Your pregnancy: 32 weeks

That tiny little person you’re nurturing is now the size of a zucchini: about 42 centimetres (16.7 inches) and 1.7 kilograms (3.8 pounds). At 32 weeks pregnant, his impossibly tiny little fingernails have grown to the top of his fingertips (just waiting for you to trim them with those itty-bitty clippers—something you’ll likely need to do the first week at home—here's your guide to baby grooming). Instinctively, your baby continues to exercise his digestive system by swallowing enough amniotic fluid to fill his stomach before emptying it out again into the amniotic sac. Meconium (your baby’s first excretion) is also building up in the large bowel, but this tarry substance won’t be released until birth in most cases. Your little one is likely moving into the ideal birthing position, too: bottom up, head down, chin tucked in. Your due date might seem like it’s still far away, but your baby knows better.

Tiger stripes

Don’t be surprised if you wake up one morning, look in the mirror and see a handful of stretch marks on your thighs, boobs or belly—even if you have been diligent about moisturizing and haven’t seen a single one of the reddish-purple marks up to this point in your pregnancy. Your baby is growing at a rapid pace, stretching your skin at a much faster rate than in the earlier stages of pregnancy. Don’t fret: Stretch marks usually fade to silvery, translucent lines that you’ll hardly notice in a few months.

Faintness may not be a new symptom for you at all—many women feel lightheaded and dizzy throughout pregnancy. It’s often caused by low blood sugar, as mothers-to-be learn how much and how often they should be eating while carrying a baby. In the second trimester, faintness can be a sign of low blood pressure, as progesterone softens blood vessels to allow for better blood flow between mother and baby. But at this later stage of the game, you may feel dizzy when lying on your back, as your heavy uterus weighs down the main blood vessels of your torso in this position, reducing blood flow to your brain. Turning to your left side should help you feel better quickly.

If your dizziness is persistent or accompanied by stomach pain, vaginal bleeding, blurred vision, headaches or heart irregularities, call your doctor immediately

Have you and your partner talked about who’s going to be in the room at your baby’s birth? Your mom, your sister and other close friends and family members might express an interest in attending the birth, but you’re calling the shots on this one (even if your mother-in-law has a hissy fit). Some women only want their partners by their sides, while others are OK with an entourage. During a long, drawn-out labour, you might not want the added pressure of a waiting room full of eager relatives pacing the halls and watching the clock. Is your partner cool, calm and collected in stressful situations or will he need someone else there for support? Think about your family dynamics, too: Does your mom generally raise anxiety levels in the room, or is she great at managing crises or using humour to distract you? If you’re planning to have a room full of people to cheer you on, check with your hospital or birthing centre on the delivery room rules and visitor policy. The same thing goes for professional doulas and birth photographers or videographers: Know what’s allowed ahead of time.

If you still don’t know the gender of your impending arrival, this video is for you. It might be a load of hooey, but old wives’ tales sure are fun to try as your pregnancy progresses and your symptoms accumulate and change.

We’re not suggesting that you name your baby after your most common pregnancy cravings. (Otherwise, we’d have a lot of newborns in the nursery named “Pickle” and “Poutine.”) But we do have 15 cute food-inspired baby names here, including downright hipster options like Olive and Clementine.

If you’re skipping the crib altogether and considering co-sleeping or bed sharing from day one with your baby, do your research on the pros and cons. Read up on the risk of SIDS and make sure that the sleep environment is as safe as possible.

An essential part of your bedtime routine, whether your co-sleeping or not, is reading stories. Make sure all these classic books are in your baby's library.

Books open a window into our imagination and they’re great for learning and cuddling. Pad your baby’s library with some of these favourite first books.

Read more: When reading doesn’t come easy>

Written and illustrated by P.D. Eastman, Random House.

$13, indigo.ca

Written by Vicki Churchill and illustrated by Charles Fudge, Sterling

 $18, indigo.ca

Written by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Clement Hurd, HarperCollins

$11, indigo.ca

Written and illustrated by Jeremy Tankard, Scholastic

$21, indigo.ca

Written by Sam McBratney and illustrated by Anita Jeram, Candlewick Press

$16, indigo.ca

Written and illustrated by Eric Carle, Philomel Books

$24, indigo.ca

Written by Teddy Jam and illustrated by Eric Beddows, Groundwood Books

$12, indigo.ca

Written and illustrated by Nancy Tillman, Feiwel&Friends

$22, indigo.ca

Written and illustrated by Dorothy Kunhardt, Golden Books

$14, indigo.ca

Written and illustrated by Eric Hill, G.P. Putnam’s Sons

$11, indigo.ca

Written and illustrated by Nick Bland, Scholastic

$10, indigo.ca

Written by Watty Piper, illustrated by Loren Long, Philomel

$12, indigo.ca

Written and illustrated by Anna Dewdney, Viking USA

$19, indigo.ca

Written and illustrated by Herve Tullet, Chronicle Books

$22, indigo.ca

Read more: Study: Parents still aren’t following safe sleep guidelines for babies 5 memories from prenatal class Next up: 33 weeks pregnant