Posts Tagged ‘24th week of pregnancy’
24th Week of Pregnancy
24th week of pregnancy is very important for your baby as this is the time when your baby’s brain is developing rapidly. Lungs, taste buds are developing. This is the reason babies born before this week suffer from breathing related problems as their lungs did not get chance to develop properly. Amniotic fluid will increase and will continue to increase till delivery. Now your baby is more than 12 ½ inches in length. Her weight is between 1 ¼ to 1 ½ pounds.
Babies born during this week require special care as their immunity will be on the lower side. Breathing related problems may require keeping your baby in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for some time.
This week is crucial for you too moms-to-be. Heartburn and indigestion will continue and some of you may notice increase in that. Plan your meal in such a way that you do not eat large portion of meal at one time. Divide it in five to six small portions. Avoid eating late night meals or snacks to stay away from heartburn.
Constipation, frequent urination, itching, stretch marks, breast tenderness and fullness, heartburn are a few symptoms you may experience during 24th week of pregnancy. Avoid taking any medicine without your health care provider’s consent.
Your health care provider will carry out a test to check for gestational diabetes. During 24th and 28th week, placenta produces hormones that trigger insulin resistance during pregnancy. Fatigue, unusual thirst, increased restroom visits may be an indication of increased sugar in urine. This test will uncover the sugar level in urine, if elevated your health care provider will decide about further treatment.
Keep your eating pattern healthy by including fresh fruits, vegetables, milk, yogurt etc in your regular diet. Drink plenty of water to avoid urinary tract infection and heartburn. Take enough rest and try to sleep for some time during daytime to avoid fatigue and swelling by end of the day.
Take pleasure in your baby’s gymnastics as your baby will start kicking and boxing more often now. If you are a working woman, start preparing documents for your maternity leave and inquire about your rights at the work place during pregnancy.
Many of you may have already got stretch marks. They will fade in due course. Consult your health care provider before applying any cream or lotion to your stretch marks. You can do some light exercise but consulting your health care provider before starting any exercise is a good idea. Going for walk will certainly prove beneficial during pregnancy.
Spend some time alone with your partner. Let him experience baby’s movements as your baby moves around frequently now in your uterus. Encourage your partner to chat with your baby as your baby can now listen to the sounds outside the womb.
Sleeping on your sides will be more comfortable than sleeping on the back as this will put more pressure on your back bone. Avoid sudden change of position. Move around slowly to avoid fall.