33 Weeks Pregnant

It's getting harder to forget you are pregnant now. Frequent niggles and pains, kicks and prods mean you are constantly being reminded that there is a baby in there. This causes some women to feel like an incubator, the sheer physical nature of their pregnancy making it all a little too much to enjoy. Societies view of pregnancy being ultra feminine and lovely doesn t always match with the reality. Many women see their pregnancy as a means to an end, a necessary process in order to get their baby at the end of the forty weeks. Your attitude towards being pregnant is not an indication of how you will feel about your baby once it is born. Try not to worry if you aren t enjoying every minute of being pregnant. This is a common experience for many women, but one which isn t talked about too often.

Just breathe

If this is your first pregnancy, you ll have the benefits of being able to focus on yourself and your partner. But if you've got other children to care for, your opportunity to rest and ponder will be limited. Try to take some quiet time each day to just "be in the moment" and not think about what the future holds for you. This can be such a busy time with organising and planning that days can go by without any real appreciation for them. When you can, just sit, breathe, relax and be still. Both you and your baby will benefit.

Your physical changes this week

• You may find yourself having some urinary leakage aka "incontinence" around this stage of your pregnancy. This is more common in women who've been pregnant before. When you laugh, sneeze, cough or lift something heavy, a small amount of urine may leak out of your bladder. This is a common problem towards the end of pregnancy. Some women need to wear a light pad inside their underpants to avoid embarrassment. Doing pelvic floor exercises will help strengthen the muscles which support your bladder.
• If you normally wear contact lenses, you may be finding them even more irritating by now. Fluid retention and changes to the shape of your eye will mean they don t fit as comfortably as they used to. Many women revert to wearing glasses until after their baby is born and their eyes return to normal. Avoid getting a new prescription for glasses and contacts at this stage of your pregnancy. Your eyes are going through a transitional stage and an assessment of your vision now, will not give an accurate reflection of your sight.
• Heartburn, your old friend can make its presence felt again right now. The baby is pushing your stomach and intestines up and out of their normal positions. This means you don t have the luxury of being able to digest your meals comfortably. Some foods will make indigestion and heartburn worse and cause you more than a little regret. Spicy, hot, large meals are the worst culprits so avoid temptation and go for what you know is safe. Check with your doctor or pharmacist about safe antacids which can be used in pregnancy. Milk, yoghurt, custard and cheese can help to settle heartburn.
• More Braxton Hick's Contractions at 33 weeks of pregnancy. These painless uterine contractions are a nature's way of providing a practice session for the real thing. They will also help to create a surge of oxygenated blood to the placenta. Unless they are accompanied by pain, become regular or you are losing fluid from your vagina as well, don t be concerned. A simple change of position or warm shower can often help them to settle.