32 Weeks Pregnant

Your Baby at Week 32

Watch Your Baby’s Growth at Week 32

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At about 4 pounds and 16 to 19 inches long, your baby is curled up in, well, the fetal position. After all, there’s not much room left at this particular inn. Not to worry, though. She’s totally comfy in there — even if you’re not quite comfy out here.

As your baby hunkers down in your bunker to ride out the last few weeks of gestation, she’s probably settling into the most common birthing position: head down, bottom up. Anatomically it makes sense — she’s maximizing what little space she has by dropping her head into the bottom of your inverted pear-shaped uterus. It’s also natural since baby’s bean is heavier than her tiny tush.

With only 8 more weeks to go, your busy bee is gearing up for life outside the womb. Those breathing movements she’s been practicing? Well, they’re almost perfect now, changing from the short staccato bursts of only 10 seconds long to a more regular and rhythmic pattern that’ll eventually churn out 40 breaths per minute — the normal rate of a newborn.

These breathing lessons serve another purpose as well, encouraging the lungs to produce more surfactant — the protein that’ll help the lungs expand after birth and that is essential for healthy lung development.

Reinforcements for the monumental task of producing surfactant come from another source, too. The adrenal glands, located on top of the kidneys, are hard at working starting to pump out cortisol, which will in turn help stimulate more surfactant production. These workhorse glands are producing 10 times the amount of cortisol a normal adult produces…pretty amazing for someone so small!

Meanwhile, lanugo is continuing to shed, leaving only small patches of fuzz on the shoulders and back. Fingernails have grown almost long enough to be in need of a trim, but they’re still pretty soft. Baby might not need a mini-manicure just yet, but there’s no reason why you shouldn't treat yourself to one while you still have time. A pedicure, too — after all, bet you can’t see your toes.

At a Glance

Baby Organs Are Fully Formed

All of your baby’s major organs are fully developed now, except for his lungs. His chances for survival if he were born this week are great.

Breathing Practice

Your baby inhales amniotic fluid to give his lungs some practice.

Skin Changes

Bye-bye, see-through baby! This week, your little bean's skin is now opaque instead of transparent.

Baby's Prepping for Birth

What's up with your baby? She's starting to get ready for her big debut, tipping the scales at three-and-a-half to four pounds and topping out at 15 to 17 inches. In these past few weeks, it's all about practice, practice, practice as she hones the skills she'll need to thrive outside the womb — from swallowing and breathing to kicking and sucking. In anticipation of that momentous transition to mouth feeding, your baby's digestive system is all set and ready to go. And though you're weeks away from D-day, your baby's looking more and more like a newborn: As fat accumulates under her skin, it's no longer transparent and is now opaque.

32 Weeks Pregnant Is How Many Months?

If you're 32 weeks pregnant, you're in month 8 of your pregnancy. Only 1 month left to go! Still have questions? Here's some more information on how weeks, months and trimesters are broken down in pregnancy.

Fetal Position: Head Down or Breech?

At 32 weeks pregnant, you're likely feeling tapping and squirming instead of your baby's signature rocking and rolling. That's because, while comfy, your baby is a bit tight for exercise space right now — she’s actually back to a curled-up position (you try standing up in those cramped quarters!). Between 32 and 38 weeks, your baby will also probably settle into the head-down, bottoms-up position in your pelvis in preparation for birth. That's because the fetus' head fits better at the bottom of your inverted, pear-shaped uterus, plus it’s easier during childbirth if your baby comes out head first. Fewer than five percent of babies prefer the bottom-down (or breech) position by full-term — so don't worry if your little bean hasn't assumed the head-down position yet. There's still a good chance she'll flip before birth, even in the tight confines of your uterus.

Baby's Sleep Cycles

And speaking of the big day, hope you're resting up for it because your bambino certainly is. In preparation for that first date with you, your baby is sleeping like a baby — with regular sleep and wake cycles (which would also account for the decrease in movement you're likely feeling these days).

