33 weeks pregnant: measuring up

September 1, 2014

What’s it like being 33 weeks pregnant?  Here’s my latest weekly pregnancy blog update from the third trimester..

33 weeks pregnant:

33 weeks pregnant, bump shot

“So, you’re measuring slightly small…” The midwife said, as she hovered above me with the tape measure at my 33 weeks pregnant appointment.

I have to admit, my mind had been elsewhere at that point (my train of thought had included: Oh, how lovely to listen to the heartbeat just now. What shall I have for breakfast no2? Wouldn’t Eliza love the toy horse that’s in the office? Isn’t lying on the bed relaxing? What’s on my to-do list today? Need to write loads of emails. What shall we have for dinner?) But even when I realised what she said, I wasn’t really worried. Isn’t that what midwives always say?

Hypothyroidism and pregnancy

I have an underactive thyroid, which means there is a risk of a smaller baby if my pregnancy is not properly monitored. However, mine is managed with medication, blood tests, and additional growth scans. The last of these was two weeks ago and I have another booked in for two weeks time.

I explained this to the midwife at my 33 weeks pregnant appointment, thinking it would be fine. But she said I was measuring quite far under the acceptable margin for tape measure error, and phoned the hospital, who said I needed to have another scan in the next few days.

“But don’t worry” she said as I left the room later. At which point I did start to feel ever so slightly anxious. Thing is, I know it’ll be fine – I’m on the small side, Eliza was a normal weight, and I’d always had conflicting results from each tape-measure wielding midwife – but at the back of my mind I can’t help feeling that things have gone so right this pregnancy, something is bound to go wrong. Is that being overly pessimistic?

And then of course, no-one called me to book the scan, so I’ll have to play phone ping pong this week to find out.

33 weeks pregnant - a pregnancy update in the third trimester

33 weeks pregnant: pregnancy symptoms

Ironically, I’m feeling massive at the moment. And still slightly in denial. But after my mild panic of last week, we have at least made a start at getting things ready. My mum is coming down to wash all the baby clothes. Our SnuzPod arrived, ready for a newborn to review it.

And I now have newborn nappies and a giant pack of the mattress-sized maternity pads (something else I’d forgotten about the newborn stage. Joys). So we are slightly more ready.

Also, things have finally turned a corner with our house and we’re mostly all done. Our sofas arrive today and we now have brand new carpets. I’ll just have to try to not accidentally give birth on them now.

Here are all my weekly pregnancy updates and you can follow me on Instagram

4 Comments

  • Faded Seaside Mama

    September 1, 2014 at 7:06 am

    This really struck a chord. With my first baby, the Dr’s measurements stayed the same for a few weeks. When I mentioned it at my final midwife appointment everyone went into panic mode. I had a ton of extra scans and was told that my baby’s legs were shorter than their scale allowed for. I was freaking out. And yes, my baby was small at just over 4lbs, but she was perfect and still is in every way. She’s shorter and more petite than her peers but not in an obvious way. And even if she was I’d love that little bundle just as much.
    Good luck, and try not to worry. They’re keeping an eye on things and will make sure you’re both looked after.

    1. gillian

      September 1, 2014 at 12:44 pm

      Thank you so much for the comment – and glad to hear all is OK now. I’m not surprised you were freaking out! It’s really hard isn’t it, especially when they tell you not to worry but don’t tell you anything about it really (I’m still chasing midwife / doctor / hospital to find out when my scan is! Pretty bad communication) xx

  • emily finch

    September 1, 2014 at 1:14 pm

    Take it all with a pinch of salt. I measured big, had growth scans that first said was going to be big, then not as big as my first (9lb 15) then I measured correct and I then had an even bigger baby 10lb 9!! A friend was told having big baby and she was 7lb 7. So they aren’t accurate! X

  • 34 weeks pregnancy update: the lowdown |

    September 8, 2014 at 6:31 am

    […] good news about the emergency growth scan I mentioned last week is that everything is absolutely fine. It turns out the baby is head down and really, really low in […]

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