You are 32 weeks and 6 days

The days and nights fly by with a newborn, so it's a good idea to start thinking about child care well before you need it.

50 days until your due date

It may seem strange to consider child care before your baby is even born, but it helps to think through the options while you have time. There are two main types: in your home and outside it. At home, you could have a live-in or live-out nanny or mother's help, an au pair (possibly suitable if you work from home and can supervise), or a family member or friend willing to come and look after your baby. Outside the home, options include day-care centers, relatives or babysitters in their own homes, or workplace day care.

Before setting your heart on one type, look into costs and availability in your area. You might visit some nurseries or other facilities nearby to get a feel for what's available and work out now what you do and don't want. Good child-care places and babysitters are usually in demand, so even if you're not sure when you'll go back to work, it's probably wise to put your baby's name (or at least surname!) down for a few, to give you options later.

Focus on

Dads: Being at the birth

Many dads-to-be are anxious about being with their partner in labor, because they'll be watching her go through one of the most intense experiences a woman can have and may be unsure how to help.

There are plenty of ways to support her: knowing her wishes, speaking for her if she can't, and repeating what the doctors say if she didn't hear clearly; passing her a drink; rubbing her back; holding a warm cloth to her face; switching music on or off; and encouraging and reassuring her.

Going to prenatal classes can help. You'll learn more about labor and birth and how to support your partner physically and emotionally.

Good to know

Calcium intake

Your baby's skeleton began forming at the end of the first trimester, but most of the calcium is transferred from your body in the third trimester. This happens whatever your calcium intake: if your diet is low in calcium, it's taken from the reserve in your bones, which can affect your bone density.

The recommended amount in pregnancy is 1,000 mg a day. Calcium needs vitamin D to be absorbed. Dairy products are a rich source, and some spreads, such as margarine and low-fat spreads, are often fortified with vitamin D. Vegetarian sources include tofu, leafy green vegetables, dried fruit, seeds, and nuts.

This is general information based on NHS guidance, not medical advice, and every pregnancy is different. Talk to your midwife or GP about anything that worries you. If your baby's movements slow down or change, or you have bleeding, severe pain or leaking fluid, call your maternity unit straight away. In an emergency, call 999.

Dads: Being at the birth

Calcium intake

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