32 weeks pregnant

Your baby

Your baby is continuing to gain weight as development progresses. The celery comparison describes approximate length, not how much room there is to move. Even as the uterus feels more crowded, your baby's usual movement pattern should continue. A decrease or change needs prompt attention from your maternity care team rather than an assumption that there is less space.

Your body

Your growing bump may make resting positions and everyday tasks less comfortable. Take the opportunity to ask about persistent back discomfort, heartburn or poor sleep. Preparing for a baby does not have to mean buying everything at once. A few essential arrangements, with support from people you trust, can be more useful than trying to complete a long shopping list.

This week

Preparing a safe place for sleep

Plan a separate infant sleep space with a firm, flat, level mattress and a fitted sheet in a safety-approved crib, bassinet or play yard. Place babies on their backs for sleep and keep pillows, loose blankets, toys and other soft objects out. Share your room rather than your bed, and talk with everyone who will care for the baby about the same plan. Ask how feeding and nighttime support can be arranged so an exhausted adult is less likely to fall asleep holding the baby on a couch or armchair.