It is likely a 32 weeker will look like a small termie. They will certainly show you the baby before they take them to the nicu, but it's unlikely you'll get to hold them. Usually they give the baby a check over before you get shown. They will usually come out crying at that age. I assume you've been given the steroids if they expect to deliver early? If so then it's likely they'll breathe on their own at least at first, although it is possible they may need a little extra oxygen in the incubator or through a nasal tube for a few days. This is more likely after a few hours or days, these little ones tire and the oxygen perks them up. Its unlikely they'll need more intensive support like a cpap or ventilator. When you see your LO in the nicu at first initially they will probably have a sensor on their tummy monitoring their temperature and respiratory rate. They may have a tube down their nose or mouth to take some of their feeds through (32 weeks is when they're about learning the suck and swallow mechanism, it's unlikely they'll take all their feeds orally at least for the first few days as they just get tired too easily). It's probably they will need some form of treatment under the lights for jaundice in the first few days. Different hospitals have different policies so depending on where you are depends on whether your baby will be in an incubator, hot cot or regular cot.
What I would suggest is asking if you can go to see the neonatal ward. They will usually be happy to accommodate this, and show you the room (and often bed space) where your baby will be, and they can show you any equipment they expect to use so you are prepared.
I think the biggest thing to be aware of are the 3 day blues. This happens in most mums, chemically speaking you get a rush of hormones that brings your milk in and combines with tiredness to make a lot of mums feel a bit overwhelmed, and this is around the third day. For preemie mums this often combines with your LO getting tired on the outside and taking a step back, needing a bit of oxygen, or more support, taking fewer feeds orally, needing light therapy, starting to bring feeds back up etc. In addition its really stating to hit you that you don't have your baby at your side, can't hold them whenever you want and so on. It's not the end of the world, you do push through it but at the time a lot of women find they spend most of the day in tears that this wasn't the road they expected to walk down. Most 32 weekers are in for a month or slightly over, and it will be behind you before you know it.
