Week 33

Carola Felchner is a freelance writer in the medical department and a certified training and nutrition advisor. She worked for various specialist magazines and online portals before becoming a freelance journalist in 2015. Before starting her internship, she studied translation and interpreting in Kempten and Munich.

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The ninth month of your pregnancy began in the 33rd week of pregnancy. According to the calculated date, the birth begins in around seven weeks. Find out here why you can breathe more freely again and why a doll and a bag of black tea in the 33rdSSW could play an important role for you.

33 weeks of gestation: This is how your baby is developing

In the 33rd week of pregnancy, most babies go down: Most of the time, the offspring has now turned into a headstand and slides deeper into the pelvis. Do you feel a pull in your stomach area? Presumably there are contractions behind it in the 33rd week of pregnancy, which help the child to "come down" - doctors speak of sinking contractions here.

Almost a shame that there is so little to see in your stomach, because the baby's pupils react to differences between light and dark in the 33rd week of pregnancy. Alternatively, the child is busy building up fat reserves and sleeping. Often in the 33rd week of pregnancy it is slumbering in deep sleep. However, this is repeatedly interrupted by so-called REM phases, in which the brain activity is very high.

33rd week of pregnancy ultrasound: That can be seen

Your baby measures around 42 centimeters in the 33rd week of pregnancy. The weight gain has also not stopped: the child now weighs around 1,900 grams - and the trend is rising.

33rd week of pregnancy: That will change for you

Although the baby is diligently building up fat reserves, i.e. gaining weight, you may still notice a relief from the lowering movement in the 33rd week of pregnancy. Because the baby position shifted downwards relieves your diaphragm - you are less short of breath.

The fact that the offspring is thriving is shown by your increasing curves up to the birth: your waist circumference grows and grows. As long as you are a little more immobile, that's not a problem. However, if you get pain in your upper abdomen in 33 weeks of pregnancy, see a doctor! These could be signs of biliary problems or a dangerous increase in blood pressure (preeclampsia).

Another side effect of the 33rd week of pregnancy could be hormone-related growths in your gums. These must be treated by the dentist. If, on the other hand, only blisters appear, you can treat them yourself with mouth balm and brine toothpaste.

33rd week of pregnancy: That is important now

A large child or a quick delivery can result in the skin on the perineum no longer holding up to excessive stretching and tearing at birth. One then speaks of a rupture of the perineum. Sometimes the skin is deliberately incised first (perineal cut). In order to make this area between the vagina and anus more supple for the birth, you can start with the so-called perineum preparation around the 33rd week of pregnancy.

A daily perineal massage, for example, can be an effective instrument for this. To do this, soak a bag of black tea in hot water for four minutes, squeeze it out gently and hold it against the perineum while sitting on the toilet for five minutes to promote blood circulation and soften the tissue. After that, massage the perineum with a few drops of oil for five minutes. There are special dam oils, but olive, sunflower or almond oils are also suitable.

If the perineum area is damaged during birth, smaller tears usually heal by themselves. Somewhat larger ones are sewn with self-dissolving thread. Only very serious injuries require surgical treatment.

Midwife tip

Even if the joy about the baby should be great: the closer the due date approaches, the more restless you may become, worry about whether everything will go well and how you will fare as a mom. If you want to take St. John's wort or valerian for such restless states or insomnia, do so. These home remedies are perfectly fine. As a rule, you can also take other herbal remedies. Just as at any other point in pregnancy, ask your midwife or doctor again as a precaution at the 33rd week of pregnancy.