32 weeks pregnant is another one of those interesting shifts that occur in pregnancy. Do you remember that in the early weeks of your pregnancy you may have had morning sickness? Then suddenly that just stops. From 12 weeks pregnant onward, your uterus grows big enough to be felt above your pubic bone and almost overnight you ‘look’ pregnant rather than ‘fat’.
Around 20 weeks pregnant you could just begin to feel your baby’s movements as a ‘flutter’ but still inconsistent. Then at 24 weeks pregnant you suddenly wake up to the fact you are more than half-way through your pregnancy and The Birth is right around the corner.
32 weeks pregnant starts another new phase … Braxton-Hicks contractions. What To Expect comments on these in their post.
Birthing Better families want to add at 32 weeks pregnant:
- Let’s talk about Braxton-Hicks contractions
What to Expect explains rightly that your uterus is ‘practicing’ labor. But let’s be clearer from two separate views:
1. ‘Practicing’ labor … If your uterus is practicing and becoming skilled then you had better get with the play and double down to developing skills.
Families developed all the Birthing Better skills:
- To prepare your pregnant body to give birth
- Learn birth and birth-coaching skills
- Begin at 32 weeks pregnant to start preparing your baby’s birth passage … your vagina
‘Practice’ means something! Read these definitions
Practice is both a noun and a verb. Learning skills is both a noun and a verb. A noun means that ‘It must have taken a lot of practice to become proficient’. A verb means that ‘I need to practice’.
If your uterus is ‘practicing’ to give birth to your baby, you should as well!
2. If you’re having a Planned, Non-Laboring Caesarean, elective or planned c-section … Your pregnant body is preparing to go into labor and have a vaginal birth even if your mind has chosen to have a non-laboring c-section. You can enjoy and participate in preparing for your baby’s birth just like any other woman. In other words, you too will experience Braxton-Hicks contractions and you can practice all your birth and birth-coaching skills.
BOTTOM LINE:
Practice your skills to these Braxton-Hicks contractions from now until the Birth. They evolve into ‘working’ or ‘productive’ contractions.
In LESSON NINE
LISTEN: The last part of your body your baby has to come through is our most private part. The good news is that five minutes per day from 32 weeks onward can prevent and reduce potential delay or trauma to you or your baby. If you’re faithful in using this skill you’ll absolutely know you’ve done your homework well. Every woman who has done The Internal Work consistently says ‘It’s the most important skill’. The second stage definitely is shorter and you reduce or prevent birth trauma to your body or baby.
- Audio: The Internal Work Mp3 – 80 min
Neat video
On the Baby Center 32 weeks pregnant post there’s a very neat video of ‘labor’. The post goes on to talk about the delivery room. The only mention of skills is to get someone else to help you. Why? You are an adult and so is your partner. You are already skilled people in your life. You have all the capabilities to learn the simple, fun, easy and comprehensive skills in Birthing Better. If you want a doula, go for it.
Notice that 44% of women only want their partner with them yet will hire a total stranger (doula). Doulas are great, don’t get us wrong. At the same time, the growth of that industry comes directly from a simultaneous decrease in families being skilled!
We keep looking outside for that positive birth rather than inside our own capabilities.
Listen to How Birth Skills Invest You In Your Experience
Birthing Better skills were developed by moms and dads in the early 1970s in the US and used by many thousands globally in all types of birth. Birthing Better online birthing classes are housed in Common Knowledge Trust.