Your Pregnancy Week 24
Baby
Your baby continues to grow and develop inside of you. She is now about the size of an ear of corn; measuring around 12 inches long and weighing a little over 1 pound. In the coming weeks, your baby will continue to grow and mature at a fast rate, gaining about 6 ounces of weight a week.
Her brain is growing rapidly and her taste buds are developing. She is pretty lean at 24 weeks, but she'll soon be putting on some "baby fat" to fill out her frame and her wrinkled skin. She has begun to develop white blood cells. These cells are responsible for fighting off disease and infection.
Her lungs develop branches this week and her inner ear is completely developed. In fact, she has basic control over all of her senses: hearing, touch, taste, smell and vision!
Mom
How are you feeling? Is it hard to believe that your third trimester of pregnancy is just around the corner? By week 24, you may begin to feel brief contractions in your uterus. You may have heard your healthcare provider mention that you might experience these Braxton-Hicks contractions. Usually, these contractions are nothing to worry about. They are commonly felt in the third trimester as they help your uterine muscles prepare for childbirth.
Typical Braxton-Hicks Contractions:
- Last between 15-30 seconds
- Should be completely painless or mildly uncomfortable.
- Do not indicate real labor, unless they are accompanied by back, abdominal, or pelvic pain and vaginal discharge.
At 24 weeks, it's a good idea for you to familiarize yourself with the signs of preterm or premature labor. They are:
- Swelling in the hands or face
- Constant or severe vomiting
- An increase or change in vaginal discharge, especially a rush of amniotic fluid or any blood
- A low, dull backache
- Pain while urinating
- Sharp pain in your stomach
- More than 5 contractions or cramps in 1 hour
- Intense pelvic pressure (feels like the baby is pushing down)
If you experience any of these symptoms you should contact your healthcare provider immediately.
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