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Week 32 of Pregnancy: What's Going On Inside

British Columbia Specific Information

If you have any questions or concerns about pregnancy, labour and baby care speak with your health care provider or contact HealthLink BC at 8-1-1 to speak with a registered nurse anytime of the day or night, any day of the year, or a pharmacist from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m.

You can also read Baby's Best Chance (PDF 14.88 MB), a parent’s handbook on pregnancy and baby care.

You can also access SmartParent, a Canadian prenatal education program that provides trustworthy educational text messages to help guide you through the weeks of your pregnancy.

Topic Contents

Overview

Around this time, your baby is getting ready to do a very important thing that they will need to do in the outside world: Breathe.

Wondering what your baby looks like at 32 weeks? Your baby is now about the size of a cabbage. Average baby length is 400 mm (16 in.). And average baby weight is 1800 g (4 lb).

How your baby is changing

Here are some of the important changes happening around 32 weeks.

  • Babies put on a lot of weight this month.
  • Your baby is still small enough to change position a lot—from head-down to feet-down, or even sideways. You'll notice more movement or less movement at certain times of the day and night.
  • By 32 weeks of pregnancy, your baby's eyes can respond to changes in light.
  • The lungs and central nervous system are working well enough that a baby born this month can breathe and keep fairly warm with medical support.

Credits

Adaptation Date: 9/19/2023

Adapted By: HealthLink BC

Adaptation Reviewed By: HealthLink BC