33 weeks pregnant: Baby’s development, symptoms and top tips

Fun fact: your baby weighs about the same as a laptop computer this week. That’s right, at 33 weeks pregnant your baby is around 1.9 kg and measures almost 44 cm from head to heel.

Your baby is now sleeping with their eyes closed and spending their waking minutes with their eyes open. They’ll be able to see when the lights are on outside, which ought to mean they know the difference between night and day – but honestly, that difference is pretty meaningless to a baby in the womb.

Skull and bone development

Your baby’s bones have been hardening over recent weeks but their skull bones will stay relatively soft to allow them the flexibility to pass through the birth canal.

Fancy a drink?

Your baby is drinking their amniotic fluid, which is also what they’re peeing into. Though it sounds disgusting, it’s keeping them hydrated and enabling them to develop all the muscles and impulses they’ll need for feeding once they’re in your arms.

Immune system

Antibodies are being passed from you to your baby and they are developing their own immune system to keep them safe outside the womb.

Gaining weight

As you can tell from the weight increases over the last few weeks, your baby is laying down fat. Now nearly 2 kg, they may as much as double their weight by the time they’re born. The average newborn is between 3 kg and 4 kg. Don’t worry, they won’t run out of room – but it could get more uncomfortable for you yet.

The fundus (the top of your uterus) is now about three finger widths below your costal arch, putting considerable pressure on your lungs and lower down on your bladder. This means that you’ll now be out of breath more often, the chances of heartburn are higher, and you’ll still need to pee a lot more often.

Swollen legs and feet

Excess fluid in the tissue in your legs and feet often leads to even more painful swelling than you’ve already experienced. Swollen ankles (sometimes jokingly called cankles because your ankles and calves seem to merge!) can also be a problem, and if you’re struggling to get your feet into your favourite boots, it’s best to put them away for now.

Getting plenty of rest and putting your legs in a raised position are simple things you can do to help alleviate these symptoms.

Your baby’s movements become more forceful

Your baby is now moving around and turning so much in your womb that it can literally take your breath away and make you stop what you’re doing. If you’re expecting twins, it can feel like there’s a storm raging in your belly. Don’t worry: it’s completely normal and, in fact, it’s important for your baby to do this so that they can get into the right position for birth.

Your body prepares for the birth with practice contractions

In week 33, you’ll often feel your belly become harder for short periods of time as your body trains for the imminent birth of your child. These practice contractions will become more and more intense until you get what’s called false labour, contractions which result in your uterus moving down towards your lesser pelvis. The good news, this should help reduce the pressure on your lungs, so you can breathe more easily.

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome is pressure on a nerve in your wrist and can cause numbness, tingling or pain in your hand and fingers. When you’re pregnant, fluid can build up in your wrist and cause carpal tunnel. This is one of those annoying pregnancy symptoms that you can’t do anything much about, and which should go away after the birth of your baby. In the meantime, ask your GP about hand exercises that might help relieve the symptoms.

Insomnia

Can’t sleep? It’s bad enough that you can’t get comfortable at night, and that the baby chooses your rest time to start kicking up a storm, but now your brain refuses to shut down and let you sleep. Pregnancy insomnia is often caused by the sheer amount of stuff going on in your brain. Worrying about the journey ahead, the long list of things you want to do before the baby comes, and wider issues can keep your brain buzzing long after you’ve gone up to bed.

There are a couple of techniques you can try to help you get to sleep:

If nothing’s working, and you’re getting more and more stressed, get up. Reset. Try again.

Breastfeeding classes

Most antenatal classes will include a session on breastfeeding, but if you don’t feel like you’ve got all the information you need, ask your midwife about breastfeeding classes. Maternity departments often run these kinds of classes and if they’re run by the NHS they might even be free.

Find out about hospital policies

Hospital policies have been stricter since COVID and you might find that the policies on things like visitors can change from one week to the next. Find out what your chosen hospital’s standard procedures are for allowing in birthing partners (are you limited to one, or can you have more?) and visitors after the birth. It is also worth enquiring about the procedures for after the baby is born. Some hospitals prefer to have patients in and out as soon as possible, whereas others like to keep you longer for monitoring. Of course, this will also depend on the kind of birth you have, and how you and the baby are doing.

Calcium

Are you getting enough calcium in your diet? If you’re not a big milk drinker, you might be worrying that you’re calcium deficient. In fact, you can get plenty of calcium from leafy greens, fruits like kiwi fruit and blackberries, beans, nuts and seeds. Plant-based milks also contain lots of calcium.

Relax

If you’re feeling achey and uncomfortable, it can be really nice to treat yourself to a pregnancy massage. Make sure you let the masseuse know that you’re pregnant ahead of the appointment so that they can prepare an appropriate bed for you. If they don’t have a bump-friendly bed, don’t worry – there are other positions you can be comfortable in and still benefit from their magic hands.

The third trimester is widely known to be uncomfortable. But if you’re in severe pain, don’t suffer in silence. Talk to your midwife or seek medical attention if you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms:

What is baby doing in the womb at 33 weeks?

Your baby is spending a lot of time sleeping, and their active time practicing all their newfound skills, developing their senses and listening to you. They might still be doing flips, or they could have already got into their birth position. Your midwife will be able to tell you when they feel your bump.

How do babies sleep in the womb at 33 weeks?

Your baby will sleep in whatever position they find themselves in. They’re floating in amniotic fluid, and quite comfortable, even though you’re probably not. At this stage, they’ll be spending a lot of their time sleeping. They might have found their thumb to suck, or they might be holding onto their feet – they’re so flexible!

How can I tell if my baby is head down at 33 weeks?

If you feel around, you might be able to tell which part of your baby is where inside your tummy; however, it can be tricky to tell a head from a bottom at this stage! You’ll be seeing your midwife next week for another antenatal appointment, so you can always ask them what they think.

Is it normal to feel a lot of pressure at 33 weeks?

If your baby has moved head down, you might feel more pressure on your pelvis, bladder and bowel. It can be uncomfortable to stand for long periods, and you can sometimes feel like your insides are ready to fall out. If the pressure is intense, you’re in pain, or it’s accompanied by other symptoms, talk to your midwife. Rarely, pressure can be a sign that you’re going into labour, so it’s worth keeping an eye on.

How do I check my cervix at 33 weeks?

Unless you have experience with vaginal exams or you regularly check your own cervix, you’re probably not going to know what you’re checking for, and a midwife would not normally check your cervix until much closer to (or just beyond) your due date. Every vaginal exam carries the risk of introducing bacteria to your vagina, which can be dangerous to the baby. For all these reasons, it’s recommended that you don’t check your cervix without first talking it through with your midwife.

Got questions? At the HiPPBabyClub, we bring you real-world advice and support from HiPP parents, midwives, nutritionists and more. Join our Baby Club to find out more.