Your Baby’s Development at 32 Weeks
At 32 weeks, a baby is over 11 1/2 inches (29.3 centimeters) from the top of their head to the bottom of their buttocks (known as the crown-rump length). The baby’s height is about 16 1/4 inches (41.6 centimeters) from the top of their head to their heel (crown-heel length). This week, the baby weighs over 4 pounds (1,901 grams). Which Trimester? Third trimester How Many Weeks to Go? 8 weeks
Upside Down
About 97% of babies are born head first. As babies get closer to their birthday, they tend to turn upside down in the uterus to prepare. By 32 weeks, 85% of babies are in the head-down position. Don’t worry if your baby hasn’t turned yet. Some babies wait a little longer. In fact, it can take up to 37 weeks for the full 97% to turn into position. Your provider will continue to monitor your baby’s position at every prenatal visit.
Body Temperature
Your baby started putting on brown fat (the type of fat needed to keep warm after leaving the womb) in the middle of the second trimester. At 32 weeks, your baby’s body has also increased production of a protein and an enzyme necessary for generating body heat, which means they can now regulate their body temperature better.
Startle Reflex
Most babies display the startle or Moro reflex by 32 weeks. A loud noise or a movement can cause the baby to appear startled, suddenly throw their arms and legs away from their body then bring them back in. Babies are born with the startle reflex, but it disappears a few months after birth.
Sleep Cycle
Your baby is also showing evidence of cycling through stages of sleep and wake times, and their brain activity now shows active sleep.
Survival Outside the Womb
At 32 weeks, babies reach a mini-milestone and move from the very preterm category to the moderate preterm category. Babies’ lungs are continuing to develop at this stage, and they still need several more weeks to reach maturity. Otherwise, babies are very much in the finishing-touches stage of development. However, a baby born at 32 weeks will still need several weeks of care in a special care nursery or NICU—but the survival rate for babies born at this stage is 99%. Explore a few of your baby’s week 32 milestones in this interactive experience.
Your Common Symptoms This Week
As your baby is getting closer to maxing out space in your growing uterus, you might notice some changes in the way they move. Symptoms related to the size of your belly, like aches and pains and heartburn, may also be getting a little worse.
Change in Movement
As your baby gets bigger, there’s less room for them to move inside your uterus. You might begin to notice their formerly bold kicks becoming replaced with wiggles, squirms, knocks, and nudges. The type of movement you feel is not as important as feeling it.
Heartburn
If you haven’t experienced heartburn during your pregnancy, it could still pop up. If you’ve been having it all along, it can get worse in the third trimester. On top of pregnancy hormones that slow digestion and make it easier for stomach acid to back up into the esophagus, your uterus is now big and heavy enough to put a lot of pressure on your stomach. Heartburn occurs in around 22% of pregnancies in the first trimester, 39% in the second trimester, and up to 72% in the third trimester.
Self-Care Tips
At this point in pregnancy, you’re likely splitting your time between managing discomfort and preparing for the baby’s arrival. This week, you might want to start thinking about what you’d like to bring with you to the hospital for delivery day.
Dealing With Heartburn
Heartburn can be plain uncomfortable or even painful. While you might not be able to avoid it entirely during pregnancy, diet and lifestyle changes may help. Here are some general tips you can try that can help alleviate heartburn:
Avoid bending over or lying down right after a meal (try to wait at least one hour) Don’t eat right before you go to bed Eat frequent, small meals instead of three large ones Eat slowly and chew your food well Talk to your provider about safe over-the-counter medications like antacids or alternative treatments such as acupuncture
Packing Your Hospital Bag
Packing your hospital or birthing center bag can help you feel more prepared for your baby’s arrival. You might want to pack some items for the new little person you will be meeting. Just make sure that you know the hospital or birthing center’s rules about dressing your baby in clothes you brought from home (as some do not allow you to do so). Here are a few items you might want to gather and organize ahead of time. Before you get packing, find out what will be provided by your hospital or birthing center.
Copy of your birth plan Cord blood kit (if you are privately banking) Going-home outfit for you (choose something comfortable that you wore when you were around six months pregnant) Health insurance card and identification Heavy-flow sanitary pads Medications (bring any medication that you take regularly, but talk to your care team after you are admitted—you may need to get your dose prescribed by an on-site practitioner) Mints, lollipops, or other hard candies Newborn diapers and wipes Newborn mittens to prevent scratches Nursing pillow Phone charger, battery pack, and photo or video equipment Pillow from home (in a colored pillowcase to distinguish it from hospital or birthing center pillows) Pre-registration forms for the hospital (bring an extra set, even if you already submitted one) Robe and nightgown (make it an open-in-the-front nursing nightgown if you’re planning on breastfeeding) Slippers (for safer walking during labor) and extra socks Snacks that are easy to digest like plain crackers Swaddling blankets Toiletries (deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash, shampoo, soap, hairbrush, hair ties, lotion, contact lenses and solution, glasses, lip balm, etc.) Two easy-to-put-on going-home outfits for baby (just in case), booties, baby hats, onesies, etc.
