32weeks
pregnant

Written by Danielle Townsend

IN THIS ARTICLE

Highlights this week

Staying active is still important! Exercise safely in the final weeks.

Baby development at 32 weeks

If your baby's a boy, his testicles have probably moved into his scrotum. Sometimes, one or both testicles don't get into position until after birth. This is nothing to worry about. Undescended testicles often correct themselves before the first birthday.

Your baby gains a third to half of their birth weight during the next seven weeks, fattening up for life outside your uterus (womb). Thanks to this fatty layer, your baby's skin is plumping up nicely.

Read more about your baby's development this week.
See for yourself how your baby is growing in our 3D video.
See other BabyCenter mums' baby bumps at 31 to 33 weeks of pregnancy.

Your baby's fingernails have formed and will keep growing until birth
Hair covers your baby's scalp, and its colour and texture are visible
Your baby is starting a final growth spurt before birth

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Your baby is as long as a bunch of celery

length

42.4

head to toe

weight

1.7

Pregnancy symptoms at 32 weeks

As your baby is plumping up inside you, make sure you're eating well over the next few weeks. Your tummy may feel a bit squished as your baby takes up so much space, but about half of any weight you gain now goes straight to them.

Getting enough sleep in the third trimester can be hard enough, without worrying about whether you're disturbing your partner too. Talk about what works best for you both, from separate doonas to separate beds – for now!

On the other hand, if you're feeling closer than ever, you may be worrying if sex in the final months will harm your baby. Well, there's no need to worry. For most women, sex during pregnancy is fine right up until their waters break.

Balance may be a challenge as your bump shifts your centre of gravity
You're gaining about 500 grams a week, and half of that goes to your baby

How your life's changing

Many pregnant women worry about whether they will be able to give birth vaginally. This is a perfectly natural concern, particularly if you are expecting your first baby.

Take heart, there are some excellent positions for labour you can try. These positions will help your cervix to open up (dilate) during contractions and encourage your baby to move down when the time comes. Try out different positions, matching them with breathing, massage and natural pain relief methods. Getting in some practice now will increase your chances of a vaginal birth.

What you need to know

Some women swear by curries to bring on labour if they're overdue. So you may be wondering if it is safe to eat spicy food at this stage of your pregnancy.
How often should you feel your baby move, now that there's less space in your uterus for those somersaults?
If you're wondering what giving birth is really like, look no further than our birth stories section, where BabyCenter mums tell it like it is.
Find out about using massage during labour and share this information with your birth partner.
Did you want to do delayed cord clamping? Find out if you can delay clamping.

Pregnancy tip: calming early contractions

"I had Braxton Hicks contractions in spades starting at about 26 weeks. My doctor advised me to go to the loo when they started and drink plenty of water. This really helped me." -- Sara

Danielle Townsend

Danielle Townsend is a content and communications specialist. She was an editor at BabyCenter for over a decade.

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