33 Weeks Pregnant

Now that you have entered into the last trimester of pregnancy, you will have gained about 25 to 30 pounds. Some women will gain about a pound a week until the end of the pregnancy. But half of that pound will go to the baby in the final weeks, as the rest is distributed to the growing placenta, blood, and breast tissue (and maybe a bit for the hips too). Over the last 6 to 7 weeks, your baby will gain about half of their birth weight, as he or she prepares for life outside of the womb.

As your amniotic fluid levels begin to slow down, your baby’s movements may begin to feel more sharp this week as the fluid padding you had before, is reduced.

Baby’s Development

At this week of pregnancy, your baby should weigh about 5 pounds and measure in at 15 to 17 inches in length. Calcification has allowed baby’s to harden, and key minerals and nutrients are helping your baby grow and develop quickly. Continue to take your prenatal vitamins to help baby get everything he or she needs in the coming weeks.

Your baby is also taking in your maternal antibodies—which will protect him or her from germs after delivery.  Your baby will develop their own immune system in the coming months.

The baby’s lungs are almost mature now. If the baby is born now, they could survive in an incubator. If you are expecting more than one baby, they may be born this week—though a longer stay in your belly is certainly better. Your baby should be in a head-down position (where they may have been for many weeks) but if not, don’t panic. There’s still time for a flip in the future.

Changes With Your Body

By now the uterus is more than 5 inches from the belly button—and it may feel like it can’t get any bigger. The average weight gain at this week in pregnancy is between 22 and 28 pounds (though some people gain much more, or less).

Sleep may be elusive this month and pregnancy insomnia may be in your future.  With all of the nighttime bathroom breaks, your racing mind and crazy dreams, getting comfortable and sleeping for any significant length of time can be a challenge. One bright spot in your sleepless future—it will prepare you for your sleepless nights after baby comes.

What To Expect

In week thirty-three you can expect a bit more trouble sleeping, walking and even sitting. As your uterus expands upward and presses on your diaphragm, even breathing can be a challenge.  As the weeks progress though, your baby will drop lower into your pelvis and take some of that pressure away—allowing you to take a better breath.

If the bathroom doesn’t feel like your second home yet, just hang on.  Urinary frequency should have been back for several weeks by now, but if not, baby’s weight will soon keep your bladder from expanding fully—meaning more trips to the ladies room.

Forgetfulness, lightheadedness with movement may also start this week. If so, you can pin it all on hormones and try to take it with a grain of salt.  These weeks will pass quickly and you will be back to your normal self after delivery.

Overall you can expect more of the same—just on a bigger scale as baby grows and your body does its best to cope.

Tips/Advice

By now, you should know your body better than anyone. If something doesn’t seem right, call your doctor. Any symptoms of pre-term labor should be reported to your physician or labor and delivery unit.  This is also a typical time to enroll in breast feeding, or child birth classes if you and your partner are interested. There’s so much to learn and get ready for—so pace yourself and take it all in one day at a time.

32 Weeks Pregnant

You have now entered into your eighth month of pregnancy. The count-down to childbirth has begun and both you and your baby will are getting ready for the big day. While you are busy preparing baby’s room, and gathering the necessary items for after the birth, your baby is busy too—packing on the pounds and building muscles.

For some women (especially those who have had more than one baby) Braxton-Hicks contractions may be more pronounced in coming weeks. If you aren’t sure if your labor is the real deal, or just a trial run, try moving around. False labor will not continue with movement as true labor intensifies over time.  Braxton-Hicks contractions usually start at the top of the uterus and flow down toward the lower portion of the abdomen.  True contractions feel like a menstrual cramp and typically begin in the back and work their way around to the front. If you are unsure about your contractions, contact your doctor and follow his or her recommendations.

Baby’s Development

Right now your baby is filling their days with lots of preparation for birth.  At about 16 inches in length and weighing in at around 4-1/2 pounds, your baby is looking more and more like a newborn. As fat stores continue to deposit, baby is taking on a more solid appearance and losing the almost transparent skin they had before. Since about the 20th week, your baby has been secreting a waxy, white substance known as Vernix to protect their skin.  Vernix is comprised of oil and skin cells and helps form a barrier between your baby’s watery home and their tender new skin.  Some Vernix may still be present at birth, but it will be washed away with the first bath.

Your baby is on target to gain at least 2 more pounds before the end of this month, and the brain is still developing so it is important to continue to eat well and try to get as much rest as possible. You may not feel the baby moving as much as before, but close quarters have your little one pushing, stretching and flexing now—as opposed to those kicks you felt earlier on.

