By week 32, your baby is the size of a cantaloupe, tipping the scales at not quite 4 lbs. Your baby is spending these last few weeks practicing the skills needed outside the womb, including swallowing, breathing, kicking and sucking. The digestive system is all set and ready to go and the baby is looking more and more like a real newborn. Swoon!
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The baby is back to a curled-up position, so you may feel some tapping and squirming. Between 32 and 38 weeks, the baby will start to settle head-down into the pelvis region to get ready for birth. Less than 5 percent of babies will be born bottom-down or breech so if yours hasn\u2019t moved to the head-down position yet, don\u2019t worry. Chances are the baby will still flip before birth. Another thing your baby is doing? Resting up for the big day! Your baby is now sleeping like a baby with regular sleep and wake cycles. If you haven\u2019t felt a ton of movement lately this may be why. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Body Changes to Expect for Week 32<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThere\u2019s a good chance that you may experience Braxton Hicks<\/a> contractions by week 32, which are irregular practice contractions. You may feel your uterus tightening or hardening periodically as it preps for delivery. These \u201crehearsals\u201d are a warm-up for actual labor with the tightening sensation lasting anywhere from 15 to 30 seconds. Did you know there are three ways to tell whether it\u2019s real or false labor? With false labor you won\u2019t have the bloody show, or the mucous plug dislodging. You also won\u2019t have your water break if it\u2019s false labor. And the third way to tell whether it\u2019s real or false labor is by paying attention to the contractions. If they are irregular, stay at the same intensity, felt more in your lower abdomen rather than your back or go away if you change positions, these are likely Braxton Hicks contractions and not real labor. Here are 10 other signs labor is approaching<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Pregnancy Symptoms to Watch For<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nYou\u2019re getting close to delivery day, which means the pregnancy symptoms have not let up any and have probably increased by this point in your journey. Expect constipation and leg cramps, which can be eased by drinking lots of water and getting more calcium and magnesium in your diet (or through prenatal vitamins). You may also experience hemorrhoids, which are lovely varicose veins in the rectum and a literal pain in the butt.
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As your breasts get bigger, you may experience some leaking of a fluid called colostrum, which is an antibody-packed precursor to breast milk. It\u2019s the first milk your baby will get and is full of good nutrients. Your belly skin is likely feeling very itchy by now too, as the skin stretches and dries out. If it\u2019s too bothersome, try creams, moisturizers, calamine lotion or add oatmeal to your bath and soak in warm water. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Week 32 To-Do List<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nAt this point in your pregnancy, your dreams are getting super wild thanks to pregnancy hormones. Keep a dream journal and write down what you\u2019re seeing; chances are it will be easier to remember your dreams as the third trimester brings more sleep disruptions. If you\u2019re experiencing stretch marks, you\u2019re in good company as the American Academy of Dermatology says up to 90 percent of women get them. Think of it this way: your baby is growing just right! As your uterus grows in size, you may find yourself eating less and your appetite decreasing. If a big meal feels like too much, opt for regular, small snacks. Keep drinking the heck out of water as you have more waste to flush as you\u2019re eating and drinking for two. Maintaining a regular intake of water means your urine is nice and diluted which keeps things flowing and prevents UTI\u2019s. This also helps move solid waste through your digestive system, avoiding the dreaded constipation a lot of pregnant women experience. Finally, keep up with your pelvic tilts as they strengthen your abs, soothe back aches and prep your body for labor and an easy delivery. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Pregnancy Symptoms to Watch For<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nYou\u2019re getting close to delivery day, which means the pregnancy symptoms have not let up any and have probably increased by this point in your journey. Expect constipation and leg cramps, which can be eased by drinking lots of water and getting more calcium and magnesium in your diet (or through prenatal vitamins). You may also experience hemorrhoids, which are lovely varicose veins in the rectum and a literal pain in the butt.
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As your breasts get bigger, you may experience some leaking of a fluid called colostrum, which is an antibody-packed precursor to breast milk. It\u2019s the first milk your baby will get and is full of good nutrients. Your belly skin is likely feeling very itchy by now too, as the skin stretches and dries out. If it\u2019s too bothersome, try creams, moisturizers, calamine lotion or add oatmeal to your bath and soak in warm water. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Week 32 To-Do List<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nAt this point in your pregnancy, your dreams are getting super wild thanks to pregnancy hormones. Keep a dream journal and write down what you\u2019re seeing; chances are it will be easier to remember your dreams as the third trimester brings more sleep disruptions. If you\u2019re experiencing stretch marks, you\u2019re in good company as the American Academy of Dermatology says up to 90 percent of women get them. Think of it this way: your baby is growing just right! As your uterus grows in size, you may find yourself eating less and your appetite decreasing. If a big meal feels like too much, opt for regular, small snacks. Keep drinking the heck out of water as you have more waste to flush as you\u2019re eating and drinking for two. Maintaining a regular intake of water means your urine is nice and diluted which keeps things flowing and prevents UTI\u2019s. This also helps move solid waste through your digestive system, avoiding the dreaded constipation a lot of pregnant women experience. Finally, keep up with your pelvic tilts as they strengthen your abs, soothe back aches and prep your body for labor and an easy delivery. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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At this point in your pregnancy, your dreams are getting super wild thanks to pregnancy hormones. Keep a dream journal and write down what you\u2019re seeing; chances are it will be easier to remember your dreams as the third trimester brings more sleep disruptions. If you\u2019re experiencing stretch marks, you\u2019re in good company as the American Academy of Dermatology says up to 90 percent of women get them. Think of it this way: your baby is growing just right! As your uterus grows in size, you may find yourself eating less and your appetite decreasing. If a big meal feels like too much, opt for regular, small snacks. Keep drinking the heck out of water as you have more waste to flush as you\u2019re eating and drinking for two. Maintaining a regular intake of water means your urine is nice and diluted which keeps things flowing and prevents UTI\u2019s. This also helps move solid waste through your digestive system, avoiding the dreaded constipation a lot of pregnant women experience. Finally, keep up with your pelvic tilts as they strengthen your abs, soothe back aches and prep your body for labor and an easy delivery. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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