32 Weeks Pregnant: Baby's Position, Check-Ups & Birth Plan

32 Weeks Pregnant: Baby's Position, Check-Ups & Birth Plan

At 32 weeks pregnant, your baby is about the size of a squash, and many babies start turning head down, ready for birth. Your check-ups are now more frequent, and it's a good time to start writing down your birth preferences.

Baby's size
About the size of a squash (around 43cm head to heel, 1.7 to 1.8kg)
Big development
Laying down fat and, for many, turning head down
Common symptoms
Lightning crotch, itchy skin, swelling and stretch marks
This week
Start writing your birth preferences

What's happening this week

Your baby's body is almost fully developed. From now on, they'll mostly be gaining weight, putting on around another kilo or more before birth.

Fat stores

Getting cosy

Fat is building up under your baby's skin, which will help keep them warm after birth. Their skin is less see-through as it fills out.

Lungs

Still maturing

Your baby's lungs are the last major organ to mature. They practise breathing by moving amniotic fluid in and out.

Head and skull

Built for birth

The bones of your baby's skull are soft and not yet joined, so they can move slightly to help your baby through the birth canal.

Keep getting to know your baby's pattern of movements. The type of movement may change as space gets tighter, but they shouldn't slow down. If they do, contact your hospital straight away.

Your baby's position

From around now, your doctor or midwife will start checking which way your baby is lying. Many babies turn head down between 32 and 36 weeks, but some turn later, so there's no need to worry if yours hasn't yet.

Head down, facing your back
Called cephalic or anterior. This is the most common position and the easiest for birth, as the smallest part of your baby's head leads the way.
Head down, facing your front
Called posterior. Many babies turn before or during labour. It can sometimes mean a longer labour or more back pain.
Bottom or feet first
Called breech. If your baby is still breech at around 36 weeks, your doctor will talk to you about your options, which may include trying to turn your baby or planning a caesarean.By full term, only about 3 to 4 in every 100 babies are breech
Lying sideways
Called transverse. This is less common, and most babies move into a head-down position before labour.

Your third trimester check-ups

Your appointments are now usually every two to three weeks, then weekly from around 36 weeks. At each visit, your doctor or midwife will usually check your blood pressure, your fundal height, your baby's heartbeat and position, and ask about your baby's movements. You might have a scan around now if they want to check your baby's growth or the position of a low-lying placenta. If you're Rh negative, your second anti-D injection is usually due at 34 weeks.

Writing your birth preferences

A birth plan, or list of birth preferences, helps your care team and support person understand what matters to you. Keep it short, flexible and easy to read, and talk it through with your doctor or midwife. Here's what to think about.

During labour

Your ideal birth

Who you'd like with you, the lighting and music, moving around or using water, your pain relief preferences and how you'd like your baby to be monitored.

If plans change

Stay flexible

What matters most to you if you need an induction, assisted birth or caesarean, such as your support person staying with you or seeing your baby straight away.

After the birth

First moments

Skin-to-skin contact, delayed cord clamping, who cuts the cord, how you'd like to feed your baby, and the vitamin K injection.

Share a copy with your support person, so they can speak up for you if you need them to. It's worth packing a copy in your hospital bag too. Here's how to choose your birth support person.

Symptoms at 32 weeks pregnant

  • Lightning crotch. Sharp, shooting or pins-and-needles pains in your pelvis or inner thighs as your baby presses on nerves. It's harmless and isn't a sign of labour on its own.
  • Itchy skin. Moisturise and wear loose cotton clothing. Here's when itching needs checking.
  • Swollen feet and ankles. Gentle exercise, plenty of water, supportive shoes and resting with your feet up can help.
  • Stretch marks. They're largely down to genetics and usually fade to silvery lines after birth. Here's more about stretch marks.

Contact your doctor, midwife or hospital straight away if you notice signs of pre-eclampsia: a severe or ongoing headache, blurred vision or flashing lights, pain under your ribs, sudden swelling of your face, hands or feet, puffy eyes, or nausea and vomiting. Also call if your baby's movements change, or you have bleeding, fluid leaking or regular contractions. Call 000 if you have chest pain or trouble breathing.

Your to-do list for week 32

Helpful for this stage

Pregnancy and birth booksGet ready for labour and beyondShop books The hospital bag listWhat to pack for you and your babySee the list Pregnancy pillowsSupport for side sleepingShop pillows

Week 32 FAQs

When do babies turn head down?

Many babies turn head down between 32 and 36 weeks, but some turn later, even close to labour. By full term, around 96 to 97 in every 100 babies are head down.

What if my baby is breech at 32 weeks?

There's no need to worry yet, as there's still plenty of time and room for your baby to turn. If your baby is still bottom or feet first at around 36 weeks, your doctor or midwife will talk to you about your options, which may include trying to turn your baby or planning a caesarean.

What is lightning crotch?

It's a sharp, shooting or pins-and-needles pain in your pelvis, vagina or inner thighs, caused by your baby pressing on nerves as they move lower. It's common and harmless. Contact your hospital if it comes with regular contractions, bleeding or fluid leaking.

What should I include in my birth plan?

Think about who you'd like with you, the environment you want, your pain relief preferences, positions and monitoring, what you'd like if plans change or you need a caesarean, and your wishes for after the birth, such as skin-to-skin and feeding. Keep it short and flexible.

What are the signs of pre-eclampsia?

Signs include a severe or ongoing headache, blurred vision or flashing lights, pain under your ribs, sudden swelling of your face, hands or feet, and nausea or vomiting later in pregnancy. Contact your doctor, midwife or hospital straight away if you notice any of these.

This article is general information and isn't a substitute for advice from your doctor or midwife.

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