Week 32 of Pregnancy: A Jicama, and the Week Medication Doubled
Key takeaways
- By week 32, the baby is about 42.4cm long, roughly the length of a bunch of celery, and needs mainly to put on weight from here.
- This is a common week for Braxton Hicks — practice contractions — to start becoming noticeable, though not every woman gets them this early.
- Braxton Hicks are generally short, irregular, and uncomfortable rather than painful, unlike real labour contractions.
- With a condition like ICP, doctors may increase medication if symptoms or test results haven't settled with the starting dose.
- Doctors have told many women managing ICP that itching typically resolves once the baby is born — which matches the general pattern of the condition.
Week 31 was uncomfortable. Week 32 brought a concrete change that actually helped.
What’s actually happening in your body
The baby is now around 42.4cm long, about the same length as a bunch of celery, and is essentially fully formed at this stage — the main task left is putting on weight. You should continue feeling movement at roughly the same rate you have been, right through to birth, according to NHS guidance on week 32 of pregnancy. This is also a common point for Braxton Hicks — practice contractions — to start becoming noticeable for some women, generally felt as tightening across the belly that comes and goes, shorter and less regular than real labour contractions, and usually uncomfortable rather than painful.
What I actually felt
I didn’t experience any contractions this week, Braxton Hicks or otherwise. What did happen was that my test results came back, and my doctors suggested doubling my medication for the elevated liver enzymes — they also mentioned that this kind of itching typically stops once the baby is born, which matched what I’d read about the condition generally. I started taking the medication twice a day instead of once, and it genuinely helped.
If you’re managing something similar and a dose increase feels like a step backward, I’d push back gently on that instinct — for me, it was the opposite. It was the adjustment that actually started making a real difference.
Nutrition focus this week
No changes specific to this week beyond whatever guidance you’re following for gestational diabetes if applicable. General pregnancy nutrition guidance continues to apply — see our foods and drinks to limit or avoid during pregnancy.
What to discuss with your doctor or midwife
If you’re on medication for a diagnosed condition and it doesn’t feel like it’s working, ask directly about dose adjustment rather than assuming the current plan is fixed. It’s also reasonable to ask what “normal” Braxton Hicks should feel like for you specifically, so you know what would be worth calling about versus what to expect as routine.
Frequently asked questions
Is it normal to not have Braxton Hicks yet at week 32?
Yes, completely. Some women notice them from around this stage, others much later, and some barely notice them at all before labour. It’s not something that happens on a fixed schedule.
How can I tell Braxton Hicks apart from real labour?
Braxton Hicks tend to be shorter, irregular, and don’t build in intensity, while real labour contractions get longer, stronger, and more frequent over time. If you’re ever unsure, it’s always reasonable to call your maternity unit and check.
Is it normal for medication doses to change during pregnancy?
Yes — for a condition like ICP, doses are often adjusted based on ongoing blood test results and how well symptoms are responding, rather than staying fixed from the first prescription.
Does ICP itching really go away after birth?
Generally, yes — it’s one of the defining features of the condition that it resolves once the baby is born, which is part of why doctors monitor it closely rather than treat it as a long-term issue.
References
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