24 weeks pregnant – Doubts? All you need to know!

Consider 24 weeks pregnant as a preview of motherhood: your baby is doing great — and you’re, well, kind of a mess. At 24 weeks pregnant your baby is working to be ready to survive (and thrive!) in the outside world. You, on the other hand, are probably experiencing some late pregnancy discomforts at 24 weeks pregnant – leg cramps, back pain, and swollen feet. Hang in there, mom-to-be!

How is My Baby?

Have you ever noticed that they are getting into a sleep and wake pattern? When you are in bed at night, feeling relaxed and trying to sleep, you may find yourself wide awake and squirming.

Your baby is now said to be “viable”. This means that there is a chance that they will survive if they are born now, although it is still too soon.

A baby born at this stage would need a lot of help in the neonatal unit as his body is still very immature and not ready to deal with the outside world yet.

What is My Baby Doing at 24 Weeks of Pregnancy?

There are a lot of changes happening for your baby this week. Your brain is growing, your taste buds are developing, and your body is filling up.

Your baby’s lungs are maturing every day and are starting to produce a substance called surfactant, which helps keep tiny air sacs in the lungs called alveoli open. She will even begin to practice breathing in the womb, moving her chest up and down and exhaling amniotic fluid.

Although your baby’s skin is still thin and translucent, that will soon change: he’ll soon begin to put on weight, with much of the weight gained this week due to the growth of organs, muscles, bones and fat. The skin will become less transparent as fat deposits are made.

Even though your baby is still small and developing, it has reached a stage of potential viability, which means it can survive outside the womb if it was born early. Obviously, she would have to be on a special neonatal ventilator, but after 24 weeks of pregnancy , her arrival would be registered as an official birth.

Facts to Know About Your Baby at 24 Weeks of Pregnancy:

• Your baby can hear your voice now, so be sure to talk and sing to him often.
• Your baby’s face will now be fully formed with eyelashes, eyebrows and hair.
• Your body produces more mucus in pregnancy, which can result in a stuffy nose, sinusitis , and headaches .
• Baby’s tiny lungs are now maturing so they can breathe real air instead of fluids.

You at 24 weeks of gestation:

Your growth can continue to surprise you at this stage of your pregnancy and can occasionally make you a little unstable when your center of gravity shifts! Be careful when getting up and down from your chair or bed – try to avoid standing suddenly and feeling that rush of blood to your head.

Some women will experience some dental issues at this point in their pregnancy such as bleeding gums or sensitivity – make the most of your free dental care and get a check up to make sure all is well with your gnashers – there is no truth to the old tale of wives you lose a tooth for every baby – if you take care of your white teeth (lots of brushing, flossing and mouthwashing!) they will perfectly withstand your pregnancy!

Facts to Know About You at 24 Weeks of Pregnancy:

• If your belly button is sticking out, don’t panic. The swelling of the uterus pushes it forward and it should return to normal after birth.
• Keep your teeth in good shape with free dental care while you’re pregnant.
• At 24 weeks pregnant , your baby has her own routine in her womb!

Your 24 Week Pregnancy Symptoms:

Sleep Problems:

As your belly grows, you may find it difficult to find a comfortable sleeping position. Try sleeping on your side and resting your stomach on the pillows.

Skin changes:

At 24 weeks pregnant , your belly is growing, of course, and your breasts are getting bigger too. You may also start to notice skin changes, such as dark spots on your face , a dark line running from your belly button to your pubic bone, or spider veins.

Leg Cramps:

Tight, painful, or “bouncing” legs can be a sign of dehydration. So make sure you are drinking plenty of water. Stretch your legs often and take lots of walks. Let your doctor know that you are getting leg cramps; they’re probably not a problem, but occasionally cramping can be a sign of another problem, such as a nutritional deficiency, so it’s worth keeping an eye out.

Nigra Line:

This is the dark line that runs down the center of your belly. Influenced by pregnancy hormones, linea nigra should disappear within a few weeks to months after giving birth.

Stretch marks:

Those “tiger stripes” can keep appearing as your skin stretches even further. If you’re pregnant with twins at 24 weeks’ gestation , you’re more likely to get them.

More Vaginal Discharge?

A slight increase in vaginal discharge during pregnancy is totally normal, especially if the weather is hot. You may find it to be a mild-smelling milky liquid, which is good.

However, if it is smelly, itchy, or has a greenish-greenish tinge, contact your doctor or midwife, as you may have an infection that needs to be treated. If the discharge is heavy, use an absorbent, not a tampon.

What to Do at 24 Weeks of Pregnancy:

Take the Whooping Cough Vaccine:

A whooping cough vaccination will be offered to increase your levels of antibodies, which will then be passed on to your baby for protection. There’s a lot of whooping cough around and babies can’t get the vaccines very young, which puts them at risk.

Young babies with whooping cough are often very sick and most will be admitted to hospital because of their illness. When whooping cough is particularly severe, they can die.

The best time to get vaccinated to protect your baby is from the 16th week to the 32nd week of pregnancy. You can get the vaccine anytime starting at 16 weeks, but if you have it after 38 weeks, it may be less effective.

Research on the vaccine has shown that it is very safe with no adverse effects for pregnant women or their babies.

Living with Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD):

If you’re suffering from SPD, try different exercises until you find one that works. Some women say that cycling is painless while walking is very painful, others recommend swimming or aquanatal exercises.

If you are swimming, avoid breaststroke as this can cause more pain. The main thing to remember is to stop any activity that causes pain.

Keep Calcium:

Make sure your diet is rich in calcium , as this is good for your baby’s bone development. Calcium is found in dairy products, oranges , nuts , legumes and broccoli . You should also take 10 mcg of Vitamin D a day during pregnancy, which helps with calcium absorption .