Your week 33 guide

The thinning uterine wall lets your baby respond more clearly to light and dark. More light passes through than earlier in pregnancy, and your baby may turn toward a bright source. Some babies also begin showing patterns of activity that loosely follow day and night, though these do not properly settle until well after birth.

The skull stays flexible while other bones continue hardening. This is a deliberate arrangement, keeping the head able to compress during birth while the rest of the skeleton strengthens. The soft spots on your newborn's head take many months to close.

Movement remains important even as the pattern shifts from kicks to rolls and stretches. It is entirely normal for the type of movement to change now, and abnormal for the amount to fall away. If you notice a reduction, contact your maternity unit immediately rather than waiting to see whether it picks up.

Insomnia, exhaustion, overheating, swelling and discomfort from stretched skin may all increase. Feeling hot is partly your own raised metabolic rate and partly the additional heat your baby produces. Keeping the room cool and wearing loose natural fabrics helps more than trying to sleep through it.

Stronger movements can feel tender because there is less cushioning fluid than before. Amniotic fluid volume peaks around this stage and then gradually reduces, so kicks land more directly. Bruised-feeling ribs are common; sharp pain that stays between movements is not and should be checked.

Braxton Hicks tightenings may become easier to recognise. Once you know what they feel like, they are less alarming, and knowing the difference matters as term approaches. Practice tightenings do not become regular, do not intensify, and do not require you to stop and breathe through them.

Find out what feeding support is available locally and how to reach it quickly. Knowing the name of a lactation consultant, a clinic or a helpline before you need it is worth far more than searching for one at two in the morning on day three. This applies whether you plan to breastfeed, formula feed or combine both.

Consider an infant first aid or CPR course run by a qualified provider. It is one of the few preparations that is genuinely useful in a rare emergency, and it is reassuring rather than frightening once done. Many providers run short sessions specifically for new parents.

Prepare comfortable clothing and practical supplies for after the birth. Maternity pads, comfortable high-waisted underwear, loose clothes and easy food matter far more in week one than anything for the nursery. Recovery takes longer than most people expect, whatever the birth is like. InshaAllah, preparing for your recovery can help your needs stay part of the plan.

Smaller meals may ease heartburn: Heartburn and indigestion often become more noticeable in later pregnancy as the stomach is compressed. Many women find smaller, more frequent meals easier to manage than a few large ones.

Eat slowly, sit upright while eating and avoid lying down immediately afterwards. Leaving a couple of hours between your last meal and going to bed usually helps, and raising the head of the bed slightly helps more than extra pillows. Ask a pharmacist which antacids are suitable if that is not enough.