Day 35: 32 Weeks, Time to Celebrate

We made it to 32 weeks! This is a good landmark developmentally speaking and doctors said they'd be pleased if I got  to this point, so we're celebrating (as much as I can while in bed). If the baby were born today, he'd only be considered moderately premature and could weigh up to 4 pounds. He'd be in the NICU for several weeks until he could breath, eat, and maintain his temperature on his own, but he'd likely experience few long term effects of prematurity. So 32 weeks is a good milestone, but I'm not giving up yet. This pregnancy isn't over until it's over.

When I started experiencing preterm labor at 25 weeks along, I was really scared about the survival and health of our baby. At that point, the doctor's initial goal for this baby of 32 weeks, seemed very far away, and somehow seemed even further away when I was put on bed rest five weeks ago. Anyone following out progress knows it's been a nerve wracking couple of weeks, with trips to the hospital for preterm labor, more contractions, J's test and job preparations, B being completely thrown off, and other life stresses. So I'm happy to report we reached the 32 week mark!  Now I'm charging forth to my next weekly goal, though we're shooting for 36 weeks or more. I'm excited we got to 32 weeks for the health of the baby, and also because that means only one month of strict bed rest remains!

Highlights of Week Thirty-Two (30 week fetal age):

Baby's length is 16+ inches and baby's weight is about 3 pounds, 8 oz.+ (the size of a small squash or melon) Baby now has fingernails and toenails Starting to sleep in 20-40 minute periods and could be dreaming in utero Baby is head down Brain continues to develop The baby’s skeleton is completely formed by now, but the bones are soft and flexible, and will harden later. Because of Baby's growth, there's less room in the womb for baby to move so movements may start to feel less exaggerated for Mom  Hair (or peach fuzz) growing on head Skin is becoming less translucent and more opaque as well as soft and smooth as fat tissue starts to grow under the skin Baby is practicing swallowing, breathing, and sucking moments to prepare for being outside the womb