PREGNANCY
33 Weeks Pregnant: Oy! Breathlessness + Heartburn
Your baby's immune system has matured plenty and she's readying her lungs for their big debut.
Written by
Dr. Harvey Karp
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PREGNANCY
Written by
Dr. Harvey Karp
SHARE THIS ARTICLE
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Your little one is extra thirsty these days—drinking around 450 millilitres (about 16 ounces) of amniotic fluid each day. It sounds a bit icky, especially since your baby wees into the fluid and then drinks it again!
But here’s the amazing bit: that very same fluid is helping prepare your baby’s lungs for their big debut. In the womb, oxygen comes through the placenta and umbilical cord, so lungs full of liquid are just fine. Astonishingly, within moments of being born, your bub will replace that liquid with air, and begin breathing on their own—the start of a lifetime of breaths.
Meanwhile, your baby’s immune system is maturing nicely. You’re still passing protective antibodies through the placenta, and breastfeeding will continue to provide your little one with extra immune protection after birth.
Your baby is about the size of a pineapple (but far less prickly!).
At 33 weeks, you’re around 7 months and 1 week pregnant.
Fatigue, breathlessness, heartburn—you may be ticking all of these off the list right now. Your body is working overtime to support your baby, so it’s a good time to ease up where you can. Get help lifting heavy things, ask your partner to pitch in more, take couch breaks whenever possible, and invite friends over if they’ll bring the food along.
You might feel like sleeping around the clock—or you might hardly sleep at all thanks to endless loo trips.
Your expanding womb is pressing on your lungs, leaving less room for deep breaths. While it can feel unsettling, it’s completely normal—and you and your baby are still getting all the oxygen you need.
Your digestive system is also squished, which is why smaller meals can feel better than big ones. Heartburn is common, too, as stomach acid is pushed upwards. Drinking plenty of water can help food move along. Peppermint tea, a peppermint sweet, or even fennel seeds may also ease the burn.
Common third-trimester symptoms at 33 weeks include:
“Women’s bodies have near-perfect knowledge of childbirth; it’s when their brains get involved that things can go wrong.” — Peggy Vincent
Disclaimer: The information on our site is NOT medical advice for any specific person or condition. It is only meant as general information. If you have any medical questions and concerns about your child or yourself, please contact your health provider. Breastmilk is the best source of nutrition for babies. It is important that, in preparation for and during breastfeeding, mothers eat a healthy, balanced diet. Combined breast- and bottle-feeding in the first weeks of life may reduce the supply of a mother's breastmilk and reversing the decision not to breastfeed is difficult. If you do decide to use infant formula, you should follow instructions carefully.
