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Pregnancy Week By Week
Week 31 and Week 32
What's Happening Inside You?
By the end of these four weeks, your baby will weigh as much as 5 pounds. Your baby continues to mature and develop reserves of body fat. You may notice that your baby is kicking more. Baby's brain is developing rapidly at this time, and he or she can hear. Most internal systems are well developed, but the lungs may still be immature.
Week 31
Baby: Your baby measures about 18 inches long from head to toe and weighs about 3.5 pounds. Rather than hearing vibrations, baby's nerve endings in his ears are connected now so that he can hear distinct sounds, like familiar voices and music.
Mother: Your uterus now fills a large part of your abdomen, and you've probably gained between 21 and 27 pounds. You're probably feeling increasing excitement and anxiousness about the birth -- it won't be long now.
Dad: Set your fears aside.
As the due date creeps closer and closer, you may be feeling nervous, anxious, excited, and fearful. You may even feel like you're not ready to be a father at all, let alone a good father. One thing we've learned is that good parents are not born, they're made. If you have the desire to raise your child as well as you know how, you'll most likely be an excellent father. Sure, the first days, weeks, and even months may be uncharted territory for you, but don't let fear stand in the way.
And you're not alone. Your family, friends, and partner are right there with you. There's truth in the old African proverb: 'It takes a village to raise a child.'
Do's and Don'ts: Do write a birth plan if you haven't already. It will make you think ahead to choices you will need to make about labor and delivery. Think about whether or not you want an epidural, which birthing positions you'd like to try, and, if you are having a boy, whether you'd like him to be circumcised. While childbirth may not turn out exactly as you imagine it, the document will be a useful reminder of your goals once you're in labor. If you want to do a little research on the pros and cons of your choices, now's the time.
Exercise: Multitask by doing your Kegels while watching TV or reading the paper. Kegel exercises help to strengthen vaginal muscles and to prevent incontinence during pregnancy and postpartum. Contract and release the muscles between your vagina and anus -- as if you're trying to suppress and release your urine midstream. Do this for a few minutes at a time, once or twice a day.
Tips for this week: Practice your breathing and relaxation exercises.
Week 32
Baby: Your baby measures about 18.9 inches long from head to toe and weighs almost 4 pounds. It fills almost all the space in your uterus now, either lying with the head up or sometimes still with enough room to do somersaults. A layer of fat is forming underneath the thin, wrinkly skin. Baby's practicing opening his eyes and breathing.
Mother: Although you've only been seeing the doctor monthly, now you'll probably start seeing your practitioner every two weeks until the last month, when you'll probably switch to weekly visits. You may continue to get backaches and leg cramps. You may also notice colostrum leaking from your breasts, a yellowish fluid that precedes milk production.
Dad: Time off = time well spent.
It's important to talk to your employer about any paternity leave or other benefits that you may have coming to you. There is even a growing number of companies that offer paid time off to new fathers. Take advantage of all that you could be getting!
Do's and Don'ts: Don't just put up with the pain of hemorrhoids, which are common for women in the third trimester. Apply cold compresses (crushed ice in a clean sock will do) or cotton balls soaked in witch hazel to the area for quick relief. Your doctor may also recommend a nonprescription ointment or suppository to relieve some of the discomfort.
Exercise: If you ever feel faint during a workout, sit or lie down and breathe deeply. Exercise strengthens your heart and lungs and prepares them for the hard work of labor, but it's beneficial only if done in moderation. Check your heart rate when you exercise to make sure it doesn't exceed the safe level of approximately 140 beats per minute.
Tips for this week: You might be carrying differently from others at the same stage of pregnancy. Whether you're carrying higher or lower, bigger or smaller, wider or more compact depends on the size and position of baby, your body type and how much weight you've gained. For more comfort, drink plenty of fluids, elevate your legs when sitting, lie on your left side and wear support stockings.
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