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33 to 36 weeks pregnant

After 33 weeks of pregnancy, your baby's brain and nervous system are fully developed.

Their bones are continuing to harden.

Skull bones stay soft and separated until after the birth to make the journey through the birth canal easier. The bones can move gently and slide over each other so the head can be born safely, while still protecting the brain.

They are gaining weight rapidly and you're probably gaining about 0.5kg a week. Half of this extra weight is going to them.

After 33 weeks

After 33 weeks, your baby's taste buds are well developed.

The food you eat during your pregnancy can affect their taste preferences. This is another reason for you to try to eat a wide variety of healthy foods during your pregnancy.

At this stage, they are curled up in the womb, with their legs bent up towards their chest. Space is tight but they still have room to move about and change position.

You should still feel movements and may see them on the surface of your bump.

If your unborn baby is a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend from his abdomen into his scrotum.

At 33 weeks of pregnancy, the baby has grown to about 430mm long and is about the size of a pineapple.

By week 35 they are around 460mm and about the size of a honeydew melon.

Your baby's movements during pregnancy

After 36 weeks

After 36 weeks, your baby's lungs are fully formed and ready to take their first breath after the birth. Their lungs are also now very good at producing a substance called surfactant. This keeps air sacs in the lungs open and able to take in oxygen.

Babies born at 36 weeks can often breathe and suckle at the same time when feeding. The digestive system is fully prepared to deal with breast milk.

By now your baby is about 48cm long and about the size of a romaine lettuce.

Page last reviewed: 2 December 2022
Next review due: 2 December 2028