Pregnancy Week 24

What’s your baby up to?

Your baby now measures about 30cm long from head to toe, the length of a standard ruler and weighs around 600g.

He’s considered viable from this week, meaning that if born now, he will have 50 percent chance of surviving; though with a lot of help in the neonatal unit. Advances in technology have made it possible.

Your baby’s brain is developing rapidly and his taste buds and inner ears are now fully developed. He can taste what you eat in the amniotic fluid he swallows. His sense of  touch has also developed, as he feels around and plays with your umbilical cord.

Your little nugget is developing white blood cells, which will fight off infections and diseases.

As your baby piles on more fat, and gains more weight the skin will gradually become less translucent in the coming weeks.

How are you doing?

The end of this week marks the end of 6 months of your pregnancy. Your uterus is now about the size of a football, and is located above your belly button. The pressure from your uterus may have caused your belly button to pop. The linea nigra, a dark line that runs down the center of your tummy is most likely obvious by now.

For some mums, the breasts start leaking colostrum about this time. Colostrum is the first nutrient filled milk that your body produces during pregnancy, which your baby will feed on in the first few days of his life.

You may be suffering from temporary skin discolorations, stretchmarks, heartburn, dizzy spells, constipation, hemorrhoids, leg cramps and other common pregnancy niggles.

What should you do this week?

If you are already leaking colostrum, you can use breast pads to protect your clothing.

Anytime from now to 28 weeks, you will be offered a glucose test to check if you have gestational diabetes.

Increase your intake of calcium and magnesium food sources, like green leafy vegetables, cereals, dairy products, yogurt, nuts, oranges, etc.  They are good for the bones and may help relieve your aches and cramps.

It’s never too early to start baby shopping and getting your house ready for baby’s arrival, especially now that you still have some energy. It’s a good idea to do all energy-demanding things now before the third trimester with its troubles creeps up on you.

Finally, stay informed, healthy and inspired, by reading  Maternity Nest. Connect with other moms-to-be for moral support, by joining your Due Date Club in the The Nest.