32 Weeks Pregnant Your baby is the size of a head of lettuce
Your Baby at Week 32
At a Glance
For upon |Baby Organs Are Fully Formed
All of your baby’s major organs are fully developed now, except for his lungs. His chances for survival if he were born this week are great.
Breathing Practice
Your baby inhales amniotic fluid to give his lungs some practice.
Skin Changes
Bye-bye, see-through baby! This week, your little bean’s skin is now opaque instead of transparent.
What’s up with your baby? She’s starting to get ready for her big debut, tipping the scales at three-and-a-half to four pounds and topping out at 15 to 17 inches. In these past few weeks, it’s all about practice, practice, practice as she hones the skills she’ll need to thrive outside the womb — from swallowing and breathing to kicking and sucking. In anticipation of that momentous transition to mouth feeding, your baby’s digestive system is all set and ready to go. And though you’re weeks away from D-day, your baby’s looking more and more like a newborn: As fat accumulates under her skin, it’s no longer transparent and is now opaque.
32 Weeks Pregnant Is How Many Months?
If you’re 32 weeks pregnant, you’re in month 8 of your pregnancy. Only 1 month left to go! Still have questions? Here’s some more information on how weeks, months and trimesters are broken down in pregnancy.
Fetal Position: Head Down or Breech?
At 32 weeks pregnant, you’re likely feeling tapping and squirming instead of your baby’s signature rocking and rolling. That’s because, while comfy, your baby is a bit tight for exercise space right now — she’s actually back to a curled-up position (you try standing up in those cramped quarters!). Between 32 and 38 weeks, your baby will also probably settle into the head-down, bottoms-up position in your pelvis in preparation for birth. That’s because the fetus’ head fits better at the bottom of your inverted, pear-shaped uterus, plus it’s easier during childbirth if your baby comes out head first. Fewer than five percent of babies prefer the bottom-down (or breech) position by full-term — so don’t worry if your little bean hasn’t assumed the head-down position yet. There’s still a good chance she’ll flip before birth, even in the tight confines of your uterus.
Baby’s Sleep Cycles
And speaking of the big day, hope you’re resting up for it because your bambino certainly is. In preparation for that first date with you, your baby is sleeping like a baby — with regular sleep and wake cycles (which would also account for the decrease in movement you’re likely feeling these days).
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Watch Your Baby’s Growth at Week 32
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Your Body at Week 32
Braxton Hicks Contractions
This week, your body may start prepping for delivery day by flexing its muscles…literally. If you feel your uterus bunching or hardening periodically, those are Braxton Hicks — irregular practice contractions that are first felt around mid-pregnancy and increase in frequency and strength as things progress. These prelabor rehearsals are a warm-up for the real thing and are typically experienced earlier and with more intensity in women who’ve been pregnant before (many novice moms-to-be don’t notice them as much). They feel like a tightening sensation that begins at the top of your uterus and then spreads downward, lasting from 15 to 30 seconds (though they can sometimes last two minutes or more). How do you know they aren’t real labor? They’ll stop if you change position, so try getting up if you’re lying down or walking if you’ve been sitting. If they are real labor contractions, they’ll become progressively stronger and more regular — so in that case, put in a call to your practitioner. In the meantime, when they’re just the practice kind, try taking a warm bath to help with the discomfort.
Ultrasound Photos
Ultrasound is a tried-and-true prenatal tool (and a window into the wonderful world of your womb) — but this procedure has taken a giant leap from the confines of a doctor’s office to a storefront at the mall, with 3D- or 4D-ultrasounds. Is it safe to take a peek inside your tummy on the way to Sears? The FDA warns against having ultrasounds for fun (as opposed to for medical reasons), since such three-dimensional imaging machines use higher power than the typical ultrasound machines at your doctor’s office. And many medical professionals fear that nervous moms-to-be will come away mistakenly convinced there’s something wrong with their babies or, worse, that the untrained wand wavers will miss real problems that would be detected by a pro. If you’re still interested in an elective sonogram, make sure to check with your practitioner for the go-ahead.
The article was originally published here.
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