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Being pregnant with twins or multiples is not as easy as it appears to be. As you reach the 33rd week of your pregnancy, you realise that not much time is left for your babies to finally make their way into the world. By this time, the growth of the babies has nearly reached its completion and you cannot wait to hold them. Your connection with your little ones will be the strongest at this point, hence you must stay positive to make your delivery an easier process.
Growth of the Babies At 33 Weeks
Even though the growth rate of your twins or multiples inside the womb might be taking a break, for now, their development will continue in intricate ways.
The survival tendencies begin to take the spotlight once again, as the bodies of your little ones rehearse all the necessary actions that will keep them alive outside. Right from breathing in amniotic fluid, to attempting to swallow it up as well as suck the thumb, these actions are what makes it evident to the babies as well as the doctors of their readiness to thrive outside your womb. If you give birth to your little ones and spot red coloured marks or even blisters on their hands, those usually are a result of this endless sucking that they engage in within you.
Ossification and hardening of the bones would be completed or reach its final stage by now. These bones are pretty hard for a little baby, though not as much as an adult or a young kid would have. A degree of malleability and flexibility of bones is essential to allow the baby’s delivery without any damage to the skeletal structure. On these lines, the skull tends to be the softest since the ideal way of delivery would be headfirst through the birth canal.
Along with the rate of growth, the frequency that your babies indulge in their activities and a variety of antics will see a decrease, too. It makes complete sense since these little ones barely have any space to turn into an acrobat, the way they used to earlier. Irrespective of that, you would be able to feel their jabs and kicks a bit more strongly than before, keeping you connected. Therefore, if your babies tend to be surprisingly silent, you can nudge them into movement by drinking cold water or humming a song you know they like. Any absence of movement despite all efforts should be brought to the doctor’s notice immediately.
Size of the Babies at 33 Weeks
Around the 33rd week of pregnancy, your little ones would now be as large as pineapples. Their height would be around 41-43 centimetres and they would weigh around 1.6-1.8 kilograms. By this week, your babies would be pretty healthy, making their presence felt.
Common Bodily Changes
The 33rd week of pregnancy will bring about certain changes in your body that will change the way your movements usually occur, combined with some old aches that will revisit you.
- Swelling is one of the constant complaints that all pregnant women. There would rarely be any part of the body that would not have been swollen by this week. Water retention and blood circulation are major culprits for swelling in the body and one of the frustrating consequences of the swelling is the presence of a numbness in those regions as well. At times, women tend to feel that numbness to such an extreme degree, that it might get difficult to control their limbs properly. Imagine sitting on the pot for long hours only to notice your feet having lost any sensation. That’s pretty much how it feels like. All the swelling ends up putting an undue pressure on the nerves present inside, which results in the numbness taking over that area. Women who live a sedentary lifestyle often face this problem, however, it can be easily tackled; change your posture frequently and more often during the day.
- Being pregnant with twins or triplets will obviously make your belly large. And by the 33rd week of your pregnancy, your movement will resemble the movements of penguins. You will waddle around a lot. The presence of a large belly and the changing body structure makes you adjust your gait and posture to move around effectively. But the presence of loosened joints and ligaments, all a result of hormones and the expanding body, can make your movements resemble the waddling of penguins in their habitat. You might notice this randomly one fine day when you observe yourself waddling in front of the mirror.
- Apart from the numbness that results from the nerves undergoing pressure from the swelling, there’s also a very specific ache that occurs due to that very same reason. An important nerve exists within your body that is present in the lower back region, passing through the butt and in the lower region of the thigh and calves. Termed as the sciatic nerve, this is a major reason why sciatica pain seems to be evident in many pregnant women. Any compression or constriction of the nerve can cause a sharp pain to shoot up in your legs. The only way to calm this down is to stop any kind of activity and indulge in a resting period as soon as you can.
Symptoms of Twin Pregnancy at 33 Weeks
Your body is taking a lot of load in the 33rd week of its pregnancy. The increasing weight of the twins or multiples can cause the symptoms to worsen during this time period too.
- Taking rest and not indulging in strenuous activities is what most pregnant women follow in the final trimester of the pregnancy. Despite that, there might be instances when you notice yourself dripping in sweat and feeling extremely hot. You may think that you have a fever or some other illness, but that isn’t usually the case. The reason for such a symptom to occur is your increased metabolism in this stage of the pregnancy. Since all metabolic processes are exothermic, all the heat that is released inside emerges out of the body, causing the temperature to increase and making you feel hot all the time. Hence, you should opt for wearing breathable clothes.
- While pregnancy might make you forget things constantly, it can also set in headaches at random times of the day. Hormones are a major culprit, while a prolonged dehydration could also trigger them. However, stress tends to be a strong factor as well with numerous thoughts and worries related to your safety and the labour flooding your brain all the time. Any absence of rest can make matters worse.
- Most babies might descend lower into the uterus & changed their orientation. But if your babies are adamant in that regard, your breathing would still bear the brunt of it, causing you to feel out of breath when you engage in any kind of activity. At times, this may result in dizziness as well, making you feel tired and exhausted. Exercising can get difficult, which is why it is necessary to take frequent breaks between your regimens.
Belly at 33 Weeks Pregnant with Twins
By this week, being pregnant with twins or triplets will be no piece of cake. Signs of labour will become your one and only focus. You will also observe your belly for any further changes. By now, your tummy will have grown quite large and would only make navigating difficult again. Braxton Hicks contractions will continue as they used to, causing you to be extra careful with your stomach.
33 Weeks Twin Ultrasound
The ultrasound that you underwent last week would be an intensive one, which would repeat only the week after this one. If you were to have an ultrasound this week, you would notice that your babies will keep their eyes open while awake, they may also coordinate breathing with sucking. Your doctor may opt to take a repeat scan, in case of identical twins or to check for other complications.
What to Eat
The craving for calcium-rich foods might get stronger in this week since your babies are focusing intently on getting their bones hardened to full capacity. Fibrous food items such as plums and other fruits should be included in your diet. You should avoid eating spicy foods and your intake of water should be optimum to combat dehydration, reduce heartburn, as well as to keep digestion intact.
Pregnancy Care Tips
Here are a few tips to make it easier for you to take care of your pregnancy in this week.
Dos
- Keep a bag prepared for your hospital delivery with things for yourself and the babies.
- Indulge in sex since this might be the last week where it is safe and conducive for you.
Dont’s
- Avoid sleeping on your back since it can put a higher pressure on your heart.
- Don’t force your doctor to conduct an episiotomy if he thinks caesarean is the safest way to deliver your babies.
What You Need to Shop For
The final weeks of your pregnancy would require:
- Clothes and bedding for the babies.
- Toys to keep the little ones engaged.
Be proud that you are 33 weeks pregnant with twins and at a great place in delivering them successfully. A positive mindset and an energetic body can go a long way in easing the process for you.
