Pregnancy Facts - Week 32
Your baby's development in week 31 of pregnancy
You've probably noticed that as the pregnancy has progressed, there's less and less information provided on your baby's development. The reasoning is simple, much of your baby's key developments have passed. The focus now for your baby is to continue growth of organs and development of skills necessary to function outside of the womb.
The liver still has a bit of development to go before it can effectively get rid of bilirubin in the body. Bilirubin is a compound that is responsible for jaundice. Your baby's lungs may not be developed enough to keep breathing strong and rhythmic. There's also still some hair to grow, lanugo to fall out and baby fat to gain.
How big is your baby in week 31 of pregnancy
This week, your baby measures about 11.1 inches (28.3 cm) in the fetal position and weighs about 3.8 pounds (1.7 kilograms).
Does the pregnancy week that your baby's born in matter?
If your baby is born before the start of week 38, the birth is classified as a preterm birth. There are medical tests that need to be conducted to check your baby's health and development as it is possible the baby is not developed far enough to be able to survive without medical assistance. These tests are unnecessary for babies born week 38 and after. Depending how early in the pregnancy your baby is born, a lot or a little extra care will be required to ensure survival. If your baby is far from full term (week 38 and onwards), then they may be admitted to the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) for additional monitoring.
If you will be having your baby away from home, like a hospital or a hippie commune in the middle of the forest to be one with Gaia, it's important to have a bag or suitcase packed with all your essentials for the birth. Delivery isn't like a vacation where you throw everything into a suitcase the evening before a flight. It's more like being on standby for a flight that could take off anytime, where you need to get to the airport immediately and be ready for a guaranteed cavity search at security.
