Week 33 of Pregnancy

What changes are occurring with your body?
The top of your uterus is a little over 5 inches from your belly button. Your total weight gain should be between 22 and 28 pounds.
You may wonder if you will be able to tell when your water breaks (also called rupturing of the membranes). This is the breaking of the fluid-filled sac (amniotic fluid) surrounding the baby. Only 1 in 10 women experience a dramatic gush of the amniotic fluid, and even then it usually happens at home, often in bed. Sometimes the amniotic sac breaks or leaks before labor begins. This may be just a small trickle. It is common to be uncertain about whether leaking fluid is amniotic fluid or urine. Many pregnant women leak urine in the later stages of pregnancy, so be sure to have it checked. If you think your membranes have ruptured, you should call your health care provider.
Until you see your physician or midwife, do not use tampons, have sexual intercourse, or do anything that would introduce bacteria to your vagina once your water has broken. Let your doctor know if the fluid is anything other than clear and odorless, particularly if is greenish or foul smelling, because this could be a sign of infection. Your doctor should discuss with you what to do if your membranes rupture. Most doctors want to evaluate you and your baby as soon as the membranes rupture because of the risk of developing an infection. Your doctor may decide to induce labor.*

How big is your baby?
Your baby is approximately 16 ½ inches long and weighs between 4 ½ to 5 pounds. Because growth can be so different for each baby during this time, your baby may be a little off from these measurements which in most cases is totally normal.*

What is happening with your baby?
Your baby’s skin is beginning to look less red and less wrinkled. Fat stores are continuing to be deposited under his/her skin. His/her bones are all beginning to harden except for the skull. The skull needs to remain soft and pliable for delivery.*

I can feel all almost 5lbs of this baby! Seriously when he decides to move it's like my belly is about to burst open like the scene in Aliens. Half the time it feels like he's doing the worm in my belly. Crazy thought.....in four weeks (according to my doctor) I'll be full term and can give birth any time after that!!! 4 weeks...I'm not sure we're quite ready for that. We still need to get a house.