Your week 32 guide

The bones are developed but stay flexible enough for birth. The skull in particular remains in separate plates with soft gaps between them, which allows the head to compress and change shape during delivery. That moulding is why some newborns have an oddly shaped head for a few days, and it resolves on its own.

Breathing motions exercise the lungs and the muscles around them. Your baby moves amniotic fluid in and out of the airways for a substantial part of each day, strengthening the diaphragm and stimulating lung growth. It is rehearsal for a task that has to work perfectly within seconds of birth.

Position can still change, though many babies begin settling head-down. By thirty-two weeks the majority are head-down, and most of those still breech will turn in the coming weeks. If your baby is still breech nearer term, there are options to discuss, so it is a conversation rather than a decision made now.

Braxton Hicks tightenings may become more noticeable but stay irregular. They tend to be more obvious after activity, in the evening, or when you are dehydrated, and drinking water and resting often settles them. Tightenings that come regularly, grow stronger, or come with pain, pressure or fluid loss need an immediate call to your maternity team.

Sciatica, bloating, constipation, bladder pressure and difficulty sleeping are all common. Very little can be done about the mechanical causes, though position, support and pacing all help at the margins. If any of it is stopping you sleeping or moving normally, that is worth raising rather than absorbing.

Movement can still feel strong despite the reduced space. You may see the shape of a foot or a knee move across your bump, which is normal and often startling. Continue to notice the overall pattern rather than the strength of individual movements.

Review your birth location and its arrival instructions in detail. Knowing which entrance to use at night, where to park and whether you should ring ahead removes a layer of stress from a moment when you will have little patience for logistics. Write it down somewhere your partner can find it too.

Make a hospital packing list rather than trying to hold it in your head. Include the things people forget: a long phone charger, snacks, something to keep you occupied during a long early labour, and clothes to come home in that fit a body still recovering. Pack a separate small bag for your baby. InshaAllah, a short packing list can make the bag feel manageable rather than endless.

Learn the basics of feeding and newborn care from evidence-based sources. Understanding how feeding usually works in the first days, including how often newborns feed and what is normal, prevents a great deal of panic at three in the morning. Find out now what feeding support is available locally and how to reach it quickly.

You do not need to eat for two: Pregnancy does not require doubling your portions. Energy needs rise modestly in later pregnancy, but the amount varies with local guidance, activity, body size and individual circumstances.

Follow your appetite while keeping food varied and nourishing. If you are worried about gaining too much or too little, or about being able to eat enough, ask your maternity team for personalised support rather than starting a restrictive diet, which is not advised in pregnancy.