32
weeks
pregnant

31 33
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Highlights this week

Hi-yah!

Your baby's kicking a lot and it can hurt. To get some relief, lie down on your side or get on hands and knees.

Am I having contractions?

You may be noticing Braxton Hicks contractions. They're normal, but if they become painful or regular, call your provider immediately.

Is used gear safe?

Secondhand strollers are usually safe. (Car seats, not so much.) But you'll need to clean used gear carefully.

32 weeks is how many months?

You're in your eighth month!

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Baby development at 32 weeks

Peepers

Your baby can focus on large objects that are not too far away, and this ability to focus will stay that way until birth.

Putting on pounds

You're gaining about a pound a week, and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. He'll gain a third to half of his birth weight during the next seven weeks as he fattens up for survival outside the womb.

Hair and nails

His toenails and fingernails have grown in, along with real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz).

See what fraternal twins look like in the womb this week.

baby with fingernails
Your baby at 32 weeks Tap the plus for more details
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Your baby is about the size of a jicama

jicama
LENGTH
16.93
inches
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head to toe
WEIGHT
4.31
pounds
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Pregnancy symptoms during week 32

Shortness of breath

To accommodate your and your baby's growing needs, your blood volume has increased 40 to 50 percent since you got pregnant. And with your uterus pushing up near your diaphragm and crowding your stomach, the consequences may be shortness of breath and heartburn.

Lower-back pain

You may have lower-back pain as your pregnancy advances. If you do, let your doctor or midwife know right away, especially if you haven't had back pain before, since it can be a sign of preterm labor.

Baby movement

Keep monitoring your baby's kicks, and let your healthcare provider know immediately if you notice a decrease. Though your baby's quarters are getting cozy, he should still be as active as before.

Don't see your symptom?
Wondering about a symptom you have? Find it on our pregnancy symptoms page.

baby in womb at 32 weeks
Your body at 32 weeks Tap the plus for more details

Pregnancy checklist at 32 weeks

Read up on baby care

You won't have as much energy to read after your baby's born, so learn all you can about the first few weeks now. Start with BabyCenter's newborn area.

Decide who will be in the delivery room

Don't feel pressured to allow relatives and friends into the delivery room if you don't want to. In a BabyCenter poll, most moms-to-be wanted only their partner and medical staff in the room.

32 weeks pregnant bellies

This week's video

Sources

BabyCenter's editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world. When creating and updating content, we rely on credible sources: respected health organizations, professional groups of doctors and other experts, and published studies in peer-reviewed journals. We believe you should always know the source of the information you're seeing. Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies.

ACOG. 2015. FAQ156. Prenatal development: How your baby grows during pregnancy. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/Patients/FAQs/Prenatal-Development-How-Your-Baby-Grows-During-Pregnancy#one [Accessed May 2019]

March of Dimes. 2013. Signs of preterm labor. http://www.marchofdimes.org/complications/signs-and-symptoms-of-preterm-labor-and-what-to-do.aspx [Accessed May 2019]

Mayo Clinic. 2016. What are the benefits of having a doula? http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/labor-and-delivery/expert-answers/doula/faq-20057910 [Accessed May 2019]

Mayo Clinic. 2015. Fetal development: The third trimester. http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-depth/fetal-development/art-20045997 [Accessed May 2019]

MedlinePlus (ADAM). 2015. Fetal development. https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002398.htm [Accessed May 2019]

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Kate Marple is a writer and editor who specializes in health, pregnancy, and parenting content. She's passionate about translating complicated medical information into helpful pregnancy and parenting advice that's easy to understand. She lives in San Francisco with her family.
 
 
 
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