There are about two months left in this pregnancy. At 32 weeks pregnant you’ve done a lot of preparation, including pre-registration at your chosen hospital or birth center, and maybe you have a pediatrician picked out.
Your baby has done a lot of preparation, developing his tiny lungs and growing strong bones and muscles that are now almost ready for the outside world!
Your Baby’s Development At 32 Weeks
The average fetus has now reached almost 4.5lb and is about 17 inches long. A few have already settled into the head-down position to prepare for birth, although others won’t do so for several weeks yet. At your appointments now, your doctor may feel to determine your baby’s position or pull out an ultrasound machine to double-check.
Your baby is still shedding the coating of fine hair (lanugo) over his body, though some will remain at birth. His toenails are growing out, though they may not fully reach the tips of his tiny toes yet. His bones, too, are continuing to harden.
A baby’s brain and lungs continue to develop until birth, although some fetuses born at this point may be able to breathe with just a little help.
Mother’s Symptoms At 32 Weeks Pregnant
At 32 weeks pregnant, you’re incredibly close to bringing your little one into the world, so you may see an increase in symptoms and side effects of pregnancy. Many of these are caused by increased weight, blood volume, and pressure on your organs from a growing uterus.
Here are some of the symptoms to watch for this week.
Symptoms Related To Weight, Breathing, & Fatigue
Your increased weight and blood volume are great news for your baby but may be hard on your back, lungs, legs, hips, and head.
You may find that you are overheated or fatigued quite quickly now. Allow yourself rest breaks as frequently as needed, and stay hydrated!
If you feel dizzy, out of breath, or woozy, sit and rest, and let your doctor know if these symptoms recur. Falls can occur as a result of these symptoms and can be dangerous to you and your baby, so take caution.
Report any fainting or possible loss of consciousness to your doctor immediately.
Backaches are common in late pregnancy. Supportive garments, including a comfortable bra, sturdy shoes, and a belly band, can help.
Preterm Labor Signs
About 1 in 10 babies will come early. If your labor begins before 37 weeks, your doctor may take steps to help prevent your baby from being born so soon.
Contractions are one of the most evident signs of labor – although you’ll still have to identify whether they’re actual labor or just Braxton Hicks. Braxton Hicks contractions are usually not described as painful. Their timing can be random, and they generally stop when you change position or relax. On the other hand, labor contractions typically become more frequent and intense over time and do not stop when you lie down or change position.
Still, labor contractions can be confusing. They may feel different depending on factors, including body type and the position of the baby and placenta. Some women may feel lower back pains, a need to pass bodily waste, or menstrual cramps. For others, they may feel pressure in the pelvis, a desire to push, or a squeezing pain. They may be visible as a tightening of the abdomen.
If your water breaks (rupture of membranes) that’s also a clear sign of labor. It may be a gush or a trickle. At this point, the risk of infection becomes severe, so you’ll need to head for the hospital. Your doctor may take steps to prevent infection while preserving your pregnancy for as long as possible.
In some cases, nausea and vomiting or diarrhea may also be signs of preterm labor. Bloody show, or passing pieces of mucous plug, can be signs that the cervix is thinning and dilating, although this may not mean labor is imminent.
Preeclampsia Red Flags
If you are at higher risk for preeclampsia, it’s likely that at 32 weeks pregnant, your doctor may have already told you. The first signs may come during a prenatal visit, when your blood pressure is elevated, or when your doctor finds a certain protein in your urine.
For some people, though, the first signs will be certain pregnancy symptoms noticed between visits. If you see these symptoms, you will need to check in with your doctor.
One of the primary symptoms of preeclampsia is swelling. Some swelling is normal in pregnancy, and you may even be suffering frustrating side effects, like carpal tunnel syndrome. However, certain types of swelling may indicate pre-eclampsia.
Swelling worse on one side of the body than the other, swelling that comes on suddenly, or swelling that affects the face or chest is a warning sign. Sudden weight gain that’s more than usual is also a potential sign. (One or two pounds a week is about average in the third trimester.)
Also, watch out for severe headaches or vision changes.
Digestion & Cravings
Pregnancy puts a lot of pressure on the digestive system. You may crave unusual foods, and your compressed organs may struggle to digest them.
Cravings can vary widely, from healthy foods in unusual combinations to urgent junk food yearnings in the middle of the night to nonfoods. If you crave nonfoods, it may be a sign of a nutrient deficiency and you should talk to your doctor. Other odd cravings may hint at your body requesting specific nutritional needs. Read our guide on pregnancy cravings and what they might mean.
A majority of pregnancies will involve a degree of heartburn and indigestion, and it can be especially intense at night, disturbing your sleep. Milk of magnesia is typically considered safe during pregnancy, as are basic antacids. However, you should avoid antacids with extra ingredients, including aspirin, magnesium trisilicate, or sodium bicarbonate.
Despite feeling hungry, you may also notice that as your pregnancy progresses, it’s more challenging to satisfy your hunger. Instead, you may feel full while still wanting more to eat. Try splitting your meals into multiple sittings to meet your nutritional needs without causing pain.
You may also suffer from constipation. The primary recommended treatment for this is drinking more water and taking in more fiber. A stool softener is usually considered safe for more immediate relief, but laxatives should be avoided unless a doctor specifically advises them. They can sometimes cause contractions.
