Im 33 Weeks Pregnant and Have White Discharge

Week 33 – your third trimester

Your bump is probably getting in the way of everything now – sitting down at a table, fitting into the car, cuddling up to your partner, you name it! It's also very hard to judge how big you are, particularly as you're expanding all the time, so allow more space than you think you'll need.

What's happening in my body?

You might be feeling really tired now, which is hardly surprising, as you're carrying around an extra couple of kilos. Your womb could start preparing for the birth with Braxton Hicks contractions, which are sometimes referred to as practice contractions. These can feel like a tightening over your bump for 20-30 seconds, before the muscles relax again. It shouldn't hurt. If the contractions become painful or strike at regular intervals, contact your midwife or hospital, in case you're going into labour.

Talk to your midwife about group B strep

Group B strep is a common bacteria – up to 2 in 5 people have it living in their body. If you carry group B strep while you're pregnant, there's a small risk it could make your baby seriously ill. Most group B strep infections in newborn babies are preventable.

For more information talk to your midwife, or visit the Group B Strep Support website.

In the bag: preparing for the birth

Babies do things in their own time, and only 1 in 20 will arrive on their due date. It might be a good idea to get a bag packed now, so that you're all ready to go if your baby decides to make an early appearance.

Put aside:

• your birth plan and hospital notes
• clothes and nappies for the baby
• something loose and comfy to wear during labour
• spare clothes and underwear
• nightclothes
• nursing bras and breast pads
• super absorbent sanitary pads
• a wash bag and towels
• healthy snacks
• any medications

There are more ideas here.

Hello, I'm in labour!

If you're giving birth at a hospital or midwifery unit, then you're going to need to make a couple of phone calls when you go into labour.

Make sure you've got the following information stored in your mobile phone:

• your hospital or midwife's contact number
• your hospital reference number (if you have one) - you may be asked for this when you phone in
• your partner or birth partner's contact numbers
• the full address of where you're going, in case you go blank when the time comes
• a taxi firm or contact number for someone who'll take you there — it's not safe to drive yourself!

You could also write this information down, and keep it in your handbag, just in case your phone packs up at the crucial moment. Keep some change handy too, as mobile phone usage could be restricted in some areas of your hospital or midwifery unit and you may need to use a payphone.

Third trimester pregnancy symptoms (at 33 weeks)

You may start to feel like something's weighing down on your pelvis, this heavy feeling can be a sign that your baby's in the head down position, ready for birth.

Your signs of pregnancy could also include:

• painless contractions around your bump, known as Braxton Hicks contractions
• tiredness and sleeping problems
• stretch marks
• swollen and bleeding gums
• pains on the side of your baby bump, caused by your expanding womb (round ligament pains)
• piles
• headaches
• backache
• indigestion and heartburn
• bloating and constipation
• leg cramps
• feeling hot
• dizziness
• swollen hands and feet
• urine infections
• vaginal infections
• darkened skin on your face or brown patches - this is known as chloasma or the mask of pregnancy
• greasier, spotty skin
• thicker and shinier hair
• symptoms from earlier weeks, caused by pregnancy hormones, such as mood swings, weird pregnancy cravings, a heightened sense of smell, sore or leaky breasts, a white milky pregnancy discharge from your vagina and light spotting (seek medical advice for any bleeding)

Tommy's the baby charity has produced a pregnancy guide with a further list of symptoms.

What does my baby look like?

Your baby, or foetus, is around 43.7cm long from head to heel, and weighs about 1.9kg. That's approximately the size of pineapple and the weight of a laptop computer.

Your baby's brain and nervous system are now fully developed. The bones are hardening up, apart from the skull bones, which will stay soft and separated until the baby's around 12 to 18 months old. Having this slight flexibility with the head makes the journey down the birth canal a bit easier.

Action stations

Have you thought about how you're going to bring your baby home? You'll need a car seat and ideally you should buy a new one, so that you know it hasn't been in an accident that could make it unsafe, even if it looks in perfect condition. It's far too dangerous to carry the baby in your arms and it's also illegal.

Car seats can be fiddly to start with, so practice strapping it into place, and then removing it. You won't want to be looking at the instruction book when you've got your baby with you!

There are more tips on what to buy.

This week you could also...

You have maternity rights and if you're worried about your safety at work, then talk to your employer. You shouldn't be lugging anything around, and you may need extra breaks and somewhere to sit. You can also attend antenatal appointments during paid work time.

It's a good time to tone up those muscles 'down under'. Gentle exercisesAntenatal classes can help to prevent leakage when you laugh, sneeze, cough or jump around on your future baby's trampoline. Get the muscles going by pretending that you're having a wee and then stop the 'urine' in midflow.

We can usually get enough vitamin D from sunlight, but between October and March it's best to take a vitamin D supplement every day. Just 10 micrograms is all you need (it's the same for grown-ups and kids). It's worth checking if you're entitled to free vitamins.

Get moving! It's recommended that pregnant women do 150 minutes of exercise throughout the week. You could start off with just 10 minutes of daily exercise - perhaps take a brisk walk outside. Check out Sport England's #StayInWorkOut online exercises (scroll to the pregnancy section). Listen to your body and do what feels right for you.

Don't eat for two! Eat for you. Now you're in the third trimester, you may need an extra 200 calories a day, but that's not much. It's about the same as two slices of wholemeal toast and margarine.

Try to eat healthily with plenty of fresh fruit and veg, and avoid processed, fatty and salty foods. You may be able to get free milk, fruit and veg through the Healthy Start scheme.

How are you today? If you're feeling anxious or low, then talk to your midwife or doctor who can point you in the right direction to get all the support that you need. You could also discuss your worries with your partner, friends and family. You may be worried about your relationship, or money, or having somewhere permanent to live. Don't bottle it up – you're important, so ask for help if you need it!

Getting pregnant again is probably the last thing on your mind! However now is a good time to start planning what type of contraception you would like to use after your baby is born. Making this decision when you're pregnant will give you one less thing to think about when you're looking after a newborn baby. Getting pregnant again could happen sooner than you realise and too short a gap between babies is known to cause problems. Talk to your GP or midwife to help you decide and get everything in place.

This week's treat

Ask your partner or a friend to take some photos of you, showing off your baby bump. You'll treasure the pictures in years to come – and your baby will love to see them too, one day!

Go back to week 32

Go to week 34

Im 33 Weeks Pregnant and Have White Discharge

Source: https://www.nhs.uk/start4life/pregnancy/week-by-week/3rd-trimester/week-33/

Share this post