33 Weeks Pregnant

Now that you are in week 33 of pregnancy, weight gain is going to be normal for the rest of your pregnancy. You can expect to gain about a pound each week until you have your baby. Many women find that in those last few weeks of pregnancy they actually get too big for the maternity clothes they have been wearing. This is very normal, and you may need to invest in a few clothes that will fit for the next few weeks. However, you will want to be careful what you eat so that you do not gain too much weight during this time.
There are many changes that are happening to your baby during week 33 of pregnancy as well. Since there is less room for your baby now, you will notice that your baby does not move as much as he did before. There is no need to worry about this; however, you will still probably notice some kicking even though the level of movement is not like it was before. Usually, your baby will be in the birth position or will be getting into position as well, which means his head will be pointing down towards the birth canal.
As your stomach is continuing to grow during week 33, don’t be alarmed if your belly button begins to pop out. Some women may experience this earlier in pregnancy; however, most women have this happen between week 33 and the birth of the baby. This is totally natural, and more than likely, it will return to normal after you have your baby.
Most women are beginning to feel more tired. This is totally normal as well and you should be sure to get plenty of rest. If the tiredness gets to be overwhelming, you may want to talk to your doctor. In some cases being overly tired can point to an iron deficiency and you may need to be taking an iron supplement. However, just being tired and needing some extra rest is nothing to be worried about unless it is extreme.
Since labor is just on the horizon, there are a few things you may want to do during the 33rd week. For one, you may want to go and tour the labor and delivery area of the hospital you plan on going to. This will give you an idea of where to go and get you familiar with the layout and area before you have your baby. You may also want to consider what type of pain relief options you are going to want during your labor and delivery as well. There are three options available, including special breathing learned in Lamaze class, pain medications, or an epidural. It is usually helpful to make this decision before you actually go into labor.