Facts About Being 32 Weeks Pregnant

Fetal development in pregnancy week 32 - fetus in eighth month
And in the latest developing reports, your amazing baby has now developed sensitivity to temperature! This means, you’ll probably get a swift kick if you put a hot pad on your ginormous belly. For the Elton John lovers out there: baby’s got blue eyes. At this point, all babies do, although depending on their chromosomal disposition, this could easily change after birth (or even between now and labor), but for the time being, blue it is. Thanks to their recently matured lungs and a remarkably strong immune system, over 90% of babies born in their 32nd week, survive premature births. So it’s pretty much a done deal. Even if your little monkey’s planning on heading out early, their survival odds are in everyone’s favor. Time to celebrate (no, no, wait until after the birth to crack open the champagne!) We’re talking baby-showers and alcohol-free punch!

How big is your baby?
Your baby will be weighing in at around 1.8kg's and measuring 29cm from crown-to-rump and about 42cm from head-to-toe.

This week your baby will :

- Be able to register on all five of his/her senses.
- Your baby's iris, which is the colored part of the eye, will open in darker light and close in brighter light.
- Your baby's toe nails should be completely formed by now.

How your baby's growing?
By now, your baby is just shy of 4 pounds and is nearly 17 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.

And how's mom doing?
If your family or significant other is around and involved, it’s probably time to start discussing what’s going to happen when you really go into labor. Of course, the delivery itself can be quite overwhelming for first-time viewers, so make sure and openly discuss the fact there will be blood, sweat, make sure and openly discuss the fact there will be blood, sweat, mucous, and possibly even a bit of poop mucous, and possibly even a bit of poop (if you didn’t know already, it’s likely that while in labor and pushing, you also push out a bit of the ol’ number 2—it’s totally normal if not a little disgusting). Even the weak-stomached birthing buddies can still help to make the labor-process more bearable with breathing assistance, massages, and constant reassurance and cheering: "Yay! That was a great contraction honey!" (Now run before she breaks your wrist!). For the more blood-bold and not so faint of heart, the positions of cameraman, baby-catcher, and/or umbilical cord-cutter are always available—just talk to your doctor or mid-wife beforehand so they can be prepared to deal with an extra person during the birthing process.

Surprise! Your third trimester symptoms aren’t going away yet. If you just got back from peeing, you already know that your bladder is nearing non-existent-land. These joys will persist till you’re on the birthing bench. Also, be careful of lightheadedness during these last weeks. Your blood tends to pool in the lower limbs, resulting in low cranial blood pressure, so watch out for the head rushes and get up nice-n-slow after sitting for long periods (such as after another Sex and the City Marathon).

How big are you?
Your uterus now sits about 12 cm above your bellybutton and about 32cm above your pubic symphysis.

You may begin to experience back pain now. Back pain is generally caused by weak stomach muscles, as this will force you to push your shoulders back in order to support your growing uterus.

Your Nutrition
Should you be expecting more than one baby, your nutrition and weight gain are extremely important. Food will always be your best source of nutrition, but it will be even more important for you to take your prenatal vitamins.

If you don't gain weight in the early stages of your pregnancy, then you will stand a higher chance of developing pre-eclampsia or your baby being born a little too small.

Your target weight gain, if you are carrying more than one baby, will be about 45 pounds, so don't be alarmed when your health care provider tells you what he wants your total weight gain to be.

How your life's changing:
To accommodate you and your baby's growing needs, your blood volume has increased 40 to 50 percent since you got pregnant. With your uterus pushing up near your diaphragm and crowding your stomach, the consequences may be shortness of breath and heartburn. To help relieve your discomfort, try sleeping propped up with pillows and eating smaller meals more often.

You may have lower-back pain as your pregnancy advances. If you do, let your caregiver know right away, particularly if you haven't had back pain before, since it can be a sign of preterm labor.

Assuming it's not preterm labor that's ailing you, you can probably blame your growing uterus and hormonal changes for your aching back. Your expanding uterus shifts your center of gravity and stretches out and weakens your abdominal muscles, changing your posture and putting a strain on your back. Hormonal changes in pregnancy loosen your joints and the ligaments that attach your pelvic bones to your spine. This can make you feel less stable and cause pain when you walk, stand, sit for long periods, roll over in bed, get out of a low chair or the tub, bend, or lift things.

Sources:
Baby Gaga
Pregnancy Calendar
Baby Center