Perhaps you are wondering: What is the month of the 32nd week of pregnancy? What is the appearance of the baby at 32 weeks of pregnancy and does the gluteal position in this period determine delivery by caesarean section? Should your baby's slower movements at 32 weeks of pregnancy be a cause for concern? In this post, you will learn the most important information about this period of pregnancy.
Week 32 of pregnancy has begun: which month is it?
If a pregnant woman has just informed you that she is 32 weeks pregnant and you're wondering which month of this blessed state she's in, we're here to give you a hint. Week 32 of pregnancy (31.1-32 weeks) is the 8th month, when the expectant mother enters the middle of the third trimester.
With labor just around the corner, it's a good time to make an informed decision about which hospital your baby will be born in. Hospitals provide most of the useful information on their websites, so it's worth doing a thorough search around the 32nd week of pregnancy. Of course, emergencies do arise, or when the health of the expectant mother and/or baby dictates the choice of a facility other than the one the pregnant woman herself chose. However, by the 32nd week of pregnancy, labor is so close that finally choosing the ideal birthing location for your baby will certainly help alleviate some of the stress before labor.
At 32 weeks of pregnancy, information on hospitals will certainly also be provided by the Internet forum on many websites for parents. When reading opinions and comments, however, remember that every woman giving birth is different: she has her own preferences, requirements and character, which often determine her opinion about a given place of delivery.
32 weeks of pregnancy: expectant mother's belly and pregnancy ailments
The upcoming childbirth generates a lot of tension and stress in most pregnant women, so in the 8th month it is worth taking care of a lot of rest and relaxation. At 32 weeks of pregnancy:
- make yourself warm compress on the loins (a hot water bottle will work);
- listen to your favorite music;
- rest with slightly raised legs (it will relieve puffiness).
Most women also limit their activity due to fatigue and pressure on the diaphragm, which has less and less room due to the growing baby in the belly. However, it's not worth giving up on activity altogether, unless there are medical contraindications. Pregnancy – Week 32 is a great time for leisurely walks, gentle yoga for pregnant women, or light stretching exercises, which will also help alleviate back pain.
If you are unsure how to be safely active, check with your physical therapist or ask your midwife about some recommended exercises.
A large belly at 32 weeks pregnant can also get in the way of daily chores such as shopping, cooking and cleaning. It is worth asking your partner, friends or immediate family for help.
32 weeks of pregnancy: the weight of the baby and mother-to-be
With delivery fast approaching, at 32 weeks gestation, most women are extremely interested in their baby's weight. The baby now focuses mainly on sleeping and gaining weight.
The baby is gaining weight about 150-200 grams per week, which is why the pregnant woman's belly grows very quickly. However, in the 32nd week of pregnancy, the baby's weight has certain norms and they are included in percentile grids, which are monitored by your doctor during regular examinations on an ongoing basis. During this period, the child weighs approx. 1850-2200 grams, and its body weight is strongly related, among others, to with genetic conditions.
If you're concerned about anything about your baby's development, always ask your obstetrician for details. Many pregnant women are very concerned about whether their weight is healthy at 32 weeks. It's important to remember that this depends on:
- the woman's starting weight (just before pregnancy);
- the diet she is following (a pregnant woman should consume only about 350-500 kcal more per day);
- physical activity.
Many mothers ask on forums, "32 weeks pregnant, how much weight have you gained?" During the third trimester, women gain about 0,3-0,5 kg per week. This is a completely natural process, indicating a healthy pregnancy.
Positioning, positioning and repositioning the baby at 32 weeks gestation: how do these medical concepts differ?
The baby in its mother's womb already resembles a full-term newborn. It's just smaller and slimmer, and its skin is still a bit more wrinkled than it was at the end of the ninth month. At 32 weeks of pregnancy, the baby measures about 43 cm, growing longer at an increasingly slower pace, focusing more on gaining weight (and sleeping).
During this period, babies pee, swallow amniotic fluid, blink, smile and practice the suckling reflex by putting their fingers in their mouths. The intense movements of the baby at 32 weeks of pregnancy slowly calms down and this is a completely normal situation. The baby has less and less space in the stomach and less room to move.
Of course, if you don't feel fetal movement for several hours, accompanied by increasing anxiety, severe abdominal pain, and/or blood-tinged spotting, you should definitely contact your doctor. At 32 weeks, the baby's movements are more like isolated "kicks," which mothers sometimes describe as unpleasant (especially if the baby's kick hits the ribs, for example). The little acrobat in your belly is still spinning.
Position and position of the fetus
At 32 weeks of pregnancy, the baby's position (i.e., the relationship of the individual fetal body parts to each other) isn't as important to expectant mothers as the fetal position (which determines the relationship between the fetal long axis and the uterine long axis, taking into account the presenting part). The baby's position at this stage may already be cephalic. The baby will slowly prepare for proper insertion into the birth canal. If the baby is still in a breech position, it can still rotate.
Fetal positioning
Another medical term describing the position of the baby in the uterus is fetal position , which describes how the baby's body parts are positioned relative to the walls of the uterus (e.g., back facing the left side of the uterus).
A baby born at 32 weeks gestation: a premature baby who has a great chance of survival
Sometimes, emergencies or the health of the mother and/or baby can cause expectant parents to experience premature birth at 32 weeks of pregnancy unexpectedly. This can be especially true in multiple pregnancies. Therefore, it's worth being prepared for this eventuality and packing a hospital bag for yourself and your little ones.
At this stage of pregnancy, the organs of the little man are almost fully formed, but the baby is not yet prepared for independent breathing. Therefore, a premature baby, 32 weeks pregnant, will require intensive medical care and stay in an incubator. However, it already has an almost 100% chance of survival.
For a premature baby, the best food is mother's own milk. Breastfeeding problems may occur, so it's worth seeking advice from a doctor and a certified lactation consultant. Such a specialist is often on duty in hospitals with gynecology, obstetrics, and neonatology departments. Using a milk bank can also be a good option.
Research at 32 weeks of pregnancy
In the period between 28 and 32 weeks of pregnancy, an important test is performed: third trimester ultrasound, which thoroughly assesses, among others, the child's development, its location, the capacity of the placenta and estimates the birth weight.
At 32 weeks of pregnancy, this crucial test also allows for confirming the gestational age, especially if the patient has been diagnosed with conditions such as fetal growth restriction in utero or placental insufficiency. Discrepancies between the estimated due date and the actual gestational age may occur in women with PCOS or who have very irregular periods. Gestational age is determined based on the date of the last menstrual period and a first-trimester ultrasound, with the due date confirmed by a second- and third-trimester ultrasound. Therefore, the 32nd week of pregnancy is the final call to perform this important diagnostic test at the recommended time.
During the third trimester, pregnant women visit their doctor approximately every two weeks. The doctor conducts a standard medical interview, performs an ultrasound, checks the patient's blood pressure, and records her weight in the pregnancy chart. For individual concerns, the doctor may also check blood sugar levels or order regular specialist tests. At 32 weeks of pregnancy, standard tests include a complete blood count and a urinalysis.
Consultation :
Ph.D. n. med. prof. IMID Tadeusz Issat - Head of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic at the Institute of Mother and Child;
Maria Krowicka-Wasyl – resident physician during specialization in gynecology and obstetrics, Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Institute of Mother and Child.
