Week 32: Head Down, Bottom Up

Your little one should now be in the birth position and has a few more weeks to fatten up

By Dr Michelle LIM, Associate Consultant and Associate Professor Tan Thiam Chye, Visiting Consultant, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, KK Women's and Children's Hospital

What's Happening to Your Baby?

If it hasn't happened already, this week your wong bok-sized baby could be moving down into the birth position, with the head pointing downwards. Baby is about 38 to 46cm long and weighs between 1.5 and 1.9kg. Most of the organs are formed and your baby is slowly losing the coating of cheesy, white vernix and the fine layer of hair called lanugo. Baby may be losing the lanugo but there's some real hair on your sweetheart's head now. Baby has toenails and fingernails, and with all of the fat that's accumulating, your little one's skin is turning pink and is no longer transparent.

What's Happening to You?

It's going to be hard to stop yourself from scratching your expanding belly as your skin stretches around your growing womb. Try rubbing some moisturiser to help you feel better. A warm bath may also alleviate the itchiness, while helping to relieve any lower back pain. If your itching gets very severe, do let your doctor know at your next visit.

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This article was last reviewed on 28 Jun 2021