Week 32 of pregnancy
Updated 25 Oct 2026
Your baby this week
About the size of a small pumpkin
Source: Vinmec – Bảng cân nặng và chiều dài thai nhi theo tiêu chuẩn của WHO
Your baby's development
Your baby is about 41 - 43 cm long and weighs about 1.6 - 1.8 kg.
All the vital organs are now fully developed, except the lungs. Your baby needs to put on more weight. Baby's skin is becoming more opaque and no longer see-through as in earlier weeks. Now it's hard for your baby to “party wildly” as before, even though you still feel baby's movements every day. That's because space is getting tighter and tighter.
Your baby's position may start to settle this week. The best position is with baby's head facing towards the vagina. However, if your baby hasn't turned head-down yet, don't worry too much. We still have time to wait for baby.
Your body
From week 32 you will gain weight quite quickly. Over the next 4 weeks you will gain 0.5 kg each week. Nutrition is important to provide enough nutrients for your baby's growth and to keep you healthy.
You feel heavy, and your centre of gravity shifts forwards, so you can easily get back pain. However, watch out for unusual back pain, such as near the hips or severe pain that doesn't go away. These symptoms may be linked to kidney or urinary tract problems.
Mild physiological tightenings called Braxton-Hicks contractions can still happen, lasting 15-30 seconds and stopping when you change position.
Advice for you
Eat light meals, drink plenty of water and keep your skin moisturised. Your diet is very important for your baby to grow well and gain weight steadily, and to keep you healthy enough for the final trimester as well as strong enough for labour.
You should learn about the signs of labour. Doti can help you! It looks like Doti is waiting for you!
Watch the video for this article
Signs that need a doctor now
If you notice any of the signs below, please go to the nearest health facility to be checked by a doctor.
Vaginal bleeding in pregnancy
This sign needs to be checked by a doctor. Please go to the nearest health facility now. If the bleeding is heavy or comes with severe pain or faintness, call the emergency number 115.
Source: Bệnh viện Đa khoa Tâm Anh – Các dấu hiệu nguy hiểm trong thai kỳ
Convulsions (fits)
A convulsion in pregnancy is an emergency. Family members should call 115 at once, lay the mother on her side in a safe place and get her to the nearest hospital.
Source: Bệnh viện Đa khoa Tâm Anh – Các dấu hiệu nguy hiểm trong thai kỳ
Fever in pregnancy
A temperature above 38°C counts as a fever. Please go to a health facility so a doctor can find the cause and advise on safe ways to bring it down; do not take medicine on your own.
Source: Bệnh viện Đa khoa Tâm Anh – Các dấu hiệu nguy hiểm trong thai kỳ
Leaking fluid or waters breaking
Fluid leaking from the vagina may mean the waters are leaking or have broken and needs to be checked by a doctor. Please go to a health facility soon, lying with your head low while travelling.
Source: Bệnh viện Đa khoa Tâm Anh – Các dấu hiệu nguy hiểm trong thai kỳ
Severe headache, blurred vision, sudden swelling
Headache with blurred vision, or sudden swelling of the face, hands or eyelids, can be a sign of high blood pressure in pregnancy or pre-eclampsia. This sign needs to be checked by a doctor. Please go to the nearest health facility now.
Source: Bệnh viện Đa khoa Tâm Anh – Các dấu hiệu nguy hiểm trong thai kỳ
Reduced or no fetal movement
A clear drop in the baby's movements, or no movement, needs to be checked by a doctor. Please go to the nearest health facility now rather than waiting until tomorrow.
Source: Bệnh viện Đa khoa Tâm Anh – Các dấu hiệu nguy hiểm trong thai kỳ
Severe or worsening abdominal pain
Abdominal pain that keeps getting worse, does not ease, or is severe needs to be checked by a doctor. Please go to the nearest health facility now. If the pain is severe with sweating, faintness or bleeding, call 115.
Source: Bệnh viện Đa khoa Tâm Anh – Các dấu hiệu nguy hiểm trong thai kỳ
Sources
Content advised by our doctors.
- Vinmec (accessed 22 Oct 2026)
- NHS (accessed 22 Oct 2026)
- Vinmec (accessed 22 Oct 2026)
- Source for fetal size: Vinmec – Bảng cân nặng và chiều dài thai nhi theo tiêu chuẩn của WHO
- Source for the signs that need a doctor: Bệnh viện Đa khoa Tâm Anh – Các dấu hiệu nguy hiểm trong thai kỳ
This article helps you understand and prepare. It does not replace a check-up. For an answer about your own situation, please ask the doctor who is caring for you.