Welcome to week 24 of pregnancy, the last week of the second trimester. Mum, your libido may decrease because of all your discomfort. Distract yourself by planning your birth (as much as you can) and start thinking up names if you haven’t already. Here’s what you need to know before entering the third trimester.
Pregnancy Week 24: Baby
If you’ve reached Week 24 of pregnancy, congratulations! You’re now in the last third of your pregnancy. The second trimester may be over but that does not mean there’s nothing happening with your baby. There are a few important things you should be aware of at this point in your pregnancy.
Baby’s Growth
Before the third trimester, let’s see how your baby is growing. You may have just swallowed a watermelon, as your little one is about the size of one now. They are around 30 cm in length and weighs 598 g.
They’re growing and developing faster than ever—and they’ve already got a healthy set of lungs! Your baby can now breathe amniotic fluid and swallow it. This means they gets all the nutrients they need to grow without being born.
Your baby’s brain is also developing quickly. This week, their brain will begin to form into different lobes: the frontal lobe (which controls language and decision-making), the temporal lobe (which controls memory), and the parietal lobe (which controls body awareness).
Your baby’s heart is also starting to form this week, so it will be able to pump blood through their body when they’re born.
Baby’s Development
You’re already in your sixth month. But your baby has a lot more growing to do before they’re ready to come out. In this week-by-week pregnancy guide, you’ll learn that:
- Your baby’s face is now completely formed. The ears are also in place, and they can pick up sounds more effectively now.
- Their eyes and eyelashes are also formed, although the eyelids are closed. They will also start REM (rapid eye movement) this week.
- Their brain is growing rapidly.
- Their tastebuds fully develop when you reach week 24 of pregnancy.
- By now, their lungs are developing branches and the respiratory tree.
- Babies born at 24 weeks have a 50-50 chance of survival.
Baby’s Hearing
This week, the bones in your baby’s middle ear are fully developed and her inner ear is developing. These two processes allow her to hear sounds from the outside world—like mommy’s voice or music from the radio—and send those signals to her brain so she can understand what they mean.
Your baby’s hearing will improve, so keep talking to your little one!
Baby’s Teeth
This week, your baby’s teeth are forming in the gums. The lower front teeth will be the first to appear.
Baby’s Movement
You might feel more movement from your little one this week as well—and if you’re feeling anything like me, it’s all you can do not to squeal with delight every time you feel them move!
If you haven’t already bought your maternity clothes, now would be a good time to start looking around for some comfy options that will keep you comfortable during those long nights spent cuddling with your new little bundle of joy.
Pregnancy Week 24: Your Body
It’s hard to believe that week 24 of pregnancy is already around the corner. You’ve come a long way in this pregnancy, and for many expectant mums, symptoms no longer seem as severe. But there are still things we need to be aware of and keep an eye on. Take a look at some of the Week 24 body changes you should start to experience going into the delivery week, as well as tips on what to do before your due date arrives.
Symptoms
- Your bump is quite prominent. Your belly button will pop since the uterus is pushing everything in its path. By this week you would have gained seven to eight kilograms overall to your average weight.
- You will notice some visible stretch marks on your belly and breasts. You will also notice a dark line called linea nigra between your pubic bone and belly button.
- Your libido will drop drastically because you are feeling tired and achy.
- If you have not noticed any vaginal discharge yet before this week, then you will notice high levels of it now.
- At week 24 of pregnancy, your body is already preparing for breastfeeding. You may even notice your breasts leaking milk, or to be more specific, colostrum.
- Because of your growing belly, your balance may be thrown off and you can experience more back pains now.
Maternal Weight Gain
At this point in your pregnancy, it’s also important for your body to continue gaining weight—and not just because your baby needs food! Your body needs this extra weight gain because it’s preparing itself for labour and delivery.
Many women find that their appetite increases during the second trimester, so it’s okay if you notice that you’re eating more than usual. If your appetite hasn’t increased yet, don’t worry; it should happen soon enough.
The amount of weight you should gain varies from person to person; however, most doctors recommend gaining between 25-35 pounds total during pregnancy (with 15-25 pounds coming during each trimester).
Nutrition
Your baby is growing fast, and so is your belly! You may be experiencing some discomfort as your uterus expands and your body prepares for childbirth. As you get closer to your due date, you’ll probably experience Braxton Hicks contractions—these are “practice” contractions that help prepare your body for labor and delivery.
Eat at least 3 meals a day—breakfast, lunch, and dinner—to keep your energy up throughout the day.
Try not to skip meals; instead, eat smaller portions more often so that you don’t feel hungry between meals.
To support your changing body, try these tips for maintaining a healthy diet during pregnancy:
- Be sure to eat plenty of protein from lean meats, dairy products, and eggs to meet your growing baby’s needs for amino acids and iron. These foods also help fill you up so you’re not reaching for high-calorie snacks between meals.
- Choose whole grains instead of refined grains (such as white bread) because they provide more vitamins and minerals than processed foods do—and they’re easier on digestion too!
- Include lots of fruits and vegetables in your diet every day to ensure that you’re getting enough folic acid (a B vitamin) which helps prevent birth defects such as spina bifida (when the spinal cord doesn’t develop properly). You should also aim for 1 cup of milk or yoghurt each day.
Pregnancy Care: Your Checklist For Week 24 of Pregnancy
- To keep the body healthy and reduce stretch marks, add more milk, cheese and soya in your diet. Pile up on Vitamin C, and eat as many greens as possible. Consider getting a belly belt to support your growing bump too.
- If you have red itchy palms, avoid anything that creates more heat in your body.
- Sign up for a glucose test to determine if you have gestational diabetes. This condition occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin to regulate sugar levels.
- Hydrate as much as possible. Drink lots of water to cover the unusual thirst you will experience this week.
- The honeymoon period of pregnancy is almost over, so make sure you team up with your partner to do some babyproofing and fixing at home so you can channel all your third-trimester energy into preparing for labour.
- If you are confused between Braxton Hicks and preterm labour, don’t hesitate to talk to your doctor about it.
Your next week: 25 weeks pregnant
Your previous week: 23 weeks pregnant
Updates from Pheona Ilagan
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