33 Weeks Pregnant: What's Happening and One Thing to Set Up

The bump has its own gravity now. Walking takes a bit more effort, sleep takes some negotiating with pillows, and the finish line feels close even though there are still a few weeks to go.

At 33 weeks, your baby is roughly the size of a pineapple, around 43.7cm from head to heel.¹

How big is the baby at 33 weeks?

About 43.7cm head to heel, close to a pineapple.¹ The baby's bones are hardening this week. The one exception is the skull, where the bones stay soft and separated until around 12 to 18 months old, which helps the head move through the birth canal during delivery.¹

What's common around 33 weeks

A heavy sensation low in the pelvis is commonly reported this far along.¹ The baby has dropped lower and there's a lot more weight resting on the floor of the pelvis than there was a month ago.

If you want to talk through anything you're feeling, your midwife or doctor is the person who knows your pregnancy.

One thing to set up this week: the nursery basics

You don't need a magazine-ready nursery. What a newborn actually needs is somewhere safe to sleep and a spot to change them, and getting those two things sorted now means one less scramble later. A cot or bassinet by the bed, a changing surface at a comfortable height, and you're covered.

This is also a good week to set up nappi if you haven't yet. The baby profile you create now, with the due date and your partner invited, becomes the baby's tracker the day they're born. Same record, same app, no starting over.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do the skull bones stay soft?

The skull bones are soft and separated so the head can compress slightly as it passes through the birth canal. They gradually harden and fuse over the first 12 to 18 months after birth.¹

Is a heavy feeling in the pelvis common at 33 weeks?

Yes. Many people describe a heavy sensation in the pelvis this far along as the baby settles lower.¹ Your midwife or doctor can talk through anything that feels off for you.