Pregnancy week by week · trimester 3
🍍 33 weeks pregnant: your baby is about the size of a pineapple
At 33 weeks pregnant, your baby is about the size of a pineapple, and their bones are strong but still flexible for birth.
Your baby this week
Your baby is around 43.7cm long and about 1.9kg, roughly the size of a pineapple. Their bones are hardening, apart from the skull, which stays soft and flexible to help them through birth and leaves a little space for their brain to keep growing. Your baby is gaining weight quickly now, adding plump cheeks and dimpled arms. They are getting better at keeping their own body warm. Through the placenta, you are passing on antibodies that will help protect them in their first months.
You this week
Your bump may feel heavy, and breathlessness and tiredness are common. Backache, swollen ankles, leg cramps, heartburn and many trips to the loo can be part of daily life. Some mums feel pressure low in the pelvis as their baby settles. You might feel restless, tearful, or keen to finish jobs before the baby comes. Try to give yourself permission to rest; there will always be one more thing on the list.
Kind things to do this week
- Put your feet up for a short spell each afternoon if you can.
- Check your maternity leave dates and any forms you need, such as your MATB1.
- Try a warm (not hot) bath or a gentle stretch before bed to help you unwind.
Appointments around now
No routine appointment this week. Your next one is usually at 34 weeks.
Questions to ask your midwife
- How will I tell the difference between Braxton Hicks and real labour?
- Will I need a second dose of anti-D at 34 weeks?
When to call your midwife or maternity unit
If your baby's movements slow down, stop or feel different to their usual pattern, contact your maternity unit straight away, day or night. Do not wait until the next day. Please also call your midwife or maternity unit if you have bleeding, fluid leaking, a severe headache, changes to your vision, sudden swelling, or itching (especially on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet). If you have regular tightenings or period-like pains before 37 weeks, call your maternity unit too.
OBubba from bump to baby
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OBubba is free through pregnancy, with a weekly update, kick counting and contraction timing. On the day your baby arrives, the same app becomes your baby tracker.
Questions
How big is my baby at 33 weeks?
Around 43.7cm from head to heel and about 1.9kg, roughly the size of a pineapple.
Is pelvic pressure normal at 33 weeks?
Yes, many mums feel pressure as their baby grows and settles lower. If you have regular tightenings, period-like pain, or fluid leaking, contact your maternity unit.
Not sure how far along you are? Use the due date calculator.
Sources
OBubba gives general information. It is not medical advice and does not diagnose anything. Your midwife and maternity unit are always the right people to ask, any time of day or night.