At 32 weeks pregnant, you are now entering the 8th month of your
pregnancy, with just 2 more months to go. If this is your first
baby you'll probably be feeling a real mix of excitement and a
little healthy apprehension thrown in as well. Becoming a parent
for the first time will mean you'll need to make some major changes
to your life. No matter how much you plan for the baby to fit in
with your plans and lifestyle, there will be big differences in
what you are able to achieve and how your priorities lie.
can I have a hand please?
Your baby will depend on you to predict and care for its every
need. For you to learn how to do this will take time and practice.
If you've had a baby before, you may still be wondering how a new
baby will fit in with your family and how you will find the time to
care for another dependent little person. Try not to let worry
consume you. Set up some supportive networks of family and friends
who will be available to help you when the baby is born. Generally,
people are happy to lend a hand and appreciate being asked.
Although you may feel it is a little early to be doing this, it
will give you some piece of mind to know that you've already done
some planning for those early, demanding days.
your physical changes this week
- Your belly is getting bigger and your breasts are not far
behind. It's getting harder to see your knees and your belly button
may be poking out by now. There's not much room in the space
between your breasts and the start of your belly. It's probably
more comfortable now for you to wear a bra most of the time, simply
because of the weight of your breasts. Some pregnant women find
they need breast support from a maternity bra even when they go to
sleep.
- Watch for heat rashes under your breasts, which will be
aggravated by sweat. Cooling showers, a light dusting of absorbent
talcum powder and good general hygiene will help you to avoid a
thrush infection developing.
- You'll probably find yourself sighing as you sit down -
relieved to get the weight off your legs. Avoid marathon shopping
expeditions and learn to pace yourself. It is going to become more
difficult to sustain activity which requires a moderate amount of
physical output. Plan your day to include a rest and some down
time.
- Your weight is going up in line with your baby's growth. Some
women gain as much as ? kilogram per week in these weeks. Fluid
retention can also add weight, but this is largely unavoidable in
the third trimester. Watch for a sudden, rapid rise in your weight
or bad headaches. These can be signs of complications developing,
so check with your midwife or doctor if you experience these
changes.
- Your ante-natal checks will become a fortnightly affair from
now on until around 36 weeks when they will increase to weekly. Get
used to having your urine checked, your blood pressure measured and
your tummy palpated. Although it can all seem a bit monotonous, it
is important that you are monitored carefully. In the 3rd
trimester, problems such as pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes and
premature labour are more common.
your emotional changes this week
- Had enough yet? At 32 weeks pregnant, you probably aren't quite
at the stage of wanting it all to be over, though that time is fast
approaching. If you're looking after other small children the sheer
physicality of being pregnancy is becoming more difficult. Bending
over to them in the bath, lifting them out of a stroller, picking
up endless toys off the floor will all add to your fatigue at the
end of the day.
- You could feel as if you are doing the lot when it comes to
your pregnancy. The truth is, you are and at this stage your
partner is a bit of an observer. Tell him how you feel if you are
getting resentful. Be clear with him about how he can support you
and don't expect him to read your mind.
your baby's changes this week
- Your baby is around 1.8 kilograms this week and just under 50
centimetres long. It is gaining most of its weight in these last
few weeks, around 250 grams/week between now and 35 weeks in fact.
Your baby is spending a lot of time kicking, swallowing, moving its
little arms around, sucking, grimacing and frowning. It can even
move its head from side to side and is opening and closing its
eyes.
- The baby fills all the space in your uterus now, touching the
sides and really using the room to its own advantage. Your nerve
endings are picking up every movement so you are very much aware of
there being someone along for the ride.
- Your baby is still having periods of rest and activity which
may follow a similar pattern each day. Some women say that when
they climb into bed is a sign for the baby to start their
calisthenics. But it could be that there are little other
distractions then so pregnant mothers are more aware of their
baby's movements.
- Your baby's skin is less translucent and looks more like the
perfect skin of a little baby. More fat cells are settling under
its skin and plumping out those skin folds.
- Your baby's bones are getting harder and calcifying. This means
that your diet is particularly important at this stage of your
pregnancy. Ensure you're having 3-4 serves of calcium rich foods
each day; milk, cheese, yoghurt, almonds, fish with edible bones,
green leafy vegetables are good sources. If you can't tolerate
cow's milk go for soy milk products which are fortified with
calcium.
hints for the week
- Be kind to your back when you climb out of bed. First roll onto
your side and then use your hands to "walk" yourself into a sitting
position. Move your bottom close to the edge of the bed so you're
not straining and leaning forward more than you need to. Get into
the habit of sitting for a minute or two and then standing. Your
blood pressure is lower when you are lying down, compared with when
you are standing, so give it time to adjust.
- If the thought of tugging at your undies for the next 2 months
is driving your spare, invest in some pregnancy underpants. Though
you're unlikely to find them in the pretty lingerie section, they
will soon become your new best friends. They are made with an
expanding belly in mind and sit just the right way so you're not
conscious of them all the time.
- Avoid large, infrequent meals which will make you feel as if
you've got a brick sitting in your stomach. Instead, go for light,
easy to digest foods which won't require intensive digestion.
Fruit, vegetables, toasted sandwiches, salads, yoghurt, cereals,
crackers and cheese are all good staples for healthy snacking.
Remember to drink plenty of water. Maintaining your hydration will
help you to stay mentally alert and keep your kidneys functioning
well.
- If you don't have a good camera do some research into buying a
good one. When you go into labour is not the time to be reading the
instruction sheet and charging the batteries. You will be sorry if
you haven't got a camera to catch those early precious moments.
Even if you don't like photos of yourself, you will need to make an
exception for the next few years.
- Speak with your midwife or doctor about the benefits of you
doing some perineal stretching. If you are having a vaginal
delivery, your perineum will need to stretch a lot to allow the
baby's head to emerge. An episiotomy (surgical cut) is sometimes
necessary to enlarge the vaginal opening, though perineal
stretching can help avoid the need for one.
Week 33 next!