Week 32
Body Size
You should be gaining about a pound a week now. Over half that is going to your baby as they prepare to enter the world. Your blood volume has increased nearly 50% since you became pregnant. The uterus now is pushing up towards the diaphragm causing you to feel more crowded within your abdomen. This could result in shortness of breath and even heartburn.
To relieve heartburn, try eating smaller meals and then propping yourself up at night while you sleep. Back pain is probably now becoming more nagging and frequent than it used to. But, if the pain changes out of the norm, do not hesitate to call your doctor so they can examine you. Unusual back pain could be the start of preterm labor.
Baby Size
Your baby now weighs around 3.75 pounds and is over 16.7 inches long and is beginning to take up a lot of space within your uterus. Your baby will now gain from about a third to half of his/her body weight over the course of the next 7 weeks. He/she will be fattening up so they can survive outside of the womb. Hair, or at least some peach fuzz, is beginning to grow and your baby's skin is becoming more soft and smooth as the weight is gained.
Compare Size
Your baby is beginning to pack on the weight much like you are now. The baby's length compares to the length of a knee high boot and the baby's weight is in comparison with the weight of a large pumpkin. From this point on in your pregnancy, expect to gain about a pound a week and half of that is going directly to your baby.
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