Your Body at Week 32

Braxton Hicks Contractions

This week, your body may start prepping for delivery day by flexing its muscles...literally. If you feel your uterus tightening or hardening periodically, those are Braxton Hicks contractions — irregular practice contractions that are first felt around mid-pregnancy and increase in frequency and strength as things progress. These prelabor rehearsals are a warm-up for the real thing and are typically experienced earlier and with more intensity in women who've been pregnant before (many novice moms-to-be don't notice them as much). They feel like a tightening sensation that begins at the top of your uterus and then spreads downward, lasting from 15 to 30 seconds (though they can sometimes last two minutes or more). How do you know they aren’t real labor? They’ll stop if you change position, so try getting up if you’re lying down or walking if you’ve been sitting. If they are real labor contractions, they'll become progressively stronger and more regular — so in that case, put in a call to your practitioner. In the meantime, when they're just the practice kind, try taking a warm bath to help with the discomfort.

Ultrasound Photos

Ultrasound is a tried-and-true prenatal tool (and a window into the wonderful world of your womb) — but this procedure has taken a giant leap from the confines of a doctor's office to a storefront at the mall, with 3D- or 4D-ultrasounds. Is it safe to take a peek inside your tummy on the way to Sears? The FDA warns against having ultrasounds for fun (as opposed to for medical reasons), since such three-dimensional imaging machines use higher power than the typical ultrasound machines at your doctor's office. And many medical professionals fear that nervous moms-to-be will come away mistakenly convinced there's something wrong with their babies or, worse, that the untrained wand wavers will miss real problems that would be detected by a pro. If you're still interested in an elective sonogram, make sure to check with your practitioner for the go-ahead.

Pregnancy Symptoms Week 32

Constipation

Your growing uterus is cramping your bowels, making them sluggish and irregular. Get some regular exercise (anything helps, from brisk walks to prenatal yoga) and drink up! Read More

Faintness or Dizziness

Feeling faint or light-headed can be a result of any number of things, including low blood sugar. Don’t forget to carry a protein-and-carb-rich snack in your bag to munch on when you feel dizzy. Granola bars, trail mix or soy chips are a great choice and may keep light-headedness at bay. Read More

Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids, which are actually varicose veins in the rectum, can be a pain in the rear (literally!), especially if you spend a lot of time sitting. Ice packs or witch hazel can soothe, as can warm baths. Read More

Leg Cramps

Just as you’re ready to drift off to dreamland you may feel a painful spasm in your calves — though no one is quite sure what causes the pain (or why it’s worse at night). One theory: a lack of calcium and magnesium in your diet. Ask your practitioner if taking an extra calcium supplement is a good idea and be certain you’re devouring your daily dose of dairy (bring on the cheese and yogurt!). Read More

Itchy Tummy & Skin

That swelling belly is getting itchier and itchier, as the skin stretches and dries out. If slathering on creams and moisturizers doesn’t help, try calamine or some other type of anti-itch lotion that soothes more stubborn cases. Or add oatmeal to your bath and have a soak in warm (not hot) water. Read More

Colostrum (Leaky Breasts)

As your breasts get bigger in the third trimester, they may also leak a yellowish fluid called colostrum, which is the precursor to breast milk. This liquid, packed with protein and antibodies, is the first milk your baby will get. If the leaks are getting uncomfortable, try wearing nursing pads. Read More

Tips for You This Week

Keep a dream journal! Your night visions are extra trippy these days, thanks to pregnancy hormones.

Try not to obsess over stretch marks. Up to 90% of women get them, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, so you’re in fantastic company! Plus they’re a sign your baby is growing beautifully.

Learn the signs of early labor, just in case: water breaking, period-like cramps, vaginal bleeding, diarrhea and a tightening feeling in your uterus.

With your big uterus crowding your insides, you may find your appetite waning now (shocking!). Try to eat regular, small snacks — a bite of a banana counts! — instead of big meals.

Updated: January 17, 2019

From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You’re Expecting. Health information on this site is based on peer-reviewed medical journals and highly respected health organizations and institutions including ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists), CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics), as well as the What to Expect books by Heidi Murkoff.