Pregnant week 32 | Fetus approaching 2 kg
Baby: Almost 2 kg!
Now the baby is about 44 cm long and weighs around 1.8 kg. That's almost as much as two milk cartons!
Development in week 32
Now the organs are fully developed! What remains now is for the lungs to continue to mature, which they will do until your expected delivery. Of course, the baby will also continue to gain weight and put on subcutaneous fat.
The baby may still be lying in different ways in the womb, with its head or bottom down, crosswise and sideways. Can you feel how the baby is lying? You may notice where little feet are kicking or if something big and soft is bulging out!
Eyes and eye color
The baby can now focus and fix its gaze on a specific point! Isn't it cool that the baby can do this in the womb? The baby's eyes need light to form the pigments for eye color, which means that the baby's true eye color will not appear until around 6-9 months after birth. The color of the fetus' eyes depends on the genes it inherits from its parents.
Mom: Pregnant in week 32
Are you starting to feel small kicks even more clearly? 🥰
Walking
The uterus is approaching its highest point, which you can feel by pressing against your ribs. Do you also feel the fetus pressing against your ribs or small kicks there? It may feel a little uncomfortable, but changing position may ease the pressure.
During pregnancy, the circulation of the blood is affected so that some of the increased amount of fluid in the blood vessels leaks out into the body tissues. It usually collects in the hands, feet and legs. If your legs and feet have started to swell or feel heavy and tight, support stockings can be helpful. They also help your blood circulation!
Preparing for childbirth
It's not long now until the pregnancy is considered full term (week 37+0). Even if you're a few weeks away from BF (but not THAT many!), it can feel good to be prepared in case labor starts early. You know best what you need to feel prepared. Many people prefer to take parenting classes, do some homework, prepare the baby's wardrobe and shop for things the baby will need. You can find lots of tips on this in our checklists!
If you haven't accessed pre-birth information, now is the time to do so. For example, you can book a prophylaxis or birth without fear course. There are also other courses that can prepare you for life with a baby, including breastfeeding courses and different types of parenting classes. This may stir up feelings and thoughts in you - if you need support, it is available through your midwife!
Delivery letter
If you haven't done so yet, you may find it helpful to write a birth letter. It is helpful for your partner and the birth team to know what you are worried about or want during labor. There are many things you can tell about yourself that may be useful for the staff to know during labor, such as how you want to be encouraged or how you react to pain. Write down everything that is important to you so that you can have the best possible conditions to create your dream birth. Anything can happen when it comes to childbirth, but it's a good tool to dare to visualize and dream about what you want your birth to look like! If you are a preemie, you may have experiences from your previous birth that you want to use for this birth, such as things you really liked last time or things you were not comfortable with.
It is impossible to know in advance what a birth will be like, but writing a birth letter is good preparation. You decide what to write in the letter and how long it should be!
Pregnancy allowance from week 32
From week 32, you can apply for pregnancy allowance if you have a physically demanding job. You can start by asking to be reassigned to a lighter job, and if this is not possible, you can apply for pregnancy allowance from Försäkringskassan. This also applies if you have a hazardous job or work environment that prevents you from working.
