April 21, 2009
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32 weeks down!
Fetal Development This WeekWeek 32 of Pregnancy: Fetal Postion
This
week your baby weighs almost four pounds and could be up to 19 inches
long. And though that’s a head-to-toe length, your baby is actually
back to a curled-up position in preparation for birth (you try standing
up in those cramped quarters!).This week your baby weighs
almost four pounds and could be up to 19 inches long. And though that’s
a head-to-toe length, your baby is actually back to a curled-up
position (you try standing up in those cramped quarters!). At 32 weeks pregnant,
you’re likely feeling tapping and squirming instead of your baby’s
signature rocking and rolling. That’s because, while comfy, your baby
is a bit tight for exercise space right now. Your baby has also
probably settled into the head-down, bottoms-up position in your pelvis
in prepartion for birth. That’s because the fetus’s head fits better at
the bottom of your inverted, pear-shaped uterus. It also makes it
easier during childbirth if your baby comes out head first. Fewer than
five percent of babies prefer the bottom-down (or breech) position by
full-term. Don’t worry if your baby hasn’t assumed the head-down
position yet. There’s still a good chance he or she will flip
head-side-down before birth — even in the tight confines of your
uterus.document.write(‘
While
your baby is still getting nourishment through the umbilical cord, it
won’t be long before you’ll be bringing on the breast milk or formula
(and soon after, the mashed carrots and peas). In anticipation of that
momentous transition to mouth feeding, your baby’s digestive system is
all set and ready to go.
And because your baby is
accumulating more fat, his or her skin is finally turning opaque (like
yours), which means those see-through days are over. Though weeks away
from D-day, your baby’s looking more and more like a newborn.
And
speaking of that big day, hope you’re resting up for it — because your
bambino certainly is. In preparation for that big first date with you,
your baby is sleeping like a baby — with sleep cycles of 20 to 40
minutes long (which would also account for the decrease in movement
you’re likely feeling these days).Everything here is basically as it was last time I posted a pregnancy update. Nothing new to report that I can think of. I do have one question… At 32 weeks pregnant, with sleep at a premium; up to pee, tossing and turning to find a comfortable position and just plain sleeplessness. How in the world are you suppose to rest up?!
I can tell you that her movements have definitely changed, they are (for the most part) bigger and more intense. She even wakes me up at night moving around. Probably one of the few things that wakes me that I don’t mind.
