Week 32- Baby Boy Jicama/Small Watermelon

How your baby's growing: By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, he'll gain a third to half of his birth weight during the next 7 weeks as he fattens up for survival outside the womb. He now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). His skin is becoming soft and smooth as he plumps up in preparation for birth.

How your life's changing: To accommodate you and your baby's growing needs, your blood volume has increased 40 to 50 percent since you got pregnant. With your uterus pushing up near your diaphragm and crowding your stomach, the consequences may be shortness of breath and heartburn. To help relieve your discomfort, try sleeping propped up with pillows and eating smaller meals more often.You may have lower-back pain as your pregnancy advances. If you do, let your caregiver know right away, particularly if you haven't had back pain before, since it can be a sign of preterm labor. Assuming it's not preterm labor that's ailing you, you can probably blame your growing uterus and hormonal changes for your aching back. Your expanding uterus shifts your center of gravity and stretches out and weakens your abdominal muscles, changing your posture and putting a strain on your back. Hormonal changes in pregnancy loosen your joints and the ligaments that attach your pelvic bones to your spine. This can make you feel less stable and cause pain when you walk, stand, sit for long periods, roll over in bed, get out of a low chair or the tub, bend, or lift things.

from BabyCenter

Baby: Your baby continues to grow and develop inside of you. Measuring 16.5 inches long, he now weights over 4 pounds! And from this week, until 2 weeks before birth, he will gain about a half pound every week. He is sleeping approximately 90 to 95 percent of the day. Most of his wrinkles are disappearing, especially on his face, as more fat is deposited under his skin. His hair is becoming thicker with each passing week and you may even be able to see it on an ultrasound! He will also begin to settle in the head-down position, as his birth is fast approaching.

Mom: How are you feeling? Have you been feeling like you are now waddling instead of walking? This is a good thing! This week your body is producing a hormone called relaxin that loosens and relaxes your pelvis, allowing for more mobility during pregnancy. It is also responsible for this new method of locomotion!

from: Planning Family

Your Baby's Development This Week: Your baby is spending quite a bit of his time practicing the skills he'll need after birth, such as sucking, swallowing, and breathing. Other changes include:
• Your baby weighs about 4 pounds and is almost 11-1/2 inches long, or the length of a small watermelon.
• You might notice a change in your baby's movements this week, as he becomes more crowded in your uterus. Kicks and movements might seem less powerful.
• Your baby's skin is no longer see-through. It looks more like yours.

from StrongMoms