Only eight more weeks for your little ones arrival! From now onwards the primary thought occupying the mother’s mind is ‘what to expect during labour?’ It is time for a baby shower. In
Pregnancy Week 32 developments are enumerated below.
Changes in Baby
The baby is growing bigger and stronger. From now on, it gains more weight than height measuring almost 4 pounds in weight and 17 inches in length in the 32 nd week. Weight gain is rapid because the muscles are developing and fat is being deposited. The baby’s skin looks more transparent, less wrinkly and becomes pinkish in colour. It starts looking like a newborn.
The brain and nervous system is well developed by now. The baby starts showing sensitivity to temperature.
Babies born in this week have a fair chance of surviving. It may experience sucking problem because neuromuscular activity is week. You can get more information on
Pregnancy Week by Week.
Baby’s skeleton is fully formed by this week. The bones are still pliable and soft to help in delivery. The baby can move its head from side to side. But it does not move much because of the lack of space. The eyes assume a dark greyish – bluish colour, which changes only in the weeks following the birth. By the 32 nd week, all five senses of the baby are functioning. The toe nails are fully grown and eyebrows and eyelashes are fully developed. Hair on the head is evident by this time. The baby is getting ready for
delivery and now it would have settled in a head down position.
Changes in Mother
By now the mother is at home with the aches and pains. Her body is rehearsing for labour with Braxton Hicks contractions that last almost 30 seconds several times a day.
The mother has gained almost 20 lbs by the
Pregnancy Week 32. She would be gaining at least a pound a week from now onwards. The extra weight on the pelvis and legs causes them to ache and swell. Relaxing with the feet up will help. The
mother’s metabolic rate increases making her feel hot and sweaty all the time. Her nipples are also becoming darker and larger which makes it easier for the baby to locate them.
The uterus is about five inches above the navel. It is constantly pushing other organs to make space for the growing baby in
Week 32. This causes heartburn, indigestion and constipation. These discomforts can be reduced by drinking lot of water, eating small quantities at a time and consuming a balanced diet with lots of fibre rich foods. During this
Pregnacy week 32 mother experiences pain in the ribs because the baby is pushing against the ribs with its feet. Massaging the ribs and taking lots of rest will help lessen these discomforts.
In this week it is important to rule out the possibility of preeclampsia. If the mother experiences any discomforts like headaches, swelling in hands and face, water retention, sudden weight gain etc she must consult the doctor immediately. If not preeclampsia would prove dangerous both for the mother and child during
Pregnancy. A fortnightly visit to the doctor is recommended from now onwards.
The centre of gravity of the mother’s body shifts. Therefore she may face problems of balancing herself. Also, the pregnancy hormone relaxin softens the hip joints of the mother. This combined with the growing uterus gives the mother a waddle like gait. But this is only temporary. Post delivery it goes away. The greatest challenge during this
Pregnancy Week 32 is that sleeping comfortably. The mother must find a comfortable sleeping position and take adequate rest.
