The Playbook

32 Weeks Pregnant: Paperwork Done, and a Postpartum Plan

By the Guide to Fatherhood editorial team. Last reviewed . 2 min read.

Checked against guidance from organizations like the AAP, CDC, ACOG and NHS (linked below). This is general information, not medical advice. Read our medical disclaimer.

Trimester3
Sizea jicama
Length / weightabout 16.7 in (42.4 cm), about 3.75 lb (1.7 kg)

Toenails and fingernails have grown, the skin is getting less wrinkly as fat builds up, and many babies have moved into a head-down position.

Your to-do list this week

  • Finish leave paperwork with HR and learn how to file your state paid leave claim, if your state has one.
  • Confirm hospital pre-registration is complete and insurance details are on file.
  • Write a postpartum plan: who helps, meals, visitors, and how you'll split nights.
  • Ask a friend to organize a meal train for the first two weeks after the birth.
A conversation to have this week

"What would make the first two weeks at home feel manageable for you?" Write down specifics: food, sleep, privacy, help with older kids, time to shower.

The baby this week

Nearly four pounds, the baby has grown fingernails and toenails, and fat is smoothing out the wrinkles (NHS). Many babies have settled head-down, though some take a few more weeks to turn (Mayo Clinic).

How she may be feeling

Big and tired. Breathlessness, heartburn and constant bathroom trips are common, and sleep gets more broken. Practice contractions may come more often.

Get the paperwork off the table

Labor is a terrible time for forms. This week:

  • Employer leave: forms submitted, dates approved, payroll questions answered.
  • State paid leave: learn how and when to file. Some states let you apply before the birth; others after. Check the program link in the leave planner.
  • Hospital pre-registration: done, with insurance cards on file.
  • Insurance: know how and by when to add the baby to your plan after birth (often within 30 days).

Build a postpartum plan

The weeks after birth are a medical recovery for your partner and a sleep crisis for both of you. ACOG recommends that postpartum care be an ongoing process rather than a single visit and encourages planning for it during pregnancy. A one-page plan covers:

  1. Help. Who’s coming, when, and what they’ll do. Real help is laundry, dishes, meals, and holding the baby so she can shower, not visiting.
  2. Food. Freezer meals, a meal train, grocery delivery set up.
  3. Sleep. How you’ll split nights. See the schedule maker for realistic newborn rhythms.
  4. Her recovery. Her postpartum appointments, who to call about warning signs, and the signs of postpartum depression.
  5. You. Your leave dates, and who checks in on you.

Put it on the fridge.

Frequently asked questions

When should the baby be head-down?

Many babies turn head-down by around 32 to 36 weeks. If the baby is still breech closer to term, her provider may discuss options such as an external cephalic version (turning the baby) or a planned cesarean.

Sources

  1. Fetal development: The 3rd trimester, Mayo Clinic
  2. Optimizing Postpartum Care (Committee Opinion 736), American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
  3. Week 32: Your baby and your body, NHS

We link to the original source for every medical and safety claim. Guidance changes; if a source has been updated since our last review, the source wins. How we research.