33 Weeks of Pregnancy | Third Trimester | Fetal Stage

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At 33 weeks of pregnancy, the fetus continues gaining weight. The once reddish skin becomes pinker due to a growing layer of fat [1].

As the auditory system develops, the fetus starts processing more complex sounds [2].

The sucking reflex appears around this time [3]. Once the baby is born, the sucking reflex will occur when something like a nipple, bottle, or finger stimulates the roof of the baby’s mouth [3].

The frequency of fetal breathing movements, which has been increasing, will remain constant throughout the rest of the pregnancy [4]. After frequent hiccups over the past three weeks, fetal hiccup frequency should start declining by the end of this week [4].

References:
1. Betts JG, Young KA, Wise JA, Johnson E, Poe B, Kruse DH, et al. 28.3 Fetal Development. Anatomy & Physiology. Houston: OpenStax; 2013.
2. Kisilevsky S, Hains SMJ, Jacquet AY, Granier-Deferre C, Lecanuet JP. Maturation of fetal responses to music. Dev Sci. 2004;7: 550–559.
3. Yoo H, Mihaila DM. Rooting Reflex. StatPearls Publishing; 2022.
4. Tatsumura M. Studies on features of fetal movement and development of human fetus with use of fetal actogram. Nihon Sanka Fujinka Gakkai Zasshi. 1991;43: 864–873.

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Produced and written by: Samantha Lattof, PhD MSc
Medically reviewed by: Ayodeji Olelakan Abere, MD MBA MHA
Animation by: SciePro / Pond5
Music by: audiomarket / Pond5
Narration by: Ava / Wellsaid

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