Advice for Partners
Make sure both you and your partner pack an overnight back. Even if you don’t plan to stay overnight, you might be there longer than you expect. Grab a duffle and think about adding the following for delivery day:
Any labor support tools you and your partner have discussed (speakers for soft music, massage oil, stress balls, etc) Change of clothes (pack a bathing suit if you have a water birth planned) Handouts or notes from childbirth class that you might want to reference List of everyone you want to call or text once labor kicks in and/or baby arrives Phone charger, extra battery pack, and any photo/video equipment Snacks, as well as change for the vending machines Toiletries, prescription eyewear, and any medications you take Watch with a second hand (for contraction timing if you don’t have a smartphone)
At Your Doctor’s Office
You might be back at your provider’s office for another regular visit this week. You know the prenatal visit routine pretty well by now, which typically includes:
Answering your questionsBlood pressure checkDiscussion of symptomsFundal height measurement (now around 32 centimeters, give or take a centimeter or two)Listening to the baby’s heartbeatSwelling checkUrine testWeight check
Weight Gain
Just as your baby continues to grow late into your pregnancy, so do you. The recommended weight gain for people with a normal body mass index (BMI: 18.5—24.9) at the start of pregnancy is 25 to 35 pounds. In most cases, you should be gaining roughly a pound a week. Based on this loose guideline, you may have gained approximately 23 pounds from the start of your pregnancy to now. As each pregnancy is different, talk to your provider about how much weight you have gained to find out if you are on the right track.
Position of the Baby
Your provider may feel your belly to check the position of your baby. As you get closer to your due date, the baby should turn to the head-down position.
Special Considerations
If your pregnancy is considered high-risk, you are carrying more than one baby, or your provider wants to check on your baby’s well-being, you might be scheduled for additional tests beginning at week 32. A test for a bacteria called group B strep (GBS) is recommended between 36 and 38 weeks.
Fetal Non-Stress Test
The fetal non-stress test (NST) monitors the baby’s heart rate as they move. For this test, you are hooked up to an external fetal monitor. The baby’s heart rate should go up when they move, but sometimes it takes a while to observe this pattern if the baby is sleeping. When the test is reactive or shows two or more increases in heart rate in 20 to 40 minutes, it is a good sign that the baby is doing well. If the baby’s heart rate doesn’t go up or it goes down during the test, your provider will likely order more testing.
Biophysical Profile
The biophysical profile (BPP) is offered after 32 weeks for high-risk pregnancies and those experiencing complications. It’s also sometimes given to pregnant people who have passed their due date. BPP is painless. It starts with a detailed ultrasound during which the technician checks your amniotic fluid levels, the baby’s muscle tone, and movement of their body and breathing. Since digestion can stimulate these movements, you might be asked to eat a meal before you come in for the test. The ultrasound is generally followed by a non-stress test, where the baby’s heart rate and possible uterine contractions are monitored. For this portion, you’ll be asked to lay on your side while two monitoring belts are secured around your abdomen. Your provider might instead call for a “modified biophysical profile,” which is a combination of the non-stress test (NST) and a measurement of the amniotic fluid. After reviewing the results of the BPP or modified BPP, your provider will determine if it’s in your (and your baby’s) best interest to deliver earlier than planned.
Contraction Stress Test
The contraction stress test monitors how well your baby handles contractions. For this test, you are hooked up to a fetal monitor. If you aren’t having contractions on your own, you may be asked to stimulate your nipples to induce contractions or you may be given a medication to start contractions. Depending on the baby’s response to your contractions, your provider will determine if the baby will be able to get enough oxygen during labor.
Doppler of Umbilical Artery
The doppler of the umbilical artery is an ultrasound of the umbilical cord to check the blood flowing to the baby. This umbilical artery brings oxygen to nutrients to the baby. An issue with blood flow might indicate a problem with the pregnancy or the baby’s growth.
A Word From Verywell
With just eight weeks to go before your expected due date, time may feel like it’s simultaneously speeding up and slowing down. By now, you’ve probably become a pro at listening to your body—and don’t stop now. Take your body’s cues for when to slow down or power through and remember that in a few short weeks, you’ll be nearing the finish line.
