Pregnancy Week 32
Coming Soon: Your Baby!
Your Baby's Growth and Development
At 32 weeks pregnant your baby works on fine tuning some important aspects of development, including their toenails and fingernails! While your baby won't be in line for a manicure any time soon, you may find you need to clip your baby's nails by the time you deliver!
During 32 weeks pregnant your baby is growing rapidly, reaching almost 4 pounds and possibly 19 inches in length! This week like many in the weeks to come is consumed with growth and fat accumulation.
Changes In Your Body
Did you know by the time you reach
32 weeks pregnant you may be pumping as much as 40 to 50 percent more blood than you were before getting pregnant? It's true! Your body needs to increase the volume of blood circulating to help accommodate your growing baby.
There are many tools you can use to help improve your circulation, whether at rest, while sitting and even while sleeping. Believe it or not, a pregnancy pillow, like the Snoozer Pregnancy Pillow, is an ideal tool for promoting blood circulation, especially when you lie in semi-fetal position with the pillow supporting your knees. This can help release some of the pressure on your vena cava, a main artery in your body responsible for blood circulation and support.
Just in case you are wondering what you will do with a
Snoozer Full Body Pregnancy Support Pillow after delivery, here are a few ideas. First, you can use them to help support your baby while nursing. Your partner can use one to help improve his comfort while sleeping and relieve tired or aching muscles. There are a lot of U shaped pillows claiming to do the same as the Snoozer full body pillow, but the Snoozer takes up much less room than these, and lasts a lifetime! So consider one today to relieve your circulation, to relax and to rest, from now until delivery and far beyond.
Your uterus now rises to roughly 5 inches above your navel. Women carrying twins however reach the same size a mother would at 40 weeks by roughly 32 weeks pregnant. You may notice you have more heartburn than ever as your uterus presses on your abdomen. Keep eating smaller meals, this will help
reduce symptoms of heartburn and improve your digestion during the last few weeks of pregnancy.
It is also important you consume high fiber foods and continue drinking lots of water as you continue your pregnancy week by week. This will help stave off constipation and the resulting hemorrhoids that sometimes occur during pregnancy!
Reasons For A Cesarean Section
Last week we talked a little bit about cesarean sections. There are many reasons you doctor may recommend a cesarean section instead of a vaginal birth when the time comes to deliver your baby. Some common reasons include:
High risk pregnancy requiring cesarean section to safely deliver baby. Previous cesarean birth, though you could try a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) in some cases. Active herpes infection or other harmful vaginal infection. Carrying multiples where the first baby is malpositioned or not positioned correctly for a vaginal birth. Placental problems including placenta previa. Patient elect cesarean. Fetal lie like a transverse lie that may require cesarean delivery.
Most women plan on having an uncomplicated delivery. Sometimes emergencies arise however, during the labor and delivery process. This may also lead to an emergency cesarean. Some doctors recommend a cesarean when a labor isn't progressing. This is most commonly referred to as "failure to progress." You can reduce your odds of having a cesarean because of this by waiting as long as is safe before heading to the hospital. Hospitals are more likely to set a time limit on the number of hours a women is in labor.
Of course, that said, laboring for too long may sometimes present a danger to the baby, especially if the baby is trapped in a way that cuts off their supply of oxygen. Other times the baby may not be tolerating labor well and may be in danger. In this case an emergency cesarean section may save the baby's life or preventing lasting birth defects.
Still other times the placenta may separate during labor and delivery necessitating an emergency cesarean delivery. Find out what your doctors thoughts, policies and procedures are when it comes to emergency cesarean sections. Simply sharing an open relationship with your physician will help put you at ease and reduce your emotional discomfort or insecurity should you need an emergency cesarean section.
If for any reason you are uncomfortable talking with your doctor about your choices, wants or needs... it may be time to get a new doctor!
Read About Pregnancy Weeks 29-40
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