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33rd week of pregnancy: What happens in the 33rd week of pregnancy?

33 weeks : What happens in the 33rd week of pregnancy?

In this article you will learn the following

In the 33rd week of pregnancy ( 33rd week of pregnancy) you are about to go on maternity leave. This article answers the following questions:

  • What happens in the 33rd week of pregnancy?
  • How big is my baby at 33 weeks?
  • What happens to my body in the 33rd week of pregnancy?
  • When does maternity leave start?

33. SSW: What happens in the 33rd week of pregnancy?

Your child can now hear what you say. It can taste what you eat. The pupils are mature, the eyes are open and it can already see. It even perceives the light conditions through its thin abdominal wall. It can feel with the sensory cells of its skin.

Only one sense is missing: the perception of smells. This fifth sense is not yet fully developed because there is no air as a transmission route in the womb. Your baby will only perceive and process smells after birth.

The processing of sensory perceptions is already taking place in the brain. This develops very quickly in the 33rd week of pregnancy and even grows a bit again. Because the brain volume increases, the head circumference also increases by about 1.5 cm this week.

How big is my baby in the 33rd week of pregnancy?

Up to the expected due date, yours will increase Baby still gaining weight. He now weighs an average of 2 kilos and is the size of a large honeydew melon, which is approximately 44cm.

What happens to my body at 33 weeks?

About three to four weeks before giving birth, many women notice a pulling sensation in their abdomen and notice that their stomach is becoming very hard. These are preliminary contractions that, unlike labor pains, occur at irregular intervals.

They are a kind of gymnastics program for the uterus: the uterus contracts and uses this muscle training for the birth. When hibernating, they become weaker while labor pains intensify.

Downdrafts cause the abdomen to shift slightly downward. This reduces the shortness of breath and allows you to breathe better again. Meanwhile, the pressure on the bladder increases and you have to go to the toilet more often. Nevertheless, make sure you drink enough fluids.

When does maternity leave begin?

Maternity leave usually begins six weeks before the expected date of birth, i.e. the 34th week of pregnancy ends eight weeks after birth. If you had a premature birth or gave birth to multiple births, the maternity leave after the birth is 12 weeks.

However, it is also possible that your gynecologist decides to send you on maternity leave sooner or longer by means of an individual employment ban. This can be the case if there is a risk for you or your child.

Make sure that the last week at work is not too stressful. You may have to prepare a handover before your maternity leave and talk to a lot of people again. Take care and listen to your body.

Use maternity leave to give yourself some more “me time”: read a book, take a bath, listen to a podcast, and do whatever makes you feel good. Enjoy togetherness with your partner again. If you already have children in your life, spend some time with them again. Once the baby is born, it will demand your full attention, which could make siblings feel neglected.

Want to know what's happening at 34 weeks gestation (34 weeks)? Click here.

Here you will also find an overview of all weeks of pregnancy (1st week of pregnancy to 40th week of pregnancy)

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