Pregnancy Calendar Week 32
From LoveToKnow Pregnancy
Your Baby during Pregnancy Calendar Week 32
During pregnancy calendar week 32, your baby is gaining weight at a rate of half an ounce per day. Just like a newborn infant, he/she has regular periods of active wakefulness, quiet wakefulness, deep sleep, and active sleep.
While your baby is probably kicking and punching less frequently, he/she still exercises his/her developing muscles by twisting and wiggling. In fact, many women say they can even feel their baby's buttocks as they move.
Your Changing Body
During pregnancy calendar week 32, you may notice that your baby seems to be permanently pressed against your rib cage. Since your baby is running out of space in his/her uterine home, it’s only natural that he/she is searching for additional stretching room! Changing your own position or taking a deep breath while raising one arm over your head may help convince your little bundle of joy to relocate.
Stress incontinence is another common pregnancy symptom during the third trimester. Many women begin to leak a small amount of urine when they cough, sneeze, or laugh as the result of the uterus placing increased pressure on the bladder. Doing Kegel exercises can help firm up the pelvic muscles and reduce symptoms. Many women also find it helpful to avoid caffeinated beverages, citrus foods, and carbonated drinks.
During pregnancy calendar week 32, your uterus can now be felt approximately 5 inches above your navel. If you measure from the top of your public bone to the top of your uterus, this number (in centimeters) represents approximately how far along you are in your pregnancy. However, if you’re carrying multiples, your uterus now measures the same as a 40 week singleton pregnancy!
For the remainder of your pregnancy, you can expect to gain about one pound per week. During pregnancy calendar week 32, your healthcare provider will probably want to begin increasing the frequency of your prenatal visits. At these appointments, he/she will monitor fetal heartbeat, measure the height of the fundus, check your urine for sugar or protein, examine your feet and hands for unusual swelling, and perform any necessary diagnostic tests. He/she will also want to know about any pregnancy symptoms you have been experiencing, so you may to keep a written list of your questions and concerns.
Your Weight Gain and Your Baby’s Size
Many pregnant women who’ve gained more than the recommended 25-35 pounds fear they are destined to deliver larger than normal babies. However, an excessive weight gain doesn’t automatically mean you’ll give birth to a large baby. It’s quite possible for a 50 pound weight gain to result in a slender 6 pound baby or a 20 pound weight gain to yield a husky 9 pound infant.
If you’re curious about your baby’s size, remember that genetics play a small role in birth weight. If you were a large baby, then your baby may be heavier than normal. Women who were overweight prior to becoming pregnant also have a greater chance of delivering larger babies.
Your healthcare provider may be able to provide an estimate of your baby’s weight by measuring the height of your fundus and palpating your abdomen. It’s also possible to gauge your baby’s size via an ultrasound. However, both of these methods may be off by as much as one pound.
|
<< See Pregnancy Week 31 |
See Pregnancy Week 33>> |
Learn More
This page has been accessed 920 times. This page was last modified 04:54, 22 October 2008.
© 2006-2008 LoveToKnow Corp.
