24th Week of Pregnancy
What changes are occurring with your body?
You can now feel the top of your uterus around 2 inches from your belly button. The skin on your abdomen and breasts are stretching, which can cause these areas to feel itchy. Many times the itchy skin can be caused by dry skin. If you are having itchy and/or dry skin, use a good moisturizer or lotion. Your eyes may also be sensitive and dry during your pregnancy. You can alleviate some of the discomfort by using artificial tears to keep your eyes moist.*
How big is your baby?
Your baby is now 11 inches long and weighs 1¼ to 1½ pounds.*
What is happening with your baby?
Your baby's brain is growing rapidly at this time. Taste buds are also developing, and the lungs are becoming more developed and complex. The branches of the main lung are beginning to form as well as special cells that will produce surfactant. Surfactant is necessary for the air sacs to inflate easily. Babies who are born prematurely often have trouble breathing because these cells have not had enough time to develop or are not producing the necessary amounts of surfactant.*
What should you plan for this week?
Between 24 and 28 weeks, most healthcare providers will perform a glucose screening test. This test checks for gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes is a temporary form (in most cases) of diabetes in which the body does not produce adequate amounts of insulin to deal with sugar during pregnancy. Signs and symptoms can include:
- Sugar in urine (revealed in a test done in your doctor’s office)
- Unusual thirst
- Frequent urination
- Fatigue
- Nausea
Approximately 2-5 % of all expecting mothers will develop gestational diabetes. The screening for this disease usually will take place between your 24th and 28th week of pregnancy. Doctors test for gestational diabetes during this time because the placenta is producing large amounts of hormones that may cause insulin resistance. If the result comes back with elevated levels, further testing would be done to confirm a diagnosis of gestational diabetes.
Tips for making your pregnancy better:
If you are having a problem with heartburn, you may want to try eating frequent smaller meals throughout the day. Many women find that eating five or six small meals a day decreases the amount of heartburn they experience. Heartburn can also be decreased by skipping snacks and meals late at night.
Tips for mom’s partner:
Plan a romantic getaway for the two of you. It could be to a spot that has a significant meaning to the two of you or somewhere that you have always wanted to go.
* The information that the American Pregnancy Association provides is used as a general guide for healthy pregnancy development, although development may vary due to the mother’s health or a miscalculation of ovulation. Each woman and pregnancy is unique and may be experienced differently. Remember that babies develop at different rates, even before they are born. The purpose of this developmental information is to give you a general idea of how your baby is growing, and you must remember that your baby’s growth may vary from that which is outlined.