33 weeks pregnant: what to expect in Québec

Your baby

Head down, for most

Between thirty-two and thirty-six weeks most babies settle head down. Around thirty-six weeks the skin turns pink and the down starts to disappear. There is less room: movements feel different, but are still there every day.

The third trimester

At thirty weeks the baby measures about 28 cm from head to rump and gains weight every week. The lungs mature, the baby practises breathing amniotic fluid and reacts to light. Movements get bigger and sometimes less comfortable for you.

You

Late-pregnancy discomforts

Heartburn, back pain, heavy legs, broken sleep, frequent urination: third-trimester discomforts are common. Irregular, painless contractions, called Braxton Hicks, may appear. Regular contractions that get closer, leaking fluid or bleeding should be reported right away to the place of birth.

Feeling the baby move every day

From the third trimester you know your baby’s rhythm. If the baby moves clearly less than usual, do not wait until tomorrow: call the place of birth or 811, any time. It is always better to check for nothing.

Mood matters too

Anxiety and depression can begin during pregnancy, not only after. According to the INSPQ they are treatable, and the sooner the better. If worry or sadness has taken over for more than two weeks, talk to your professional, the CLSC or 811, where Info-Social also answers.

In Québec

A visit every 2 or 3 weeks

From thirty-one to thirty-six weeks visits get closer: every two or three weeks according to the Mieux vivre guide. The baby’s growth and position and your blood pressure are followed, and the birth plan and signs of labour are discussed.

The car seat, installed and checked

In Québec the baby must ride in a rear-facing car seat from the trip home from the hospital. Install it a few weeks ahead and have it checked: CAA-Québec, police services and pharmacies offer inspection clinics.

Give your employer written notice

For maternity leave, the Act respecting labour standards requires written notice to the employer at least three weeks before leaving, with a medical certificate giving the expected date of delivery. The other parent also gives notice for paternity or parental leave. Check as well what your collective agreement or group insurance provides.

The birth plan and pre-registration

A birth plan says what matters to you: support, pain relief, skin to skin, breastfeeding. It is discussed with your professional and handed to the place of birth. Several hospitals ask for pre-registration or a tour of the unit: ask at follow-up. Our birth plan tool guides you question by question.

First names, up to four

In Québec a child can receive up to four given names, usual name included, entered on the Declaration of Birth to be filed within 30 days of the birth. For inspiration, our baby-name pages show the 250 girl and boy names most given in Québec, with their curve since 1980.

Prenatal classes

Group prenatal classes are offered by the CISSS and CIUSSS, often at the CLSC, and by community or private organizations, free or with fees. They cover birth, breastfeeding and the baby’s first care, in two to eight sessions depending on the region. Ask your professional or the CLSC what is offered in your area.

QPIP: choosing the plan and planning the dates

QPIP maternity benefits can start as early as the 16th week before the expected week of delivery. Basic plan (more weeks, lower rate) or special plan (fewer weeks, at 75%): the choice of the first parent to apply applies to both. Apply online, at the earliest on the Sunday of the week you want payments to start. Our QPIP calculator estimates the amounts.

With Maliah

If gestational diabetes is diagnosed

Maliah offers blood sugar tracking only if you indicate gestational diabetes: readings are logged with the time and the meal, and the table is shared with the clinic. The app calculates no dose and sets no target: those come from your team.

Your symptoms and questions, ready for the visit

Nausea, sleep, blood pressure taken at the pharmacy, the baby’s movements, questions that come at 3 a.m.: everything is logged in Maliah, by voice or in two taps, and is there at the next appointment. Nothing is interpreted: the app keeps the facts, your professional reads them.

Pregnancy week by week, in the app

In Maliah the pregnancy is followed at its own stage: the current week, appointments, preparation reminders (bag, car seat, birth plan) and your notes, shared with the other parent. The due date calculator gives the starting point.

Related free tools

Sources : INSPQ : Mieux vivre avec notre enfant de la grossesse à deux ans (guide 2026) · INSPQ, Mieux vivre : Suivi de grossesse · INSPQ, Information périnatale : Rencontres prénatales · INSPQ, Information périnatale : Santé mentale en contexte périnatal · Québec.ca : RQAP, choix du régime et types de prestations · Québec.ca : Programme québécois d’immunisation · Directeur de l’état civil : Déclaration de naissance · Québec.ca : Trouver un service de garde et inscrire mon enfant (Portail d’inscription)

This article is for information; it does not replace advice from a health professional. In Québec, call Info-Santé 811 when in doubt (elsewhere in Canada, your provincial health line). In an emergency, call 911. Updated on October 27, 2026.