Pregnancy Week 32: Braxton Hicks Contractions and Kick Counts

With only eight weeks left in your pregnancy you may notice a decline in the strength of your baby's kicking and punching. Mom may start to notice a tightening in her uterus around the thirty-second week of pregnancy. This tightening is most likely caused by Braxton Hicks contractions.

Pregnancy Week 32: Baby's Development

Your baby weighs about four pounds by pregnancy week thirty-two. Because of his increase in size, he is finding less room to move. His kicks and poundings are not as noticeable as they were a few weeks ago.

You should be feeling your baby kicking or moving about ten times per hour. If you are not feeling your baby's movement on a regular basis, then sit down and do a kick count by remaining perfectly still for at least half an hour. If you are still, you are more apt to feel the movement. You can even keep a kick chart to record the movements. Remember that your baby goes through wake and sleep cycles so a decrease in movement may mean he's just sleeping.

Pregnancy Week 32: Labor or Braxton Hicks?

Your body and uterus is getting ready for labor and delivery by your thirty-second week of pregnancy. One way that your uterus is preparing itself and your cervix is by contracting. These contractions, called Braxton Hicks, have sent many pregnant women to the hospital early only for the doctor to send them home stating it was "false labor".

Time your contractions and take note of when they start, how long they last, and then the start of the next one. Braxton Hicks contractions do not follow any kind of time pattern and the time in between contractions does not steadily decrease. Braxton Hicks contractions are more sporadic than labor contractions.

Pregnancy Week 32: What do Braxton Hicks Contractions Feel Like?

Braxton Hicks contractions are uncomfortable but not painful. They feel like a tightening of your uterus then it relaxes. If you feel your abdomen during a Braxton Hicks contraction it will feel hard.

Braxton Hicks contractions are more noticeable when you are active, walking, or climbing stairs. If the contractions stop when you stop the activity, then it's Braxton Hicks contractions and not the real thing.

If, at anytime, these contractions become painful or start to follow a pattern, especially if the time between the contractions decreases, then you need to contact your healthcare provider. You may just have to go into the office and be put on a fetal monitor to determine if you are in labor or just experiencing Braxton Hicks contraction.

For more pregnancy weeks and fetal development you can read:

Pregnancy Week 28

Pregnancy Week 29

Pregnancy Week 30

Pregnancy Week 31

Click here to find more information on your pregnancy and baby's development.

Sources:

Personal Experience

Fit Pregnancy (2009). Pregnancy Calendar. Retrieved: April 8, 9, 2009. Web Site: fitpregnancy.com/calendar/40251887.html

Myers-Gorrie, Trula, Slone-McKinney, Emily, & Smith-Murray, Sharon (1998). Foundations of Maternal-Newborn Nursing (2^nd ed.). Philadelphia, PA: W. B. Saunders Company.

What to Expect (2009). Weekly Pregnancy Calendar. Retrieved:April 8, 9, 2009. Web Site: whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/week-by-week/landing.aspx