Looking at your body now, it will be completely unrecognisable from what you saw before the pregnancy. Now, you probably have a sizeable baby bump, will have gained weight, and likely have enlarged or swollen breasts. Your baby has made remarkable changes, too. If you’ve found yourself asking, “how big is my baby at 33 weeks pregnant?” or, “what are the week 33 pregnancy symptoms?”, this article aims to answer your questions.

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33 Weeks Pregnancy Symptoms

Signs of pregnancy in week 33 can be harsh. Throughout the third trimester, symptoms typically get progressively worse as you near the delivery date of your baby. Here are the most common pregnancy symptoms at week 33:

• Heartburn and Indigestion

Heartburn is one of the most uncomfortable side effects of being pregnant. Progesterone, which is the hormone that facilitates the implantation of a fertilised egg, slows down the valve that connects the esophagus and stomach. This can lead to stomach acid reaching the esophagus, creating an unpleasant, burning sensation in your chest.

• Shortness of Breath

It is completely normal to be short of breath during pregnancy, despite how unpleasant it may be. It is a common third trimester symptom, meaning that you are likely to fall victim to it at 33 weeks pregnant. As your baby grows, the womb presses against the diaphragm and compresses your lungs. This, along with the extra weight that you’re carrying, limits your lung capacity and can make you feel short of breath more often than usual.

• Pregnancy Brain

Pregnancy-induced brain fog can leave you feeling discombobulated, confused, and disoriented. If you have experienced this, you’re not alone, “pregnancy brain” is one of the most well-known and widely cited signs of pregnancy. At 33 weeks, your hormones are wildly fluctuating from one minute to the next and, although some people don’t believe that it is a real condition, scientific research has shown that pregnancy can lead to cognitive impairment.

• Round Ligament Pain

Round ligament pain often occurs in the groin or lower belly region during pregnancy. It is a sharp pain that is most often felt in the second and third trimester. The pain can considerable discomfort for pregnant women and can last for several hours in extreme cases. The cause of round ligament pain is the expansion of your uterus. As your uterus grows, the ligaments that support it weaken and stretch, causing discomfort in the areas that are supporting the increased weight.

Your Body at Week 33

It’s important to look after your body at this stage. Your body will be fatigued, both mentally and physically, from all of the extra pregnancy hormones, weight, and symptoms that you are experiencing. Exercise, rest, and maintaining a healthy and balanced diet are crucial for your body’s ability to cope with the changes happening to you and your baby. If you are worried that you are not getting all of the right nutrients from your food intake, talk to your doctor about the possibility of starting with prenatal vitamin supplements.

A lot of women are unsure about if they can have sex at 33 weeks pregnant. Barring any complications that your doctor has highlighted, there are no reasons why safe sexual intercourse can’t be practiced at this week of the pregnancy. Though, you may have to try new positions due to the changes in your body.

Baby Size at Week 33

Your baby has grown a lot recently and has doubled in weight within the last 2 months. Your 33-weeks old fetus is now the same size as a pineapple. It weighs around 2 kg and is between 40 to 45 cm in length

To fuel the growth, the fetus at 33 weeks old drinks around a pint of amniotic fluid every day. In doing so, its gastrointestinal system is being prepared for when it must fend for itself in the outside world. Elsewhere, your baby is continuing to develop new fat cells and is gaining around half a pound (or 200 to 250 grams) every week.

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Week 33 Pregnant Ultrasound

Under normal circumstances, your doctor will not schedule a pregnancy ultrasound at week 33. One will only be scheduled if any complications are observed. Yet, many parents opt to have a 3D/4D pregnancy scan from an independent provider, as they are curious about their baby’s progress. At this stage, you will be able to see that your baby looks a lot like a little human, with complete limbs and facial features, and he or she will have a visible and audible heartbeat.

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