Thirty-two weeks, and the baby has one main job left: get rounder. The fat going on now is what keeps a newborn warm, and it adds up fast in this stretch.
At 32 weeks, your baby is roughly the size of a bunch of celery, around 42.4cm from head to heel, and putting on fat in earnest.1
How big is the baby at 32 weeks?
About 42.4cm head to heel, close to a bunch of celery.1 Over the next four weeks the baby will gain around 1kg of fat, which helps it hold its body temperature after birth.1
What's common around 32 weeks
Feeling more tired than usual is common at this point. The body is doing a lot, the bump is heavier, and rest doesn't always come as easily as it used to.1
Plenty of parents describe these weeks as a slower gear, where energy comes and goes. Your midwife or doctor is the right person to ask about anything that's worrying you.
Prep this week: pack the hospital bag
A good non-medical task for this week is packing your hospital bag. Doing it now, weeks ahead, means you're not throwing things together at the last minute, and it's one less thing to think about when the day comes.
Lay out the basics: clothes for you and the baby, toiletries, chargers, documents, snacks. Having it sitting by the door, ready to grab, turns one of the more nerve-wracking moments into a simple lift-and-go.
This is also a sensible week to set up nappi. The profile you create, with the due date and your partner in the same household, becomes your baby's tracker the day they arrive, so the record is ready the moment you are.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much weight does the baby gain in the last weeks?
The baby gains around 1kg of fat over the four weeks from about 32 weeks.1 That fat is what helps a newborn hold its body temperature after birth.
Why am I so tired at 32 weeks pregnant?
Feeling more tired than usual is common at 32 weeks.1 The body is carrying more and working hard. If your tiredness feels heavy or unusual, a midwife or doctor can help.
References
1. NHS. "You and your baby at 32 weeks pregnant." Link