Now that you have entered into the last trimester of pregnancy, you will have gained about 25 to 30 pounds. Some women will gain about a pound a week until the end of the pregnancy. But half of that pound will go to the baby in the last weeks. The baby will start gaining about ½ of their birth weight in the next 6 to 7 weeks. The baby is starting to gain weight as he or she prepares for life outside of the womb. You will still continue to take the prenatal vitamins as well as stay away from fried and greasy foods.

Stick to eating smaller and healthier meals throughout the day; keep the heavy meals for earlier in the day. Try to keep the fruits and vegetables coming, they are a great part of what makes your baby healthy when they are born. By eating healthier, you will notice that your heartburn is starting to subside. So keep eating healthy and drink plenty of water. If you have given up soda, continue to stay away from it, it is only 7 more weeks or so.

Don’t be alarmed if you notice that your gums are bleeding as you brush your teeth. The baby books you have been reading should mention that being pregnant can actually decrease the strength of your teeth. So don’t panic if you notice this happening. You should be brushing every day and using floss, this may cut down the bleeding of the gums.

Continue drinking plenty of Calcium and Vitamin C, these will continue to help the baby stay strong and healthy for childbirth. Continue to choose your snacks wisely, strawberries and broccoli are great sources of calcium and vitamin C.

Baby’s Development

At this week of pregnancy, the baby should weigh about 5 pounds and measure in at 15 to 17 inches in length. The baby fat will continue to grow and settle under the baby’s skin. The baby’s bones are now hardened but the skull is still soft in some spots. There is no reason to panic; the skull has to be soft and flexible for birth. The pressure of childbirth is very powerful and that takes a toll on the baby’s head and that is why some kids are born with misshapen heads but they form throughout the child’s early years.

The baby’s lungs are almost mature now but if the baby was born now, they could survive in an incubator. Multiple births are usually born at this week in time. Baby’s settle into a special spot in the uterus until they are ready for birth. At this time, the baby is cephalic which is the head down position. If the baby has not yet reached this position, there is still time to turn the baby. You should not be worried about breach births or any other problems that you are scared of.

Changes With Your Body

By now the uterus is more than 5 inches from the belly button. The average weight gain at this week in pregnancy is between 22 and 28 pounds. Women start to wonder how childbirth is going to be, how will they know if their water breaks. This doesn’t happen to all women; only about one out of ten women experience that water rush of amniotic fluid. The amniotic sac would leak and indicate labor giving plenty of time to get to the hospital.

There are some exercises that pregnant women do to strengthen their pelvic muscles for birth. These are called the Kegel Exercises. Ask your doctor for a list of exercises that can be done. There are plenty of websites and books in the library that can demonstrate how these exercises are to be done. The baby will be moving a lot more as there is still room in the uterus. Monitor the baby’s movements with a diary, writer down the day and time.

Chances are your doctor is going to recommend that you do this in the next two weeks, so why not get a hard of the game. The normal amount of kicks you should feel is about 10 movements every 2 hours. If you don’t feel this, call your doctor. Chances are it doesn’t mean anything is wrong but this late into pregnancy you want to be sure.

What To Expect

In week thirty-three you should expect some trouble sleeping, walking and even sitting. Your organs are being pushed up by the uterus and it is hard to breathe and hard to get comfortable. As the next few weeks progress, it will become easier and easier. Try wearing loose fitted clothing; this will help you feel comfortable. To find a comfortable ground to sleep on, try using pillows in between your knees, this will alleviate any stress from the legs and back.

You can expect more frequent urination at week thirty-three. Do not sleep on your back, this can reduce the circulation and blood flow to the baby, plus it will make breathing harder as well. The best position to sleep is on the left side, try to find a position that causes you the least amount of pain and try to sleep that way all the time.

Try to continue doing moderate exercises but don’t over do it. Continue to take the prenatal vitamins as well as supplements. You will be able to feel the baby hiccuping. The baby should be descending by now but he or she may not have turned yet. Don’t panic, there is time.

Tips/Advice

By now, you should already know that you know your body better than anyone. If something doesn’t seem right, call your doctor. Now is the time when you should be deciding on when to go on maternity leave. You should have received admitting paperwork from the hospital for when you give birth. If you have any questions about your method of childbirth, don’t hesitate to ask.

You should have everything almost ready, the nursery and the diapers, wipes, crib and clothing all ready for when the baby comes home. If you are still undecided on the baby’s name, you should start narrowing it down. He or she will be here before you know it.