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You’re 33 weeks pregnant, and it’s time for some serious pampering, Mom! Here’s what else is going on this week with baby and you.
How Big is Baby?
Your baby is about 17 ¼ inches long this week. Getting there!
What’s New with Baby?
Baby is starting to develop their immune system, which will help protect them outside the womb. The immune system is developed as antibodies are passed from you to your little peanut. That’s why, if you haven’t already, it’s important to consider the flu and Tdap vaccines during pregnancy.
What’s New with Mom?
There isn’t much new with you this week, Mom. Expect to feel some of the same symptoms you’ve been feeling throughout the third trimester, including frequent trips to the bathroom, difficulty sleeping, mild swelling in the lower legs and possibly hands and low back, pelvic and hip pain. Dr. Ashley Birmingham, an Ob/Gyn at UT Southwestern Medical Center, suggests you may find relief from some of these discomforts by staying active with focused efforts on stretching.
Ashley Birmingham, M.D., is a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at UT Southwestern Medical Center. She is a hospitalist who specializes in the care of laboring and hospitalized patients.
She also suggests compression socks for swelling in the legs and abdominal support binders to help take pressure off your lower back and abdomen. And pamper yourself with warm baths and massage to help relieve some of the pain and tiredness in strained muscles.
Fun Fact
At 33 weeks, baby is about the size of a pineapple!
Making a Birth Plan
Have you given any thought as to how you want your labor to look, Mom? What about deciding between spontaneous labor vs. a scheduled induction or c-section? Labor and delivery can be overwhelming, especially if this is your first time, but having an idea of how you want things to progress can help you feel a little bit in control during a time that’s 100% unpredictable. That’s why now’s the time to really think about your birth plan if you haven’t yet.
So, what are some other things to consider when creating your birth plan? Here’s what Birmingham suggests:
Consider what pain management options you may be interested in, if any at all. There is no right or wrong answer. Every woman is different, so discuss these options with your physician well ahead of your delivery. Some moms opt for natural pain relief techniques, including walking, squatting, using a birthing ball, warm compresses, showers or baths, aromatherapy, and massage. Other moms will elect to use medications for pain relief during childbirth.
Also think about who will be present in the delivery room alongside you. “In hospitals where family-centered birth is prioritized, you will find both parents, and other family members if desired, involved in labor, delivery and postpartum care,” Birmingham says. “Most hospitals are supportive of parents’ decisions regarding extended family and friends being present.”
Consider how you want to spend those first hours after birth. It’s preferred for babies to get skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth and to start breast-feeding as soon as possible. Birmingham suggests you “prioritize your personal well-being and health, and make sure your visitors are not taking away from your ability to receive adequate rest and bonding time with your new baby.”
Discuss cord blood banking with your provider. It’s a procedure in which blood remaining in the umbilical cord and placenta following delivery are collected and stored for possible future use. This blood contains stem cells that could be used to treat specific disorders your child may develop and may potentially be used to help a sibling with a genetic disorder or cancer.
Once you’ve thought about your birth plan, it’s helpful to write down your wishes regarding your prenatal, labor and delivery care and postpartum care and review these with your physician well before you go into labor or are scheduled for an induction or c-section, Birmingham recommends. She also encourages you to write things out for the nurses and labor and delivery physicians who you may be meeting for the first time on the big day.
Of course, it’s important to remember that childbirth is unpredictable. “We would love for labor to go exactly how every mother envisions, however unexpected things often change delivery plans,” Birmingham says. “The important thing to remember is that your entire care team wants a healthy mom and baby, and we will communicate openly and do everything we can do to support you, your baby, and your partner through this.”
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This blog is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute the provision of medical advice or professional services. This blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
The above article was written by DFWChild contributor Katelin Walling with information provided by UT Southwestern Medical Center as part of their sponsored content.
