Your pregnancy week-by-week: Week 33

Your pregnancy week by week | Your pregnancy in week 33

placeholding invisible text

That's goodtoknow...

Your weight gain should have slowed - if you're still gaining more than 1kg a week, see your doctor.

- Send us your tips

placeholding invisible text

Average rating:

You are now 33 weeks pregnant or in your 34th week if that's how you're counting it

How is your baby growing?

Your baby measures about 42cm and weighs 4lbs.

The brain and nervous system are now fully developed. Although the other bones are still hardening, your baby's skull will stay soft and separated to make birth easier. You'll feel fewer kicks as they have less room to move.

How are you feeling?

Your belly will swell more now as the amniotic fluid is at its highest level, it will stay at this level until you give birth.

If this is your first baby it may have moved into the head-down position, and it will be easier for you to breathe. If it's a second or even third baby it may not engage until much nearer the birth.

Top tips

Now that your bump is quite big, it's a good time to practise different positions for labour. Try to work out what's the most comfortable position - and don't worry if it feels silly, you need to be happy.

You might find a Swiss or birthing ball helpful - it looks like a large beach ball - to sit on or lean over. They're relatively inexpensive and should make things a lot easier.