Week 32 - What the baby looks like..

Last night I had the worst sleep I have ever had. I could not get comfortable at all. The baby was kicking me high and she would not stop. Whatever ever way I would turn, she would kick. So I got up numerous times in the night trying to get her to relax a little. While it wasn't painful I am going have to figure out another way to get comfortable. More pillows perhaps? The funny thing is that I didn't even have much heartburn. SO while her position has changed to somewhere uncomfortable my heartburn is less. hmmmm...She is still kicking this morning so I thought I would google a picture of what she looks like at 32 weeks. (of course she isn't a boy ;) I am amazed. No wonder she isn't comfortable either.

So here is what is happening this week.

By week 32, your baby weighs nearly 4 pounds! The crown-to-rump length of your baby is approximately 11.7 inches and the total length is about 18.9 inches. Your uterus is now 5 inches above your bellybutton. Some doctors do not see their patients every other week until now. So, if you were going to the doctor monthly, you may begin going once every other week now.

Sleeping boy. the baby sleeps 90-95% of the day, and sometimes experiences REM sleep, an indication of dreaming.

Now that your baby has grown so long and your uterus is higher, you might notice a new discomfort. Your baby is probably head-down and may occasionally stretch out and kick you in the ribs. The pressure on your rib cage can make you sore, especially if one of your baby's feet becomes caught. You can prevent this by sitting up straight as much as possible. Because your baby's demands for vitamins and minerals are higher than ever right now, you should continue to take your parental vitamins for the entire pregnancy.

This week your baby's movements will peak. You should continue to monitor the fetal movements daily and address any concerns with your caregiver. The wrinkles in your baby's face are disappearing and fat is still being deposited throughout the baby's body.

The body growth slows down from now on.

Because of the lack of space in the uterus, the legs are drawn up in what is known as the fetal position.

As a preparation for breastfeeding, your baby has learned to root for the breast. The baby will turn its head if touched on the cheek and open its mouth if the bottom lip is tickled. By this time the baby can also suck and swallow in a coordinated way.