First trimester weeks

Congrats! During the first trimester, you’re getting used to the idea of being pregnant.

Second trimester weeks

As you enter this second trimester, your body will settle down to pregnancy.

Third trimester weeks

You've reached the third and final trimester and will be heavily pregnant by now.

Week 33 of Pregnancy

It's hard to imagine how life will be with a new baby.
All prospective moms, and not just first-timers, find it difficult to envisage the future after the arrival of the baby. The imaginings, dreams, and hopes of the last few months are about to become realities-which may be very different from what you expect. You may find that it helps to concentrate on practical matters, such as the birth celebrations and future child care. You could make plans for recovering your pre-pregnancy figure. The belly won't be with you forever, even if it feels like it!

32 Weeks, 5 Days

51 days to go...

Fetus 32 Weeks 5 Days

Your baby today

In this image, the arm is positioned near head and is partly outside of the 3D view. This allows the ultrasound scan to look within the arm. Part of the bones in the forearm are seen here as bright reflections.

To get used to the fact that your newborn will arrive very soon, start focusing on life after the birth.

Friends and family might now begin talking about what will happen after the birth and what it will be like for you to have a baby.

If this is your first baby, you probably can't really envisage what it will be like to be a mom, and even if you have had a baby before you've never had a second or third and so don't know what it will be like to have another one. Of course you know that life will continue, but it can be difficult to see past the labor to the realities of life with a newborn. As ever, keep talking to those close to you about how you feel, be it excited or scared and unprepared (usually all three in rapid succession). Talk about what you think or hope it will be like after the baby is born, for example when are grandparents and other key people going to visit, and whether you would like a christening or naming party-or perhaps neither of these. This may help you get used to the idea that not only are you pregnant but there is a baby coming.

Ask A... Doctor

How will I benefit from going to prenatal classes?

You'll get the opportunity to share information, ideas, fears, and concerns about childbirth in a comfortable environment, and to discuss and decide upon issues that will affect the way you choose to give birth. You'll also meet other parents-to-be. Often friendships formed at classes continue after the birth as you support each other in your new parenting role. In most classes, you'll be given advice about:

  • Tried-and-tested labor techniques, such as breathing through the pain, massage, suitable sustenance, and some positive visualization exercises
  • Pain-relief options and a range of natural alternatives
  • How to present (and preserve) your birth plan
  • The practical and emotional support a birth partner can offer
  • The items required for a hospital or home birth (see ... Doctor and Items for your hospital bag).

You'll be advised on how to prepare yourself for the birth, what to expect in the first few days, and how to encourage healing afterward, as well as being given tips on caring for a newborn, including diaper changing, bathing, and establishing breast-feeding.

Prenatal classes are a wonderful opportunity to swap ideas and information with a group of people in the same position as you. Long-term friendships can be made here.

As A Matter Of Fact

In a first birth, the cervix dilates by about 0.5 cm every hour, compared to 1.5 cm an hour for subsequent babies.

First-time moms push for around an hour, compared with about half an hour for a second baby.

32 Weeks, 5 Days

51 days to go...

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