Changes With Your Body

Your uterus is now 5 inches above your belly button, and the intestines are pushed upward, and off to each side—located under the ribs now, as opposed to the abdominal cavity where they were before.

Changes in location, combined with hormonal relaxation of the muscle wall may leave you with some digestive troubles.  Just like in the months before, heartburn, constipation, and indigestion may be a normal part of your daily routine. Try eating small, frequent meals and sitting upright for at least thirty minutes after eating to help your stomach contents stay down.

Increasing pressure from the weight of the uterus (and hormones, of course) are also keeping your lower half from circulating blood as it normally would.  As a result, you can expect your varicose veins, hemorrhoids and leg cramps to continue.  If any of these are causing discomfort, talk with your doctor.

What To Expect

The coming weeks will bring more of the same physical symptoms, but you may begin to feel a tiny bit more nervous as well.  As the big day approaches, make sure to talk with those close to you about any concerns or uncertainties that you may have. Sit down with your doctor and your partner and discuss your child birth options and birth plan if you haven’t already done so.

Tips/Advice

Take it easy, cut back on all strenuous activities if you feel overly tired. Walking is still a great way to get exercise without straining yourself, as is swimming. Some classes are also designed with the mom-to-be in mind—so keep your eye out for prenatal yoga or aerobics classes.

31 Weeks Pregnant

This is a week of fast weight gain for both mom and the baby. With mostly mature body systems by now, baby can open and close their eyes at this week in pregnancy as well as receive signals from all other senses.

Each week is bringing you closer to your delivery, and with this comes an increased sense of anticipation. It’s normal to be nervous, just make sure to share your feelings with a supportive friend or loved one.

Continue to use these quiet days to finish tying up those loose ends. Your desire to prepare and nest may be starting (though it often doesn’t until days before delivery for some women) and you may want to shop, get baby’s laundry washed and even pack a hospital bag. It’s certainly quite early for a trip to the hospital, and if your labor started now, your baby would require a high level of care for many weeks.

Baby’s Development

Still gaining that ½ pound per week average, your baby is near it’s delivery length at around 18 inches. Weighing in at 3 ½ pounds these last several weeks are essential to baby’s growth while he or she packs on at least another 3 to 5 pounds .

The baby’s lungs are developed and they are able to inflate and deflate as your baby practices breathing motions. Not really needed until after delivery, lung tissue is beginning to secrete surfactant—a necessary agent for elasticity and lung flexibility. Babies born with too little surfactant often suffer from stiffness, and respiratory difficulties.

Baby’s hearing is now 100% completed and can hear sounds and voices clearly inside the womb. The skin is pink at this stage of pregnancy and won’t change too much in color before birth. The baby’s bones are hardening nicely and they will still need all of the calcium they can get before they are born, so mom’s diet is especially important now.

Now able to urinate, a baby may produce about a half a liter of urine every day. Your baby’s well-being may be assessed through the use of a biophysical profile sometime between now and your due date. Fetal breathing, non-stress test results, amniotic fluid levels and other indicators can tell your doctor how your baby is tolerating life inside.

Changes With Your Body

Your weight gain is estimated at 21 and 27 pounds. It is entirely possible that you have gained more weight. The majority of you weight gain is comprised of the baby’s weight, placenta, extra blood, water, the uterus and amniotic fluid. The ligaments and muscles and supporting the back are becoming relaxed and loose to prepare for childbirth. By now, you will notice a change in your breast size as they prepare for lactation, so make sure that you have a supportive bra.

Some women may begin to leak colostrum early during their pregnancy, while others never leak at all. No matter what your body does, it does not mean you cannot successfully breast feed.

Some moms-to-be will experience Braxton-Hicks contractions. Some women feel these contractions back in the second trimester, and others never have them at all. These painless, irregular contractions have sent many women to the hospital sure they were in labor only to be sent home. If you think you are having contractions, make sure to contact your doctor and follow their orders.

What To Expect

At this week of pregnancy, the baby is taking a significant amount of nutrients from the food that you are eating. Try to keep taking in healthy foods as long as possible. If you have not given up smoking, it is not too late. The ultimate idea is to quit right away. Increasing fatigue will make sleep more challenging and you may find yourself craving a nap during the day. If possible try to sneak one in when you can.

You will continue to experience frequent urination until the baby is born. Normally, this wouldn’t be difficult but if you have trouble getting a good night’s sleep then the constant getting up and down can be frustrating.

Be patient with all of these changes—they will be over soon enough.

Tips/Advice

This may be a good week to handle the paperwork process for maternity leave. If you haven’t already discussed the issue with your supervisor or human resources department, make sure to do so. If you need to cut back on hours, talk with your boss openly and modify your job requirements if there is a significant amount of standing or lifting involved.