Some women will experience urinary incontinence in the latter part of pregnancy. Practicing Kegels will help with this, and can also help make labor easier.
Pain & Cramping
Pregnancy can bring pains and discomforts from the scalp to the ankles. Here are a few of the most common pains and what you can do about them.
Round ligament pain occurs when the round ligament, which supports the uterus, is strained. It can feel like an intense stabbing in your lower abdomen, but it doesn’t indicate any actual danger to you or your baby. Your doctor will likely recommend taking OTC pain meds and resting in a position that relieves the strain.
Pevlic girdle pain can affect the hips and the rest of the bones in the pelvic girdle. This may range from an uncomfortable annoyance to severe enough to interfere with walking. Your doctor may recommend physical therapy, a pelvic support brace, or bed rest in severe cases.
Sciatica occurs when there is pressure or irritation on the sciatic nerve in the lower part of your spine. It can cause pain radiating through the lower back and into the legs and numbness or tingling in the legs and feet. Your doctor may recommend heat and cold therapy, specific stretches, and OTC pain medications.
Leg cramps and restless leg syndrome symptoms can be shared throughout pregnancy. Some sufferers say that bananas help reduce cramping. Since most RLS meds aren’t considered safe during pregnancy, your doctor may recommend stretching, exercise, massage, or heat therapy. You also might be advised to try a vitamin supplement, especially for severe cases.
Skin & Breasts
Many women will find they leak a bit of colostrum by this point in pregnancy. Others won’t see a drop until their baby is born. Still others may be wondering if there’s a way to turn off the faucet! If you’re leaking more than the occasional drop, grabbing some nursing pads may be a good idea. While the colostrum itself won’t hurt you, staying damp can encourage rashes, thrush, and cracked and bleeding nipples. It can also stain your clothes!
You also may notice visible blue veins on your breasts, stomach, legs, and/or arms. This might just be faintly visible, or you may see very prominent spider veins. These are generally not harmful, but if there is swelling or pain, check with your doctor.
You may see varicose veins on your legs. Elevating your feet and standing a bit less during the day, as can using compression garments, can help reduce these.
Stretch marks are expected during pregnancy, but if the appearance bothers you, or if they feel itchy or cause a pulling sensation, you can use a gentle lotion to soothe them. This can also reduce the appearance of scarring and its long-term effects.
Insomnia & Nightmares
If you’ve made it this far in pregnancy without wild dreams and insomnia, these symptoms may still surface.
Stress, anxiety, and worry, combined with an increased heart rate and the various physical discomforts of pregnancy, can make it hard to get comfortable and relax enough to sleep. Writing down your worries so you don’t feel like you have to hold onto them overnight can reduce that stress, and turning off screens an hour or two before bed is also helpful. Try to find a relaxing activity, like reading or listening to music, before bed instead.
If insomnia leaves you so overtired that you’re putting yourself in danger as you go through daytime tasks like driving or work, talk to your doctor about options.
When To Contact Your Doctor
Preterm Labor
If you see signs of preterm labor at 32 weeks pregnant, such as contractions or your water breaking, call your doctor. Be prepared to give details, such as how many contractions you have in an hour and how far apart they are. Your doctor will likely tell you to meet at the emergency room or labor & delivery.
Pre-Eclampsia Symptoms
Preeclampsia symptoms as listed above (severe or sudden swelling; severe headache; vision changes) warrant an immediate call as this can lead to a diagnosis and place you in the high-risk pregnancy category. Your doctor may have you head to the hospital or come into the office to be checked.
Decreased Fetal Movement
If your baby doesn’t seem to move as frequently as expected, do a kick count and check in with your doctor. Your doctor will ask what a normal kick count is for your baby and what the current kick count is and may ask you to come to their office or the hospital to check things out.
Other Reasons To Call Your Doctor
You should also call your doctor for a fever over 100 degrees; any chest pain; nausea and vomiting or diarrhea; severe pressure in the pelvis; severe cramping; vaginal bleeding or sudden change in discharge; and for signs of infection.
What Should Mom Be Doing At 32 Weeks Pregnant?
Keep up the kick counts! If you haven’ts started them yet, grab a notepad or download a kick tracking app, get comfortable, and start counting. You can count how many kicks you feel in an hour or time how long it takes to feel your baby kick ten times. Whatever you choose, be consistent so you’ll have something to compare to.
It’s not your last chance to get vaccinated against RSV and whooping cough, by any means, but getting it done by this week will help pass on protections to your baby.
It’s time to handle some of the essential preparations you’ll want to have done before your baby’s birth, including pre-registering at the hospital or birthing center if you haven’t done it and purchasing any special items you’ll want to include in your hospital bag: Do you need slippers? Have you picked baby’s coming-home outfit? Are your headphones good? Do you need a new toothbrush?) and choosing a pediatrician.
What To Look Forward To
In the next few weeks, your baby may ‘drop’ into your pelvis, literally giving you a bit more breathing room by taking some of the pressure off your lungs.
If you’ve scheduled a tour of the hospital or birthing center, you should soon get your first peek at where your baby will enter the world!
At 32 weeks pregnant, you may have 2-3 more biweekly visits with your provider before the timing steps up to weekly visits!