32 Weeks Pregnant
What’s happening this week? How is my baby developing?
You’re now 32 weeks pregnant, fingernails and toenails continue to grow and now reach to tip of your baby’s fingers. Your baby is also experimenting with facial expressions, and is able to smile, stick tongue out and make faces.
Both muscles and bones continue to mature and strengthen, so motion control is improving, movements become smooth.
An important development this week is sensitivity to temperature, and your baby will jump if you put a hot or cold pad on your tummy. Amniotic fluid reaches its maximum and will remain constant until week 37, after which it begins to drop.
At 32 weeks pregnant, your baby weighs up to 1.7 kg and measures around 42 cm.
How is my body changing?
By 32 weeks pregnant, your uterus has moved to about 14 cm above your navel, and you should expect your tummy to continue growing in the upcoming weeks.
With your expanding uterus, come more aches and pains and your symptoms are likely to get worse now. Maintain your posture straight, as this will alleviate back pain and leg cramps.
You’re still running to the toilet every 5 minutes and feel more and more tired, so do have a snooze every chance you get even though you may find it uncomfortable to go to sleep!
A symptom that you may find worrying is heart palpitations. Mild palpitations are normal and you don’t need to be concerned, but if they’re strong or if you already have respiratory and heart problems, discuss it with your healthcare provider.
Your weight gain so far may have reached 25-26 pounds. Even if you find it difficult, continue doing some form of exercise, as this will help to keep up stamina during labour.
Cesarean section
Even if you prefer a natural birth, it’s a good idea to find out a little about this procedure, as you may need an emergency c-section if your baby is at risk.
Labour not progressing, stressed or breech baby, heavy vaginal bleeding, problems with the umbilical cord are just some of the situations were a c-section would be performed.
When the day comes, you’ll receive a local anesthetic. The surgeon will then make a small horizontal cut above the pubic bone and you’ll have your baby in your arms within 5 minutes.
The whole procedure shouldn’t take longer than 30 minutes. A nurse will monitor your progress for a few hours after the operation, when you’ll probably experience uterine cramping, bleeding and pain from the incision.
Your doctor will perform several follow-ups during the subsequent weeks to ensure everything is healing properly.