What's happening with your baby at 33 weeks?
At 33 weeks, your baby is roughly 44 cm long and weighs around 1.9 kg (about 4.2 lb). Bones throughout the body are hardening now, with one important exception: the skull stays soft and separated at the sutures so it can move through the birth canal.
Your baby's immune system is developing, and antibodies are passing from you across the placenta — protection that will carry into the first months after birth. The eyes can now perceive light and dark, and the pupils can constrict and dilate in response.
Weight gain continues at a steady clip, around half a pound a week. There's noticeably less room to move than a few weeks ago, so you're more likely to feel slow rolls and stretches than sharp, distinct kicks.
What symptoms are normal at 33 weeks pregnant?
Braxton Hicks contractions — irregular, painless tightening of the uterus — are common and often more frequent now. Heartburn, shortness of breath, swelling in the feet and ankles, and trouble sleeping tend to continue or intensify through this stretch of the third trimester.
Some people notice tingling or numbness in the hands, similar to carpal tunnel, caused by fluid retention pressing on nerves in the wrist. Leaking a little colostrum (early breast milk) from the nipples is also normal and doesn't need any action.
You might feel the sensation of your baby's head settling lower into the pelvis, sometimes called lightening. For some people this happens weeks before labor; for others, especially in a second or later pregnancy, it doesn't happen until labor is underway.
What should you do at 33 weeks pregnant?
If you haven't chosen a pediatrician yet, this is a good week to do it — some hospitals ask for this information before discharge. It's fine to call a couple of practices and ask about their approach before deciding.
The Tdap vaccine is typically recommended between 27 and 36 weeks, and getting it now (rather than later in that window) gives your body more time to pass protective antibodies to your baby. Ask your provider if you haven't had it yet this pregnancy.
Keep doing daily kick counts, and finish packing your hospital bag if it's still sitting half-done. Reviewing your birth plan with your provider at your next appointment is worth the ten minutes.
When should you call your provider at 33 weeks?
A noticeable, sustained drop in fetal movement is the main thing to watch for — if a kick count of 10 movements in 2 hours doesn't add up, call your provider the same day. Don't wait to see if it improves overnight.
Call promptly for a severe headache with vision changes, sudden swelling in your face or hands, vaginal bleeding, fluid leaking, or regular contractions — all of these need same-day evaluation, since contractions before 37 weeks can signal preterm labor.