brown vaginal discharge (known as a "bloody show")
Even if you think you're in labor, it might just be Braxton Hicks....These are rare contractions that don't intensify or get closer together.... They should go away after a while and should not be as strong as the contractions you will eventually experience during labor.
If your contractions get longer, stronger, or closer together, go to the hospital where you gave birth....it's too soon for the baby to be born and they will probably try to stop the labor....preterm labor can be caused by dehydration...
Often an IV bag is enough to stop labor.
Actions to be taken this week to have a healthy pregnancy
As the pressure on the body increases, it may be time to visit the pool... Walking or swimming in the pool can help with swelling as it compresses the leg tissue and may provide temporary relief... It can also make you feel weightless... Be careful not to overdo it when doing light exercise and remember to drink enough water>.
Time to call the doctor
At this stage of pregnancy, you visit the doctor more often... For peace of mind, be sure to share your questions with the doctor... If your questions are urgent, write them down so you don't forget to ask them at the next appointment.
Call your doctor if you notice signs of preterm labor, unusual shortness of breath, or decreased fetal movements (if you don't notice 6 to 10 movements in an hour).