pregnancy week 33 developmentHelp your baby develop in the thirty-third week of your pregnancy

You are giving your precious baby antibodies to protect him or her from illnesses. Safeguard his or her development further with diet rich in nutrients like zinc and vitamin C.

What’s happening this week?

With just a few more weeks to go until the big day, your baby is drawing upon your antibodies to develop his or her own immune systemi. This will give him or her protection both in the womb and outside of it.

Your amniotic fluid levels fluctuate with each pregnancy weekii; and as your baby fills up the space in your uterus, you will now feel kicks more intensely. However, due to the cramped conditions, your baby may not move as much as before.

Your baby’s brain is quite well developed by now; but the skull, unlike other bones in the body that have hardened, stays soft to make birthing process easier while still protecting the brainiii.

By this week, baby weighs 4.25 pounds (1.9 kilograms) and measures about 17.25 inches from head to toe (44 centimeters)iv.

What can you expect? 

You may feel overheated or warmer than usual due to the increased flow of blood and higher metabolic rate in your body during pregnancyv. Cool off with these steps and you’ll be enjoying your pregnancy more:

  • Drink plenty of water to regulate your body temperature.
  • Know when to stop your exercise. While keeping active paves the way for a healthy pregnancy, stop your physical activity if you feel your body is overheating and you’re beginning to get dizzy or nauseated. Remember to consult your doctor before doing any exercises during your pregnancy.

What can you do to support your pregnancy?

Continue to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, they are rich in nutrients like vitamin C which supports your immune systemvi.

If you are on an exercise regimen, eat some protein afterwards to help your muscles recover, as pregnant women require more proteinvii. This protein boost also helps your baby’s body to grow. During the third trimester of your pregnancy, you need extra protein of around 30 grams daily(viii) which you can get from a variety of sources such as poultry, fish, milk, and eggs. Poultry and red meat are not only a good source of protein, they are also rich in zinc which supports both your and your baby’s immune functionix.

Keep communicating to your little one, Mums-to-be! Aside from stimulating the brain through sensory perception and memory, studies show that baby’s emotions start developing in the wombx and you can help this development by showing your little one plenty of affection. After all, soon, you’ll be able to tell him or her “I love you” in person!

 


 

 

References:
 
i.       Infection and the Immune System. (2009, October 31). Retrieved April 16, 2017 from          
         /Pages/Infection-and-the-Immune-System.aspx    
ii         Amniotic Fluid Disorders. (n.d.). Retrieved April 16, 2017from             
iii        You and your baby at 33-36 weeks pregnant. (2017, March 31). Retrieved April 10, 2017, from             
iv       Curtis, G. B., & Schuler, J. (2016). Your Pregnancy Week by Week (8th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Da Capo Press.
v        Changes within the body during pregnancy. Retrieved 29 May 2017 from,         
vi        Nutrients & Vitamins For Pregnancy. Retrieved 31 May 2017 from,             
vii       Pregnancy - During Pregnancy - Diet & Your Pregnancy. (n.d.). Retrieved April 11, 2017, from                 
viii      WHO/FAO/UNU report, 2007 (p. 243-244) http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/43411/1/WHO_TRS_935_eng.pdf
ix       Zinc supplementation during pregnancy: Biological, behavioural and contextual rationale. Retrieved 31 May 2017               
x        Van den Bergh, B. (1990). The influence of maternal emotions during pregnancy on fetal and neonatal behavior.             
          Journal of Prenatal & Perinatal Psychology and Health,5(2), 119-130.