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Pregnancy Week 24

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Fetal Development Images - Pregnancy  24
Week 24 fetal development image showing the fetal growth of your baby to date. Medical Illustration Copyright © 2008 Nucleus Medical Art, All rights reserved

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Your Baby's Development This Week

The baby is now between 12 and 12 1/2" long and around 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 pounds, and gaining approximately 6 ounces a week. The brain continues in its rapid growth mode and the lungs are maturing. The special cells which produce surfactant are developing. Surfactant is what helps the air sacs inflate, and preemies who struggle with breathing are usually having difficulties because the special cells have not fully developed prior to delivery. The taste buds are getting more sensitive, and baby may even react to a particularly strong taste in Mommy's food. The sweat glands are developing now, as well. The hands are getting more coordinated, as evidenced in more precise thumb-sucking skills. The big news of the week however is that the baby is now officially viable!

Pregnancy Symptoms You May Feel During Week 24

Itchy, itchy, itchy. This point in pregnancy there are often some annoying symptoms popping up. The skin on breasts and belly is really stretching and with that frequently comes an intense itchy sensation. Your palms and soles of your feet may also be red and itchy, due to your pregnancy hormones. Other seemingly random annoyances include a metallic taste in your mouth, and increased saliva. Also, you might be experiencing the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. This won't be caused by the typical repetitive movements of office work, but rather by the pregnancy swelling putting pressure on nerves. This will produce tingling and numbness in your fingers and wrists. You may also be experiencing dryness and sensitivity with your eyes now. Heartburn, which may have plagued you earlier in your pregnancy, might well be back now with a vengeance. Avoid lying down immediately after eating, and eat regular small meals.

Visit With the Obstetrician

Probably in the next few weeks you'll be scheduled for your glucose screening test to check for gestational diabetes. This test is typically done between the 24th and 28th weeks. You will be told to eat and drink normally prior to the test. You'll come into the office and be given a syrupy sweet solution to drink. An hour later a blood sample will be taken to check the blood sugar levels. You'll typically wait at the office for results. A result of 130 - 140 milligrams per deciliter may indicate a high blood sugar level and will require more testing. False positives are fairly common, so even if the test indicates a possibility of gestational diabetes, don't panic just yet. The follow up test is the glucose tolerance test and will yield the needed reliable results. Gestational diabetes is serious, but rather common, and manageable.

Preparing for Baby

This week baby is officially viable, so it's definitely time to get those hospital bags packed! By now you might have started birthing classes or visited the hospital and done a tour. Find out what items they recommend you bring, and which ones they will not allow. Think of the things you will find comfort in-both emotional and physical but be practical at the same time. You won't be bringing in a set of luggage, just a simple bag. Talk to other mothers who have recently given birth to find out what items they couldn't have lived without and which ones they forgot.

Pregnancy Lifestyle

One of those unpleasant side effects of pregnancy hormones is the embarrassing fuzzy brain. Your thinking won't always be at its sharpest during pregnancy, especially as you get into your second trimester. Don't worry about it, it won't be permanent, although honestly it may feel that way for awhile as you adjust to sleep deprivation with a newborn. The best way to deal with this symptom, is with some planning and a good sense of humor. Make lists for things you typically never needed to before. Don't count on remembering that little list of five items at the grocery, write it down. Keep a little pad in your purse to keep other reminders for yourself. Don't get frustrated that you keep walking into a room to get something that you now can't remember. Find a way to laugh it off. It's just hormones, you will not be an airhead permanently.


Pregnancy Week 24 Comfort Meter

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Comments


Showing 10 out of 45 Comments | Add Comment | See All Comments
Shauntaviar
02/06/2012 12:32 am
Hello evryone! iam 26 and in my 24th week. this is my firsy child... it's a boy and i am ready to hold him already.going through this without his father, and it's tough but i am looking forward to being a mother!i feel him alot during the night, he usually is very still during the day when i'm active.i love him already! good luck to everyone.
Jessa
01/04/2012 10:11 am
I'm 22 and 24 wks pregnant with my 1st child, a girl! we are so excited for her to get here in april! i however was rushed to the hospital for an emergency ultrasound 2 wks ago for an incompetent cervix. i'm going in on thursday for a consoltation with sacred heart childerns hospital and her daddy just left for a deployment. hopefully i will get some good news. very scared thou, my aunt has the same problem and delivered at 29wks with my niece.
Tiffany
12/17/2011 2:09 pm
Hi everyone. i am 25 and 24 weeks pregnant with my first baby. i didnt know that my baby girl or boy. i wonder that in the morning my belly is smaller but at night its bigger :)). i am so exited
Jessica
11/22/2011 11:25 pm
I am 24 weeks. im having a girl :) can't wait to see what she looks like. this is my first baby we are going to name her emma. sometimes when im aroud famliy or friends its weird when then come up and rub alover my belly. lol i try to talk to her all the time.
Teresa
11/05/2011 11:17 pm
I am 25 and 24 weeks pregnant with my 4th child. this is my first boy and this has been the most interesting pregnancy. i have a bicornuate uterus and was on bedrest for 3-4 months with each of my girls so fingers crossed it doesn't happen again.
Janelle
11/04/2011 4:15 am
Hi there, i'm 24 weeks pregnant i have a 22 month old girl already and are now having a boy. very excited!!!
hayley
05/03/2011 11:03 am
I am 24 weeks pregnant and im 22 years old. this is my first baby and im told its a girl =) so hard thinking of a name!!! my first trimester was awful. sick untill 20 weeks! now i just wake up alot with numb arms and legs. feel my baby alot now though and am saving up for a 4d scan! cant wait xx
Grace
03/23/2011 1:09 pm
I am 37 and 24wks with my second child. a boy. we have a 2yr old girl. 5 doctors said i would never have children. by the grace of god i have been blessed to be a mother twice. i have two beautiful step-children. never give up. and nomatter how hard the road, never give up the ride.
Nichole
02/25/2011 6:47 pm
Hello ladies...i am 29 and 24 weeks pregnant with a little girl. this pregnancy has been real rough on me. i was diagnosed 10yrs ago with an incompetent cervix and had to have a cerclage(a stitch) placed in my cervix to keep it closed with my first child. i have a very short cervix and this time around at 20 weeks it started to shorten/funnel so i had an emergency cerclage put back in. since then i have been on bed rest. my little chloe is sitting so low that sometimes is feels like she is going to fall out. i hope and pray i make it full-term. good luck to all you pregnant ladies out there :-}
rachael
01/19/2011 4:26 am
I am 32 and 24 weeks with my 4th child. this pregnancy has been like none of the others. plus i am working this time 12 hour shifts with three at home from the ages of 10 to 6. to the lady with her kids so close together that was the best time. my middle two are 15 wks apart and get along wonderfully. you will enjoy it.

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