Your Pregnancy: 32 Weeks Pregnant | HuffPost Life

Things To Look Out For When You're 32 Weeks Pregnant

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Welcome to week 32

For working mums-to-be as your maternity leave fast approaches, start making plans.

If you would like a leaving do - or feel it's unavoidable - consider a pregnancy-friendly lunch or tea rather than after work drinks. If you know that your colleagues are planning to buy you a gift either start dropping hints or give some clear ideas of things you would really like.

For those planning to return to work, you might feel more comfortable if you're kept in the loop on work-related issues during your leave so communicate your wishes with your manager as you approach your maternity leave.

Plan some fun things for the pre-baby part of your maternity leave. Treat yourself to a pregnancy massage, go to the cinema in the afternoon, see old friends, bake and stock up the freezer and read trashy novels. Try to do as much pleasurable activity as possible - your life is soon to change in ways that makes it harder to be self-indulgent, so make the most of your time off.

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Inside story

Your baby's nearly 4lb in weight now, at around 1.8kg. More fat is being laid down so the skin is plumped out, pinker and less wrinkly.

Your midwife might find that your baby has turned into a head-down position from around now, but this doesn't mean the head has engaged yet. Some babies shift in and out of position at this stage, not settling until around week 36 or so – and even then there' s no guarantee that things won't change again any time up to the birth.

On the outside

Another week, another centimeter – your uterus is now sitting about about 12cm (almost 5in) above your belly button now.

If you're suffering from constipation or piles, then try drinking more water, eating healthily and taking moderate exercise to help boost your circulation and kick-start a sluggish bowel.

It's important to exercise in pregnancy – gently if you weren't previously into fitness. Brisk walking, swimming, pregnancy yoga and exercise classes are great for keeping you energised and boosting your stamina and flexibility. Ask your midwife for advice or look for pregnancy classes in your area.

Breathing for labour

Breathing is an important part of labour. Not only can the right breathing technique help you to cope with the pain of contractions, they'll also give you something to focus on and distract you from your labour pains. There's another positive to breathing techniques, too: they can help you to control the speed at which your baby emerges during delivery, cutting down the risk of a tear to your perineum (the area of skin and tissue between your vagina and anus).

First-stage breathing

During the first stage, a good technique is to breathe deeply and slowly, making each 'out' breath twice as long as the 'in' breath. As you breath out, try to consciously relax all your muscles, focusing on a different group each time. You can also practice sighing, where you breathe in through your nose, then sigh out slowly and gently through your mouth.

Second-stage breathing

As your labour progresses and you start getting ready to deliver, you'll benefit from a slightly different technique. Much as it's a natural response to tense your muscles when you're in pain, this only make the pain more intense, so if you can relax at all it'll help. This time, imagine your contraction is just getting underway, and take a deep breath through your nose. As you breathe out, imagine you're pushing your baby steadily down. Focus on your pelvis rather than pushing from your chest.

Breathing to stop pushing

If you feel inclined to push before your body is ready, there's a third technique that can help you to stop.

Breathe in sharply, then pant rhythmically out four or five times before repeating. This is something your birth partner can help you with by counting out your panting breaths. Your midwife will help and support you too with your breathing throughout your labour.

Foods To Eat And Avoid For Pregnancy

Certain Cheeses (01 of14)

Because your body's immune system is not as strong during pregnancy, registered dietitian Lydia Knorr says you should avoid anything raw, unpasteurized or undercooked.Raw or unpasteurized dairy products like brie and Camembert cheeses, should be avoided if you're pregnant. The following seven slides are foods you should consider removing from your diet. (credit:Christian Hacker via Getty Images)

Some Meats And Fish (02 of14)

When it comes to meat and fish, avoid raw or undercooked meats, poultry, fish, and seafood like sushi, oysters, mussels, clams and smoked fish, Knorr notes. (credit:Gentl and Hyers via Getty Images)

What About Beans?(03 of14)

Most beans and legumes are fine, but avoid raw sprouts like alfalfa, clover, radish and mung beans. (credit:Martin Poole via Getty Images)

Don't Spread It(04 of14)

Avoid refrigerated pates or meat spreads, Knorr says, because the organs used to make them are often undercooked. According to the Daily Mail, 90 per cent of common food poisoning cases are caused by chicken pate. (credit:JacquesPALUT via Getty Images)

Deli Meats(05 of14)

Non-dried deli meats like bologna, turkey breast and roast beef should also be avoided, Knorr says. However, some experts say you can eat these types of precooked meats (including hot dogs), if you heat them until the food is steaming hot, Baby Center notes. (credit:Westend61 via Getty Images)

Eggs!(06 of14)

Avoid raw or lightly cooked egg or egg products, including salad dressings, cookie dough, cake batter, sauces, and drinks like homemade eggnog. (credit:sarahdoow via Getty Images)

Be Aware Of Sushi (07 of14)

Of course, any raw type of fish on sushi should be avoided if you are pregnant. "Fish such as fresh/frozen tuna, shark, swordfish, marlin, orange roughy and escolar should be avoided during pregnancy as they may contain levels of mercury that if ingested in large amounts could be toxic to the nervous system," Knorr says. If you are craving sushi, go veg! (credit:Jean-Blaise Hall via Getty Images)

What About My Coffee Habit?(08 of14)

You can still drink coffee, just make sure you are aware of your consumption. Knorr recommends drinking no more than 300 mg of caffeine per day. A strong cup of joe, for example, can have about 78 to 108 mgs of caffeine. But be aware, caffeine can also be found in other non-coffee beverages like pop and tea. (credit:Cindy Prins via Getty Images)

But What Can I Eat?(09 of14)

In the next few slides, Knorr tells us the foods we should be adding to our diets during pregnancy: "Fish such as salmon, tilapia, shrimp, tuna (canned light) and cod are all good sources of protein and omega 3 fatty acids which will help with baby’s developing brain, eyes and nervous system," she says. (credit:rez-art via Getty Images)

Get Nutty! (10 of14)

Nuts, seeds and legumes are great for pregnant women — they're packed with protein and fibre which will keep you feeling satiated, and keep things moving on the inside. (credit:PhotoStock-Israel via Getty Images)

A New Love For Fruits And Veggies (11 of14)

These foods are loaded with all kinds of vitamins, fibre and water for maintaining good health, during pregnancy and otherwise. "Aim for the colours of the rainbow every day with special focus on leafy greens, bright red and orange fruit, and veggies loaded with powerful antioxidants to help keep your immune system strong," Knorr says. (credit:Maximilian Stock Ltd. via Getty Images)

Not All Dairy Is Scary (12 of14)

Drinking a couple of glasses of skim milk each day will provide you and your baby with the calcium and Vitamin D required to develop healthy, strong bones. Greek yogurt, for example, is also an excellent source of these important nutrients, and as a bonus, it’s loaded with protein, Knorr notes. (credit:amisb via Getty Images)

Think Whole Grain (13 of14)

"Whole grains food choices like cereal are a great addition to your diet, as they are fortified with important nutrients like iron and B vitamins," Knorr says. Many cereals also pack a lot of fibre into each serving which is paramount to keeping things moving during pregnancy — make sure you read your package labels and stick to "whole grain" vs. "whole wheat." (credit:Zeljko Bozic via Getty Images)

And All That Iron (14 of14)

Meat, poultry, legumes and spinach are all good sources of iron. "Just remember when eating a non-animal source of iron such as spinach or legumes, to pair it with a source of vitamin C, like oranges or strawberries for optimal uptake." (credit:Westend61 via Getty Images)

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