33 Weeks Pregnant: Oy! Breathlessness + Heartburn

Your Baby at 33 Weeks

Your little one is thirsty lately. They're drinking around a 16 ounces of her amniotic fluid every day. That sounds a little gross, but what is truly gross is that your baby then pees it out—into the amniotic fluid—and then drinks it all over again!

On the totally great side of things, this same fluid is helping get their lungs ready their 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—every second—through the umbilical cord. Amazingly, after birth, your bub will soon fill their lungs with air—drying up all that fluid almost instantly—and begin breathing air that will sustain them through every day of the rest of their life.

In the meantime, your baby's immune system has matured plenty, too. And to double and triple protect them, you’re still passing antibodies through the placenta and you can continue giving them protective antibodies through your breast milk.

Size of Baby at 33 Weeks

At 33 weeks your baby is roughly the size of a pineapple (but much less prickly!).

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—you’re 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 ‘round the clock…or that you can barely sleep at all because you’re constantly waking to pee.

Your expanding uterus has crowded all of the organs in your belly. Your lungs are pushed up, so they'll have less room to fill with air, leaving you breathless. It can feel pretty disconcerting, but it’s normal, and 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'll feel better eating smaller meals so that you don’t get overly full. Heartburn may strike, too, as stomach acid gets pushed back up your esophagus. Drinking a lot of water throughout the day helps move the food along faster, so you’re 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

Common 3rd trimester symptoms at 33 weeks of pregnancy include:

• Backpain
• 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 SeatCheck.org.
  
• Create your birth announcement: One of the last things you’ll 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’d like to share the great announcement. (Psst! Here are some creative ways to caption your birth announcement!)
  
• Pack your hospital bag: Think about what will make the time after delivery more comfortable for you. Maybe that’s a warm robe and socks, maybe it’s flip flops for the shower and your own toiletries. If you're allowed to eat during labor, packing snacks and beverages is a good idea. Don’t forget a change of clothes for you and your partner.
  
• If home birthing, start prepping: If you’re 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.
  

Pregnancy Quote of the Week

Women's bodies have near-perfect knowledge of childbirth; it's when their brains get involved that things can go wrong.— Peggy Vincent

32 Weeks Pregnant | 34 Weeks Pregnant

Disclaimer: The information on our site is NOT medical advice for any specific person or condition. It is only meant as general information. If you have any medical questions and concerns about your child or yourself, please contact your health provider.