Pregnancy Week 32
Discover how baby-to-be is developing while you're 32 weeks pregnant, and get great tips on preparing for your baby's arrival and choosing a daycare provider.
How Big is Baby?
Your baby is the size of a Napa cabbage. Because her taste buds are developed, she may acquire a preference for the foods you eat, which she samples when she swallows amniotic fluid.
Baby's Length: 16.69in.
Baby's Weight: 3.75lb.
Mom’s Changing Body
Because your uterus is now almost five inches above your belly, your baby is pressing more intensely on your internal organs. Expect symptoms such as urine leakage, heartburn, and breathlessness to intensify during the last few months. This might also affect your appetite in the coming weeks, causing your hunger to wane. Some expectant moms even feel nausea come back around this time.
Baby’s Development
While a teeny part of you might be thinking "get this kid outta here ASAP!" we bet the rest is sincerely hoping he'll stay in there a while longer. That said, you can breathe a sigh of relief for this week's important milestone. Almost all babies born at this stage or later survive and go on to have very healthy, normal lives. By this time all of his major organs are fully functioning except the lungs, which need just a bit more time to mature completely.
Weekly Tip
As your due date approaches, it's a good idea to learn the signs of early labor, just in case. These include your water breaking (which could result in a gush of fluid or just a trickle), not-too-painful tightening of the uterus, period-like cramps, vaginal bleeding, increased pressure in the pelvic area, and diarrhea. With the exception of your water clearly breaking, don't worry too much if you experience one of these symptoms, since they don't always result in premature labor. But, to be on the safe side, do let your doctor know of your symptoms.
Week 32 Ultrasound
There's not much to report on your baby-to-be's developmental milestones this week. Much of his growth is strictly adding weight through fat layers that will insulate his maturing organs. He'll need plenty of fat tissue to keep him warm once he leaves his home in your womb and enters the world, where the environmental temperature is not as controlled. Although you can't see it in this image, your baby has probably been attempting to breathe this week, though his lungs still need more time to mature. Another development you'll notice in this image: look closely and you might spy the edges of his toenails, which are now fully formed.
Credit:
American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine - AIUM.org
What Week 32 of Your Pregnancy Is Really Like
Pregnancy Confidential Podcast
Expecting the Unexpected When You're Expecting
At 32 Weeks, you're probably well aware of how unpredictable pregnancy can be—from losing all sense of balance, to forgetting what it means to have a waist, you're never quite sure what's around the corner. This feeling of lack of control happens throughout pregnancy and sometimes it can really throw you for a loop. So how do you prepare for the unexpected, especially if you take pride in being super-organized? Can you even prepare for the future? Or is pregnancy a lesson in rolling with the punches? The answer is most certainly a combination of the two.
This Week’s To-Do List
This Week’s FAQs
Must-Reads
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Pregnant and Nearing Your Due Date? Here's When to Pack Your Hospital Bag
Don't be caught off guard if baby comes early. Here's when to pack your hospital bag and 7 things not to forget to put in it. -
Signs of Preterm Labor and What Your Doctor Will Do
About 10 percent of American babies are born prematurely. Find out more about the causes of preterm labor, which happens before 37 weeks of pregnancy, and learn how to distinguish the symptoms. -
All About C-Sections: Before, During, and After
Whether your C-section is planned or unexpected, here's what you need to know about the procedure and recovery. -
Labor Without an Epidural: 4 Reasons You Might Have to Go Without Anesthesia
Even the best-laid plans can go awry, especially in the delivery room. If you've planned on getting an epidural, here are a few reasons it might not happen. -
Giving Birth Before Your Due Date: Do All 40 Weeks Matter?
You may be eager for the nine months to end, but a little patience can deliver big benefits. Understand the positive impact a full term pregnancy can have on your baby’s health.
