After 33 weeks of pregnancy, your unborn baby's brain and nervous system are fully developed. Their bones are continuing to harden, apart from the skull bones which remain soft. Skull bones stay soft and separated until after the birth to make the journey through the birth canal easier.
Premature babies born between 33 and 34 weeks are called also called "moderately preterm babies." Weighing between 4 and 5 pounds at birth and measuring almost 20 inches long, these babies are getting much closer to the size of a baby born at term.
Growth chart: Fetal length and weight, week by week
| Gestational age | Length (US) | Weight (US) |
|---|
| 31 weeks | 16.18 inches | 3.31 pounds |
| 32 weeks | 16.69 inches | 3.75 pounds |
| 33 weeks | 17.20 inches | 4.23 pounds |
| 34 weeks | 17.72 inches | 4.73 pounds |
During the third trimester of pregnancy the fetal ultrasound scan is performed with the help of the abdominal sensor within pregnancy weeks 34-36. At this stage of pregnancy the fetus has all vital organs fully developed and the period of fast growth and maturity continues.
While it's different for every mom-to-be, babies will usually drop around two to four weeks before delivery in a first pregnancy. In subsequent pregnancies, babies usually don't drop until mom is in labor.
A routine ultrasound at 36 weeks would help detect babies in the breech position, which can lead to complications during labour, according to the study published in journal PLOS Medicine. When a baby has its bottom or feet facing downwards in the womb, they are in the breech position.
When are most babies born?
- 57.5 percent of all recorded births occur between 39 and 41 weeks.
- 26 percent of births occur at 37 to 38 weeks.
- About 7 percent of births occur at weeks 34 to 36.
- About 6.5 percent of births occur at week 41 or later.
- About 3 percent of births occur before 34 weeks of pregnancy.
How accurate is the ultrasound examination? The earlier the ultrasound is done, the more accurate it is at estimating the baby's due date. Ultrasounds performed during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy are generally within 3 - 5 days of accuracy. The most accurate time is between 8 and 11 weeks gestation.
Fetal Positions for Birth. Ideally for labor, the baby is positioned head-down, facing your back, with the chin tucked to its chest and the back of the head ready to enter the pelvis. This is called cephalic presentation. Most babies settle into this position with the 32nd and 36th week of pregnancy.
After 32 weeks gestation, there should be no reduction (or potential increase) in the frequency of fetal movements on a daily basis. Babies don't run out of room to kick, flutter, swish or roll despite their tight quarters in the uterus.
If the water breaks before the 37th week of pregnancy, it is called preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM). The earlier your water breaks, the more serious it is for you and your baby.
Sleeping on the right won't harm the baby, but sleeping straight would. Another way you can sleep in one position is by using a pregnancy sleeping pillow that restricts your movement and gives you a comfortable position to lie down in. During pregnancy, it is important to avoid any kind of stress.
Is 36 Weeks Pregnant Full Term? Any pregnancy over 39 weeks is considered to be full-term. Babies born 36-38 weeks are considered to be early-term.
The eighth month (weeks 29-32)-begins 28 weeks after the start of your last period. At the end of the month there are still 8 weeks until the birth (1 month, 26 days).
Your 40 weeks of pregnancy are counted as nine months.
After around 18 weeks, babies like to sleep in the womb while their mother is awake, since movement can rock them to sleep. They can feel pain at 22 weeks, and at 26 weeks they can move in response to a hand being rubbed on the mother's belly.
At 34 weeks pregnant, your baby is the size of a cantaloupe. He may measure nearly 12 inches long, crown to rump, and weigh more than 4 1/2 pounds.
KEY POINTS
- If your pregnancy is healthy, it's best to stay pregnant for at least 39 weeks.
- Scheduling means you and your provider decide when to have your baby by labor induction or cesarean birth.
Babies who are born after 34 weeks gestation have the same long-term health outcomes as babies who are delivered at full term (40 weeks). This means that if your baby is born when they are 34 weeks old, they have the same chances of being healthy as any other baby that wasn't born prematurely.
Your cervix's dilation and effacement might be checked every week starting at week 36 (or earlier!), or not until week 38 or 39, or your OB might not do a vaginal exam until you're in labor.
32-34 Weeks: Routine prenatal visit to check your weight, blood pressure, urine for protein and sugar, fetal growth, position of the baby and fetal heart rate. 34-36 Weeks: Routine prenatal.
Unfortunately 3D/4D ultrasound technology cannot see any hair on the baby, however standard 2d (black and white) ultrasound can usually pick up strands of hair!
Even though the baby's lungs aren't fully developed at 32 weeks, there is a good chance a baby born at this stage could survive outside the womb. The breathing practice is a developmental milestone that sets the new baby up for success during their first cry.
35 Weeks Pregnant UltrasoundBaby's hearing is now fully developed, and your 35-week fetus responds best to high-pitched noises. If you're pregnant with a boy, you would see on a 35 weeks pregnant ultrasound that his testes have probably fully descended (bet you hadn't thought about that one!).
7 Pregnancy Warning Signs
- Bleeding.
- Severe Nausea and Vomiting.
- Baby's Activity Level Significantly Declines.
- Contractions Early in the Third Trimester.
- Your Water Breaks.
- A Persistent Severe Headache, Abdominal Pain, Visual Disturbances, and Swelling During Your Third Trimester.
- Flu Symptoms.
When the baby's head is up, you're more likely to experience discomfort under the ribs and to feel kicking in the lower belly. When the baby is head down, you'll probably be feeling kicking higher up in the belly, and discomfort or pressure in the pelvis rather than the upper belly.
It's week 33 and, as your watermelon-sized belly is likely to attest, your baby has come a long way from his poppy-seed size status. At around 17 to 19 inches long, your baby is pretty close to the length he'll be at birth.
Heavy lifting, standing for long periods of time, or bending a lot during pregnancy could increase your chances of miscarriage, preterm birth, or injury during pregnancy. High physical demands at work have also been associated with menstrual disorders, which might reflect reduced fertility.
A baby born between 33 and 34 weeks of pregnancy or before the completion of 37 weeks of pregnancy is termed as a preterm baby. A preterm or premature baby is not completely developed and will require complex medical care. He may also face complications both in the NICU and at home.
