At 33 weeks pregnant, you’ve firmly entered the heart of the third trimester; a time of ongoing growth, increasing physical awareness, and meaningful anticipation.
Here’s a closer look at what’s happening with your baby, how your body may be responding, and the practical ways you can support your comfort, preparation, and sense of wellbeing around 33 weeks pregnant.
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What’s New With Baby
Your baby’s development is continuing in meaningful and coordinated ways this week.
One of the most significant developments at this stage is advanced brain activity. The brain is not only growing in size but also increasing in complexity, with deeper folds and more active neural pathways. Sensory areas of the brain are now highly active, supporting your baby’s ability to process sound, light, and movement. This neurological refinement also contributes to more recognizable sleep–wake cycles.
Your baby’s liver is also actively storing iron, an important process that helps build iron reserves for after birth. These stores support healthy red blood cell production in early infancy — one of the many ways your body is preparing your baby for the transition ahead.
Bones throughout the body continue to harden, while the skull remains soft and flexible. This flexibility is intentional: it allows room for ongoing brain growth and helps the head adapt during birth.
Movement may feel different now. With less space available, your baby’s motions often shift from quick kicks to slower, stronger rolls, stretches, and presses. You may even notice rhythmic movements like hiccups, which are common and linked to developing breathing patterns.
Your baby can hear well at this stage and may respond to familiar voices or sounds with movement — moments that can feel grounding and connective as you approach the final weeks of pregnancy.
Baby at 33 weeks is strong, coordinated, and steadily gaining what they need for life outside the womb, with many weeks to go and plenty of growth still ahead.
How You’re Feeling
Your body continues to adjust to the realities of supporting a growing baby, and that often brings a combination of physical sensations, shifts in energy, and emotional nuance.
Common Physical Sensations
Pelvic pressure and heaviness: As baby grows and drops lower in the pelvis, you may feel increased pressure or a sense of fullness low in your abdomen.This heaviness can be a normal sign of baby’s position in the third trimester.
Braxton Hicks contractions: Mild, irregular tightenings may feel more noticeable. These “practice” contractions are typically painless and part of your uterus refining its muscle tone.
Sleep disruption: Finding a comfortable position may continue to be a challenge. Many parents experience more nighttime waking due to pressure on the bladder, shifts in circulation, or simple physical discomfort.
Heartburn and indigestion: Digestive symptoms can persist as your uterus presses upward and hormone-mediated relaxation of digestive muscles continues. Slower digestion is a frequent third-trimester experience.
Back, hip, and pelvic ache: As musculoskeletal tension increases, aches and stiffness are common, a cue to prioritize posture support and gentle movement.
Swelling: Mild swelling of the feet, ankles, or hands is common in late pregnancy due to increased fluid retention and circulation changes. Elevating your feet and staying hydrated often helps.
Shortness of breath may also be noticeable at times, especially during physical activity, as your expanding uterus can press against the diaphragm. Even so, most people find this sensation eases with rest or positional change.
Emotional and Mental Landscape
Emotionally, 33 weeks can bring a blend of eagerness, introspection, and anticipatory reflection. After weeks of consistent physical changes, your mind may start to turn more toward preparation, both practical and emotional, for labor and postpartum life. This is common and normal; it reflects how close you are to meeting your baby, and it doesn’t have to feel resolved all at once.
It’s also common to notice shifts in concentration or memory, often called “pregnancy brain.” These cognitive sensations are widely reported and tend to fluctuate with sleep quality, stress, and overall hormonal context.
Your To-Do List
As you approach the final stretch of pregnancy, your to-dos can feel both practical and emotionally grounding. This week’s focus is about supporting comfort, building confidence, and reinforcing rhythms that sustain you.
1. Stay Connected to Prenatal Care
Third-trimester visits are usually more frequent—often every two weeks—so use this time to ask questions, track baby’s growth, and speak openly about any symptoms you’re experiencing.
Discuss topics like:
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Movement patterns and what’s typical for you
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Sleep challenges
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Third-trimester tests or screening
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Comfort strategies
Your clinician is there to support you and rule out concerns, none of your questions are too small.
2. Track and Notice Baby Movement
Your baby’s movement is one of the most reassuring signs of wellbeing in this stage. If you haven’t already, consider a gentle pattern of noticing movement at the same periods each day. Healthcare providers sometimes use this informally to help observe patterns over time.
If you notice a marked decrease in movement that feels outside your typical pattern, you can reach out for guidance — there’s no harm in double-checking.
3. Prioritize Rest and Supportive Sleep
Sleep may feel elusive, but prioritizing rest still makes a significant difference in energy and mood. Strategies like side-lying positions, supportive pillows, and short daytime rest breaks can help reduce tension and support recovery.
4. Focus on Nutrition and Hydration
Your nutritional needs continue to support both your wellbeing and your baby’s development. A balanced approach includes:
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Protein for tissue and blood production
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Iron to support increasing blood volume
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Calcium and vitamin D for bone health
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Healthy fats like DHA for neurological development
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Ample hydration to support circulation and digestion
Stay consistent with your prenatal vitamin and communicate with your care provider if you have questions about food intolerances, appetite changes, or specific nutrient needs.
5. Comfort Practices for Physical Aches
Gentle movement like walking or prenatal yoga can support circulation and ease stiffness. Warm showers, pregnancy-safe massage, or strategic stretching may also help reduce discomfort.
Listening to your body and pacing your activity matters more than doing it “perfectly.”
6. Reflect on Support Systems
As you approach the final weeks before birth, begin thinking about practical support:
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Who will help after labor (meals, childcare, errands)?
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What do you need for postpartum recovery?
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What routines help you feel grounded and cared for?
Having an initial plan, even loosely sketched, can bring peace of mind.
The Takeaway
At 33 weeks pregnant, your baby is continuing purposeful growth — gaining weight, strengthening systems, and refining coordination — while your body adapts steadily to support them. This week isn’t about dramatic leaps but about continuity: of care, rest, nourishment, and connection.
While discomforts and fatigue may ebb and flow, gentle attention to movement, comfort, hydration, and supportive routines can help sustain you. You’re in the home stretch — and every week you navigate with intention is a meaningful step toward meeting your baby.
You’re doing extraordinary work, one mindful moment at a time.
References:
- Cleveland Clinic. Pregnancy: Third Trimester.
- The Bump. 33 Weeks Pregnant.
- NHS. Week 33.
- What to Expect. Week 33.
This article is for informational purposes only. It is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and we recommend that you always consult with your healthcare provider. To the extent that this article features the advice of physicians or medical practitioners, the views expressed are the views of the cited expert and do not necessarily represent the views of Perelel.
