This week marks the beginning of the 9th month of pregnancy—hard to believe! Your body and your baby are gradually preparing for birth. Find out what’s happening this week and what preparations you can make now.
How big is your baby in the 33rd week of pregnancy?
Your baby measures 29 centimeters from crown to rump this week and is about the size of a Chinese cabbage. The crown-to-heel length is approximately 42 centimeters.
33rd week of pregnancy: What's changing for you
You’re probably feeling increasingly tired and a bit less mobile—no wonder, considering how big your baby already is and that you’re now carrying some additional weight. Typical pregnancy complaints may also be increasing again: water retention can be troublesome. Especially when the last weeks of your pregnancy fall in the warm season—but also at other times—your body stores more water. To counteract this as much as possible, elevate your legs from time to time, keep moving regularly, and drink plenty of fluids.
You may also notice hemorrhoids around your anus, which are not uncommon during pregnancy and after childbirth. These protruding vascular cushions are uncomfortable but not dangerous for you or your baby. If you’d like to learn more about how to treat them best—or even prevent them—check out our article " ".
The parental leave
Parental leave is a break from working life that you and/or your partner can take to care for your child. It lasts up to three years, during which you are unpaid and released from work. However, you will receive a substitute benefit in the form of for up to 14 months. Unlike parental allowance, you don’t need to apply for parental leave yourself; you only need to notify your employer in writing—at the latest seven weeks before it begins. So if your partner plans to take parental leave immediately after the birth, it’s necessary to register it now. You will automatically be in during the first eight weeks after the birth, during which an explicit employment ban applies. After that, you also need to notify your parental leave at least seven weeks in advance if you want to take it. But don’t worry if you and your partner aren’t yet entirely sure how you want to divide and take parental leave: you can take it flexibly (while observing the notice periods) until the end of your child’s seventh year. All information about parental leave can be found at the .
In our article ""? two mothers also share which path they have chosen.
33rd week of pregnancy: Development of your baby
In the 33rd week of pregnancy, your baby weighs about 1,900 grams and is still busy building up fat reserves: it gains a staggering 200 grams per week until birth! It’s quite possible that your baby is already lying head down and slowly turning like a screw into your pelvis. This works because its skull bones are still softer than those of adults and can deform so its head can pass through the pelvis during birth. Only by the end of the 2nd year of life will your child’s skull bones be fully ossified. Aside from that, the development of its skeleton in the 33rd week of pregnancy is largely complete, and the bones are hardening more and more.
Your baby’s brain volume increases significantly again this week, as does its head circumference, which currently measures about 30 centimeters. A milestone your baby reaches in the 33rd week of pregnancy is the development of its senses, which are now complete. With its sense of touch, it can now feel its surroundings, such as its toes or its umbilical cord. Your baby also perceives sounds from the outside world and can even store memories. So if you or your partner sing or play something to your baby regularly, these sounds will already be familiar after birth and can help soothe your little one.
This is now important
Do you notice that your breasts are secreting a thick, yellow/orange fluid? This is called colostrum . The fact that this pre-milk is already leaking is completely normal and indicates that your breasts are preparing to breastfeed your baby after birth.
Many women increasingly suffer from sleep disturbances or inner restlessness toward the end of pregnancy. If racing thoughts are keeping you awake, talking with your partner, taking a walk, or meditating can help you relax in the evening. Sleep-promoting remedies and medications, including herbal ones, should only be taken after consulting your doctor.
Is your round belly making it difficult to move around in everyday life? A supportive belly band can provide relief. You can get one online or at a medical supply store, and your midwife can also recommend a suitable model.
Tip from LILLYDOO Midwife Sissi
Do you feel your belly occasionally becoming hard and then relaxing again? These are Braxton Hicks contractions, which train your uterine muscles for the big day. Don’t worry—these contractions are not yet a sign of imminent labor. However, if they occur more than three to four times per hour or more than ten times per day, or are accompanied by discharge or bleeding, you should contact your doctor or midwife, just to be safe. If you’re interested in the different types of contractions and want to know which ones indicate that it’s serious, check out our article „ “.
With our pregnancy calendar, we want to accompany you through this exciting time and provide you with relevant information, which also in exchange with our
