The change of pregnant women at week 33

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by Doctor Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital.

33 weeks pregnant women often face many difficulties in daily activities because in this week of pregnancy, the fetus's growth rate is very fast, filling the mother's belly.

1. What's special about 33 weeks pregnant?

33 weeks pregnant women gain an average of 10 - 12.7 kg since the beginning of pregnancy. From week 33, about half of your extra weight will be passed on to your baby.
33 week fetus continues to grow rapidly, the lower body bones begin to become stiffer to support the whole body of the baby. Meanwhile, the bone inside the skull is still quite soft, to be able to withstand the slight compression during vaginal birth. However, certain details in the skull remain soft for the first few years of a baby's life, allowing the brain to develop fully.
Meanwhile, the circumference of the abdomen is getting bigger and bigger, making it difficult for pregnant women to move and exercise. 33 weeks pregnant may experience many unpleasant symptoms, such as heartburn, insomnia, abdominal pain, venous insufficiency, shortness of breath.
Even so, having sex during 33 weeks of pregnancy is still considered safe, although at times pregnant women can feel uninspired and uncomfortable. To keep the "fire", in addition to sex, the husband can have intimate contact with the pregnant wife by many other methods, such as back rub, foot massage.

2. How does the 33-week pregnant woman's body change?

2.1. Insomnia Insomnia in the third trimester occurs in 75% of pregnant women. Hormonal changes during pregnancy, leg cramps, heartburn, bloated stomach, baby kicking a lot make pregnant women unable to sleep. It's also possible that a 33-week pregnant woman can't sleep due to worrying a lot about the upcoming delivery or thinking about the to-do list before and after giving birth.
33 weeks pregnant women need to get enough rest, especially before going to bed, to have a comfortable mind and easy to fall asleep. To overcome insomnia during pregnancy, pregnant women can take a warm bath, or have a cup of hot milk before bed, avoid exercising or eating too close to bedtime. In addition, many pregnant women find reading books and listening to soft music helps them relax and fall asleep easier.

2.2. Should supplement with omega-3 (DHA) Omega-3 (or DHA) is a very important fatty acid for the brain development and eyesight of the fetus. In addition, DHA also helps prevent preterm labor and prevent postpartum depression. Nearly all of a baby's DHA accumulation occurs during the third trimester of pregnancy. Pregnant women can supplement DHA for their babies by using fatty fish and fatty oils in their weekly meals. According to the recommendations of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), pregnant women should have 2 meals per day. week with cooked fish and shellfish, such as shrimp, tilapia, snapper, salmon, pollock, catfish (preferably wild-caught or organically raised). Other good sources of DHA include, for example, algae and eggs, or other foods rich in unsaturated fats.

3. Common symptoms in pregnant women at 33 weeks pregnant

Fetal movement mother can check fetal movement twice a day, morning and evening. If you notice a sudden decrease in fetal movements (less than 10 movements within 2 hours), the mother should go to the hospital for an examination.
Varicose veins Varicose veins are a common symptom for most pregnant women at 33 weeks. However, the condition is usually harmless, painless, and goes away after childbirth.
Round ligament pain Round ligament pain occurs when a pregnant woman changes position suddenly, gets up from sitting or lying, pain when coughing, sneezing or laughing. A sharp pain in the abdomen, feeling like a prick, can be transient or last for several hours. To fix it, pregnant women can try lifting their legs and straightening them.
Nail changes Pregnancy hormones during the 33rd week of pregnancy make nails grow faster, and even more brittle. If your nails are brittle, you should add more biotin in your diet. Biotin is found in bananas, avocados, nuts and whole grains.
Shortness of breath An enlarged abdomen can put pressure on the lungs, causing difficulty breathing. Standing upright gives the lungs more space to perform breathing functions.
Forgetfulness The symptoms of forgetfulness in pregnant women at 33 weeks can be related to the baby's sex. Research shows that women who are pregnant with girls are more forgetful than those who are about to give birth to boys.
Braxton Hicks contractions Braxton Hicks contractions mainly appear in the last weeks of pregnancy and pregnant women who have had a previous pregnancy will often feel the contractions more pronounced, however this is not a sign of labor.
The difference is that, for physiological contractions, a pregnant woman only needs to change her position (from sitting to lying down, from lying to standing up and walking), the symptoms of spasms will disappear, while for transitions really not.

4. Advice for pregnant women at 33 weeks

4.1. Learn about breastfeeding 77% of pregnant women after giving birth want to breastfeed as soon as possible. As such, the mother should learn the guidelines for proper breastfeeding from before the baby is born. And the 33rd week of pregnancy is the right time to do this.
4.2. Supplementing with Calcium and Vitamin D Calcium is very important for the mother and fetus. However, if you want to absorb calcium well, you cannot lack vitamin D.
The best source of this duo is milk. If milk leaves an unpleasant sour taste in the mouth, pregnant women can combine many other measures, such as mixing milk with smoothies, juices, soups, or can replace it with yogurt and cheese. However, yogurt and cheese usually do not contain much vitamin D.
In addition, pregnant women can completely supplement vitamin D by sunbathing for a few minutes a day. If using soy milk, pregnant women at 33 weeks should choose a brand of milk rich in vitamin D.
4.3. Light exercise Exercise helps pregnant women become flexible, increases muscle tone, even prevents bone loss. However, pregnant women at 33 weeks should do light and moderate exercises, if they lift weights, they should use light weights. Women should only do heavy exercise when they have fully recovered from childbirth.
4.4. Supplementing with lactase or using lactose-free milk Some pregnant women cannot produce enough lactase to break down the lactose in milk, resulting in digestive problems, leading to bloating, gas, and diarrhea. . In addition, lactose is easier to digest when mixed with other foods high in fiber. Therefore, the mother when drinking milk can be taken with whole grains, or with slices of whole wheat bread.
4.5. Reduce swelling Pregnant women at 33 weeks often experience swollen legs due to venous insufficiency. To reduce swelling, pregnant women can do the following 2 ways:
Elevate your legs while sleeping, which helps to reduce pressure on your legs and reduce swelling; Move your legs regularly with appropriate exercises. Swimming is considered a very good exercise for pregnant women, because in addition to the beneficial effects on the muscle system, immersing in the water environment also helps pregnant women feel cool and prevent edema. Simple movements such as walking, changing positions when sitting for a long time also help pregnant women reduce some swelling. In order to have the safest and most favorable pregnancy, pregnant women at 33 weeks should register to participate in the Maternity Care Program implemented by Vinmec International General Hospital for the purpose of supporting and standing side by side with pregnant mothers throughout the pregnancy. pregnancy process. The program includes the following service packages:
Maternity care program 2019 – 12 weeks Maternity care program 2019 – 27 weeks Maternity care program 2019 – 36 weeks Maternity care program 2019 – Labor Genetic screening service before embryo transfer The medical team at Vinmec are all experts with leading prestige in the field of obstetrics and gynecology; system of modern facilities to optimally support examination and screening techniques; A civilized, luxurious medical examination space and professional services - all these advantages have helped Vinmec become a hospital highly appreciated by experts for maternity care, the first choice of women. pregnant.
To register for an examination and find out information about the Maternity Care Program at Vinmec International General Hospital, you can register for an online examination and consultation HERE.
Consult professional information at: webmd.com