32 WEEKS!

Today I am 32 weeks pregnant! And no, they did not discuss any "D Date" with me this morning. Dr. Porter was making rounds for Dr. Baker. So, I guess when Dr. Baker starts to make the rounds again next week, we'll all get our date. I am feeling good today, after a little worry last night. The baby had a mild heart rate drop during her pm monitoring strip, and so they ended up keeping me on there for an hour and 45 minutes! But everything was fine, she bounced right back up. They assure me that they all babies do that...but I ended up having to take an Ambien to sleep!

Here's what is happening at 32 weeks:
How your baby's growing: By now, your baby probably weighs almost 4 pounds and is almost 17 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. She has tiny toenails now, and her fingernails have grown in, too. Some babies have a head of hair already; others have only peach fuzz.

How your life's changing:
Your blood volume (the plasma plus red blood cells) is now about 40 to 50 percent greater than before you became pregnant to accommodate the needs of you and your baby. (This extra amount also helps make up for any blood you'll lose when giving birth.) You're also gaining a pound a week now, and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. With your uterus pushing up near your diaphragm and adding pressure on your abdomen, you may be dealing with heartburn more often or feeling a little short of breath. To help with shortness of breath, try eating smaller quantities more often (rather than three daily feasts) and sleeping propped up. Those smaller meals should help with the heartburn, too.

As your baby grows, the increasing concentration of weight in your growing belly causes a change in your posture and a shift in your center of gravity. Plus, your abdominal muscles are stretching, hormones are making your ligaments more lax, and your growing uterus may even press on some nerves. All of this can contribute to low back pain and possibly to some pain in your buttocks and thighs as well. Let your caregiver know if you have severe pain or feel numbness or tingling in your legs.