Your pregnancy at 33 weeks

This week marks your baby having a fully developed brain and nervous system – an important milestone and edging closer to the day they meet you mum! Baby Baby will now continue to plump up and grow until they make an appearance in a few weeks’ time.

Their bones are busy hardening up, apart from their skull bone which will stay soft until baby is around 12-18 months old, this flexibility will help when they pass through the birth canal.

At 32 weeks’ they are approx. 43.7cm head to heel and weigh about 1.9kg similar to a large chicken. Mum You may start to experience Braxton Hicks contractions from this week, which is also known as practise contractions.

You may feel your muscles tighten over your bump for up to 30 seconds and then relax again.

These shouldn’t hurt but if they do and become more regular and intense then do contact your midwife as you may be in labour. Talking of labour, after you have given birth, you will be asked if you would like your baby to have a vitamin K injection which is recommended by the Department of Health to help baby’s blood clot, but this is completely up to you.

This article has been written using the latest guidance and information from trusted sources, primarily the NHS. This information should not replace the advice from professional medical advice.