Week 33 of Pregnancy

Reaching Into Strength and Sacred Preparation

There is something sacred about this leg of the journey. And here you are, 33 weeks in, and it's as if your body, your baby, and your being are just humming along seamlessly — stretching, swelling, expanding in some kind of lovely divine preparatory, shape-shifting reflection. The end line is near, but so is the metamorphosis of everything you've known. You are no longer merely carrying life — you are life.

This week, you might be shocked to discover how effectively your instincts are so active. From the still, small voice to pick up and tidy, to the holy tap to relax and think, this goddess-like omnipotence is in every sensation that is happening. You may feel it in your bones, too: the weight, the tenderness, the ache. Your breath may become more shallow. Your sleep may be disrupted. Your ankles could look like they're on the clock. But this, too, is a pilgrimage of sorts.

You're not "just pregnant"; you're days away from the end of a heroic, heart-led transformation. And whether this is your first baby or fifth, it's worth taking a pause to feel the wholeness of what you are doing. Allow yourself to move slower, dream bigger, and melt more deeply into the magic of becoming a mother this week.

🌱 Your Baby at 33 Weeks: A Silent Growth

Though she continues to gain fat, your baby has more or less hit her full height. Inside of you, your little one is practicing life. Breathing, sucking, swallowing, even blinking — these little rehearsals are preparing them for their debut on the outside.

At about 17 inches long and 5 pounds, your baby is putting on fat now—about ½ pound a week until birth. That gentle plumping? You've got to be insulated, strong and ready.

One especially magical detail this week is your baby's skull. The bones have begun to form, but they're not fused yet, so your body can put that flexibility to use as your little one twists and turns through the birth canal (good news: For now, those bones are providing extra space for baby's developing brain). That soft, open design is the genius of nature at work. You're raising someone whose head contains galaxies of thought and dreams and ideas waiting to sprout. Let that sink in.

💫 Your Body: Reaching Into the Last Season

You might also be seeing more swelling now — in your feet, your hands, your face. You hear it all the time, and yet it can feel like your body is betraying you. It's not. It's literally just a reaction to greater blood flow, fluid accumulation and all the ways your body is padding the runway for birth. If the swelling is sudden, however, or severe, give your provider a call. It might indicate that you have preeclampsia or be a sign that you're in early labor, and it's best to be cautious.

You're probably putting on about a pound a week, and while that growth may cause you to suffer physically, it's also a sign that your baby is growing robust. This is the home stretch — your ligaments are loosening, your posture is changing, and your whole body knows that it is about to open, release and receive.

👐 Self-Care For You: Massage Your Perineum and Body Wisdom

So let's discuss a practice that encourages you to get more in touch with the capability of your body: perineum massage. You don't hear about it much, but it's one of those ancient, body-honoring behaviors that can have a real impact on how you experience birth — especially if you're a first-time mother.

The perineum massage involves gradually stretching the tissue that lies between the vaginal opening and the anus, and research has found it can lower the risk of tearing during childbirth. The average pregnant woman begins to practice around week 33, practicing daily or every few days up until labor.

✨ Where to Begin: Perineum Massage Tutorial

Prepare the space: Wash your hands, short nails, mirror if you want one. Apply oil (natural oil like almond or vitamin E oil, not petroleum-based products). There are a few ways to do it, but people seem to pick their favorite so we'll let you know what they are, and you can pick, not displaying favoritism like the wise parent who loves all their children equally, but doesn't.

1. Lying back
2. Sitting with one leg up
3. In the shower

The technique: Use clean thumbs or your or your partner's. Place the thumbs about an inch within the vaginal opening. Press down towards the perineum; sweep your thumbs in a slow "U" shape. The aim is not to cause pain, but to stretch the tissue gently. Mild sting or pressure is normal. Take a deep breath, relax your pelvic floor (as if you're doing Kegels in reverse), and massage. Just a few minutes a day for 5 to 10 minutes can help the body become more comfortable with the stretching and sensation of birth.

It's more than physical — it's emotional. This is an opportunity to honor your body and become one with your birthing power, and even share a sacred moment with a loving partner.

🧳 Nesting Instincts & What to Pack

Craving a deep clean of your spice rack, a re-folding of baby onesies by alphabetical order or baseboards to be scrubbed? That's nesting, and it is a thing. It is your primal wisdom, making space — physically and energetically — for baby to enter. With this encouraging wave, however, get your hospital bag packed. Don't overthink it. You're not moving in. Pretty much everything you need is going to be in the hospital, but a few home comforts can make you feel more grounded and nourished.

🎒 What to Pack

For Labor

• Insurance card & ID
• Lip balm, rubber bands, essential oils
• Comfort stuff: headphones, speaker, birth ball
• Support gear: labor gown, water bottle, affirmation cards

For Recovery

• Soft nursing bra
• Comfy pjs or robe (easy access for checks & nursing)
• Toiletries, pads, nipple balm
• Optional: your own peri bottle or postpartum underwear

For Baby

• Going home outfit (weather appropriate)
• Swaddle or blanket
• Car seat (correctly installed!)
• Hat or cap (it's usually provided by most hospitals, but several are a good idea)

Optional extras

• Phone charger
• Snacks
• Your favorite tea
• A tiny notebook or journal for those first thoughts as a new mama

🧘🏾‍♀️ To-Dos for This Week

• Start (or keep going) with perineum massage
• Pack your hospital bag
• Keep a pregnancy journal — jot down your hopes for the future and reflections on any fears
• Sleep when you can — you're in the home stretch

Here's our complete Hospital Bag Checklist

🧡 Closing: Reaching for Wholeness

You are stretching in every sense of the word — not just in body, but in heart, in trust, in presence. This week, allow yourself to soften into the unknown, root down into your breath, rise in the power that's already yours. Every pain, every swelling, every sigh is a note in your song of becoming. Your body knows. Your baby knows. And you are so ready — even if it doesn't always seem that way. You are whole. You are sacred. You are becoming.