You now are in your thirty third week of pregnancy, and at the end of this week you’ll only have 7 more left to go (that’s just under two months!). You are probably often thinking of how your life is going to change with the newest addition to your family, and your sore and aching body serves as a constant reminder of what big changes are on their way.

Your body at week 33

Your body may be feeling tired and run down. Pain and discomfort are fairly normal to you, and your body has changed significantly since week 1 of pregnancy. Common pregnancy symptoms at this time are shortness of breath, forgetfulness, constipation, heartburn, leg cramps and a sore back.

Your baby at week 33

Your little one is now developing their own immune system, thanks to the antibodies being passed from you to them – enabling them to fight off germs once they are born.

All five senses have developed now, and your baby can both hear and see (changes in light) in your belly. Their eyes stay open more regularly while awake and they are able to coordinate sucking and swallowing – an important skill to have once born.

Things to keep in mind at week 33

You may notice that you feel irregular contractions from time to time, and these are known as Braxton Hicks contractions. However, it is a good idea to be aware of the difference between Braxton Hicks and the real deal. Braxton Hicks contractions are normally sporadic, irregular and don’t last long periods of time. These false labour pains aren’t painful and they may even stop when you change position or start doing a different activity.

True labour contractions in contrast come in regular intervals and the contractions get stronger and closer together as time passes. The contractions won’t go away if you change your position and the pain from these contractions can be felt throughout your abdomen and lower back.

If you go into labour before 37 weeks this is known as preterm labour. If you think you are going into preterm labour, call your doctor immediately, as they can do alot to delay your delivery.  Treatment for preterm labour isn’t guaranteed to work but it can help you stay pregnant longer – and therefore increase the likelihood that your little one is born healthy and happy.