- Preparing for Pregnancy
- Diet and Exercise
- Emotional Wellbeing
- Health
- Antenatal Care
- Preganancy at 1-3 Weeks
- Preganancy at 4 Weeks
- Preganancy at 5 Weeks
- Preganancy at 6 Weeks
- Preganancy at 7 Weeks
- Preganancy at 8 Weeks
- Preganancy at 9 Weeks
- Preganancy at 10 Weeks
- Preganancy at 11 Weeks
- Preganancy at 12 Weeks
- Preganancy at 13 Weeks
- Preganancy at 14 Weeks
- Preganancy at 15 Weeks
- Preganancy at 16 Weeks
- Preganancy at 17 Weeks
- Preganancy at 18 Weeks
- Preganancy at 19 Weeks
- Preganancy at 20 Weeks
- Preganancy at 21 Weeks
- Preganancy at 22 Weeks
- Preganancy at 23 Weeks
- Preganancy at 24 Weeks
- Preganancy at 25 Weeks
- Preganancy at 26 Weeks
- Preganancy at 27 Weeks
- Preganancy at 28 Weeks
- Preganancy at 29 Weeks
- Preganancy at 30 Weeks
- Preganancy at 31 Weeks
- Preganancy at 32 Weeks
- Preganancy at 33 Weeks
- Preganancy at 34 Weeks
- Preganancy at 35 Weeks
- Preganancy at 36 Weeks
- Preganancy at 37 Weeks
- Preganancy at 38 Weeks
- Preganancy at 39 Weeks
- Preganancy at 40 Weeks
- Labour and Birth
- The First Few Days
Pregnancy at 33 Weeks
By this stage of pregnancy you are probably communicating with your baby on a regular basis, even if you are not always aware of it. Many women inadvertently stroke their abdomen or talk to their baby, and your baby is increasingly aware of the sounds, movements and emotions that you communicate to him. Get your partner to massage your bump with gentle, sweeping, rhythmic movements.
Development
The main focus now is on growth. Your baby needs to become bigger, fatter and stronger in order to maintain his body temperature, feed well and fight off any infections that come his way.
His immune system is still developing and, although his major organs are complete, the extra weeks are crucial for the final stages of the development of his lungs, which are maturing fast.
Appearance
Your baby looks very much the same as he will at full term, but smaller and generally more'delicate'. His skin appears paler because of the build-up of white fat beneath it. This fat will have a big impact on his appearance, making his skin smoother and plumper, with dimples at the elbows and knees and creases in the wrists and neck.
Movement
Your baby is still quite active. You and your partner may be able to recognize the shape of a small foot or elbow pressing against your abdomen, or a little bottom pushing beneath your ribs. If this is especially uncomfortable, try changing position, which may in turn encourage your baby to shift. Getting down on all fours or going for a swirn can often do the trick.
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Your body responds to your different emotions by producing hormones, which are transmitted to your baby through the placenta. This is referred to as sympathetic communication. In this way, your baby becomes aware of whether you are frightened and upset, or happy and relaxed.
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