At the start of this eighth month of pregnancy (33 weeks), the baby measures 39 cm and weighs approximately 1,7 kg.

There is now very little room left for him to move. If it hasn’t already, it will normally turn around and end up upside down, nestled in the narrow part of the uterus, with its back facing left. On the day of delivery, 94,7% of babies are thus presented with a brain presentation and only 4,7% in breech (1).

Certain details of her body are being refined: the nails grow larger, the fat cells fill in, giving her a less wrinkled appearance. A whitish substance, the vernix caesa, covers its entire body in order to protect it. The baby remains very sensitive to external stimuli – sounds, music, voices – to which he reacts by moving, contracting his intestines and increasing his heart rate. He continues to swallow a lot of amniotic fluid, and meconium accumulates in his intestines; it will evacuate it once born. This will be his first bowel movements, closely monitored by the nursery nurses.

The liver and lungs complete their maturation in order to be fully operational after birth. The alveoli of the lungs become coated with a fatty substance, the surfactant, which prevents the lung from fully retracting after each inhalation. Thanks to this physiological process, the baby will be able to breathe in the open air without respiratory assistance from the end of this eighth month.

 At 36 SA, he is 43 cm tall and weighs an average of 2,2 kg. He is then ready to live outside the womb, but it is better to have a few more weeks left to gain weight and grow. 

The belly becomes heavy: uterus, baby, placenta and amniotic fluid weigh nearly 5 kilos. It becomes difficult for the mother to move freely and find a comfortable position, especially at night. The uterus presses on the bladder, causing frequent urination, as it pushes the diaphragm upward, causing heartburn. Constipation worsens, promoting the appearance of hemorrhoids. The nights are more and more difficult with this bulky belly and the thoughts which flow. The prospect of childbirth can indeed arouse some anxieties, and this is quite normal.

At this stage of pregnancy, it is not uncommon to experience contractions from time to time. The stomach hardens from top to bottom, without being painful. As long as these contractions are punctual and irregular, there is nothing to worry about. You just have to rest.

Unless there are medical contraindications, sexual intercourse remains possible until the end of pregnancy. You simply have to deal with an increasingly imposing belly.

 The maternity leave that begins six weeks before the CCA (or eight if the mother-to-be already has two dependent children) comes at the right time to rest. In the event of pregnancy-related problems, difficult working or transport conditions, the gynecologist or midwife can prescribe a pathological leave of two additional weeks. 

• Pass the sixth mandatory consultation
• if it has not yet been done, pass the third and last compulsory ultrasound (between 32 and 34 weeks, ideally 32). The good growth of the baby, its presentation (head down, transverse or breech), the correct position of the placenta, the amount of amniotic fluid will be checked.
• go to the anesthesiologist’s consultation, perform the prescribed blood test
• if necessary after clinical examination of the dimensions of the pelvis, undergo a radiopelvimetry (x-ray of the pelvis)
• carry out a vaginal sample in the laboratory to test for streptococcus B, a bacterium potentially dangerous for the baby during a natural delivery. If the sample is positive, antibiotic treatment will be prescribed during childbirth.
• finish preparing the maternity suitcase and the maternity file (blood group card, vital card, health insurance card, latest analysis results)
• finish preparing the baby’s room
• finalize your birth plan

• Massaging the perineum with a vegetable oil (sweet almond, argan, wheat germ) or a specific oil for the perineum seems to have a protective effect against tears and episiotomies (2). This massage can be started as early as 34-35 WA and should be performed daily until childbirth.
• At this stage of pregnancy, it is time to rest and take care of it, but it is advisable – unless there are medical contraindications – to continue to move regularly. Walking and swimming are recommended activities at this stage of pregnancy.
• for mothers wishing to practice sling, it is good to take an initiation course. This mode of physiological carrying is beneficial for the baby provided it is correctly practiced.
• against sleep disorders, ensure a healthy lifestyle: no exciting drinks, too long naps that could encroach on the night and screens in the evening. Homeopathy and herbal medicine are interesting resources to find serenity and sleep. Seek advice from a specialist.