Pregnancy Week By Week

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Pregnancy week 32
Pregnancy week 33
Pregnancy week 34
Pregnancy week 35
Pregnancy week 36
Pregnancy week 37
Pregnancy week 38
Pregnancy week 39
Pregnancy week 40

Pregnancy Week 33		(–) Pregnancy Week 32		(+) Pregnancy Week 34
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Your Baby

Changes In Your Growing Baby
Your baby is steadily gaining weight during pregnancy week 33. For the remainder of your pregnancy your baby will continue to put on weight. The amniotic fluid surrounding your baby will reach its highest level at 33 weeks pregnant, then decline somewhat as your baby continues to grow larger.

During pregnancy week 33 and beyond your baby's brain is working hard at maturing. This week your baby's head will increase in size by as much as 2/8 of an inch due to rapid brain growth and maturity! Your baby's skin will also start transforming into a more pink color as your baby starts to add fat to his body.

Changes In Your Body
By pregnancy week 33 you are probably finding yourself more and more excited at the prospect of meeting your little baby for the first time. You are more than ¾ of the way there by this point in time. By around week 33 you should consider pre-registering at your hospital if this is allowed. This will help speed the admissions process once you are in labor. The last thing you will have on your mind as you approach delivery is filling out lots of paperwork!

• Also see Pregnancy Week 33

By pregnancy week 33 many women start experiencing mild swelling or edema. This pattern often remains as you continue your pregnancy week by week. Some women find that swelling is worse during warm weather or in hot climates. If you are experiencing your third trimester in the middle of summer more kudos to you! You are probably very warm and quite bloated. Just be sure to drink plenty of water to keep your body as hydrated as possible. This will help with swelling and improve your comfort.

Some women begin experiencing numbness or tingling in their fingers and wrists around 33 weeks pregnant. This often results from a condition referred to as carpal tunnel syndrome. You may find the tissues supporting your wrists and hands also swell, pinching the nerves running through your wrist. This is often more noticeable for women who work in a job that requires frequent typing. If this is you ask your healthcare provider if wearing a brace will help relieve some of the discomfort you are experiencing in your wrists and hands. Taking frequent rest breaks should help relieve some of the discomfort and swelling you are experiencing.

By now you may be curious about some of the stages of labor. Labor occurs in several well defined stages. Here's a glimpse of the stages of labor to prepare you for your upcoming delivery:

• Stage One - During this stage or the latent stage of labor your cervix slowly dilates and effaces. Most women don't' notice this process and only recognize contractions as similar to Braxton Hicks contractions. Some women may experience a bloody show during the first stage of labor, where the mucous plug discharges as the cervix softens and opens to prepare for delivery. This stage of labor is often the longest, and can last more than 14 hours for first time mothers.

• Stage two - this is the active stage of labor where your body prepares to deliver your baby. Your cervix will typically dilate between five and seven centimeters during this stage in labor. If you plan on an epidural it may be administered during this point in labor. Most moms will spend roughly six to eight hours in this stage of labor if this is their first baby.

• Transition - During this time your contractions come every two to three minutes apart and you dilate from eight to ten centimeters. You are almost ready to have your baby! This stage can last a few minutes to a few hours!

• Stage three - Your cervix is full dilated and your baby descends fully into your pelvis for birth. During stage three you begin pushing. If this is your first baby you will probably push longer than an experienced mother. Some women may push for 20 minutes while others may push for an hour or more.

• Stage four - Your baby is delivered. At this point the baby's placenta will deliver. Most women don't even notice this stage of labor as they are busy being enamored with their newborn baby!

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