Pregnancy: Week - 24
How your baby is growing:
Your baby’s possibility of survival, (would he or she to be born this early), dramatically increases this week as the lungs develop branches and the cells that produce surfactant. A lack of surfactant is the main reason baby’s born so early have issues. This substance helps the lungs inflate and keeps them from sticking together, once it has begun production survival rates jump significantly. The bones of the inner ear have mostly completed this week enough so that your baby can now not only hear, but sense his or her direction the same way you can. On top of that rapid eye movement begins around week twenty-four which suggests that your baby has now begun to dream when he or she is asleep! And you may be thinking what do the babies dream about? While you may not find answer to this, scientists have established this. Your baby is probably a touch over a pound in weight and a little over a foot long. He or she is tall and skinny and the coming weeks will fatten him or her up considerably.
How your body is changing:
Your uterus has now reached the top of your navel and that’s one big belly! It’s hard not to look at that. While you’re looking you can try playing the “kicking game” with your new baby. When he or she kicks, gently push back on the same spot, many babies will begin to kick back at that spot, brain stimulation before birth.
It’s a wonderful thing.
Another downside of such a quickly growing baby and belly is indigestion. The vast nutritional needs of your little bean now cause your own digestion process to slow down, and that’s on top of your organs being squished and regularly kicked, the result is indigestion aka gas and bloating.
Attempts at relief:
- Try to avoid foods you notice aggravate your stomach, these foods often vary from person to person, but you’ll know them when you eat them that’s for certain.
- Eat small and frequent meals. During these meals chew thoroughly and don’t talk with your mouth full. *waggles her mom finger at you*
- Drink beverages from a cup and not a straw, don’t gulp them sip them. Try to avoid those beverages being carbonated.
- Sit up while you eat, skip those cookies in bed.
- Wear loose comfortable clothing especially around the mid-line.
If your indigestion becomes too horrific you can ask your doctor about over-the-counter relief. Some are safe, some are not. You should also contact your doctor if you experience extreme abdominal cramping or blood in your stool.
How your life is changing:
At this stage, you should know the signs of pre-term labor and begin to prepare for your labor such as preparing list of things to carry with you, planning for taking photos, identifying people you would want on the D-day.
You may also want to know:
Pre-term labor:
If you go into labor any time before your thirty-seventh week this is considered pre-term. Around twelve percent of all pregnancies end pre-term, though about three percent of those are intentionally induced for one reason or another.
The signs of pre-term labor are:
- An increase in vaginal discharge of any kind.
- A change in the type of that discharge — if it becomes watery, mucus-like, or bloody even if it's pink or barely tinged with blood.
- Any vaginal bleeding or spotting.
- Abdominal pain, menstrual-like cramping, or more than four contractions in one hour even if they aren’t painful.
- An increase in pressure in the pelvic area kind of like a feeling that your baby is pushing down.
- Lower back pain, especially if you didn't previously have back pain
Some of these symptoms can be confused with regular old pregnancy woes, such as lower back pain and increased vaginal discharge, but a phone call to the doctor never hurts.
If you are in pre-term labor, chances are, unless it is medically unsafe to you or your baby, an attempt to keep the baby inside of you for as long as possible will be made. You will be given a type of steroid to speed lung development in your baby and hospitalized for observation. After thirty-four weeks your baby’s chance of survival is nearly one hundred percent, going down as you get into earlier weeks.
Packing a hospital bag:
Because it’s better to be prepared it’s a good idea to have a hospital bag packed and placed somewhere out of the way but easy to get to, just in case. A significant other who is busy thinking, “Oh God! she’s in labor” does not pack a good bag on the fly before running to the hospital.
Things to include:
- Your identification, any insurance or health plan papers, and your birth plan, in case you created one, to use as reference.
- Pajamas, and socks or slippers. Almost all hospitals require you stay at least twenty –four hours with your baby for observation whether its born on time and healthy or not. After your birth you can change into your own pajamas if you like, and you likely will.
- Toiletries such as your tooth brush, a comb, deodorant. Keep in mind that many hospitals do supply shampoo and conditioner but you may still want to bring your own.
- A nursing bra, and fresh clothes to go home in. Don’t forget by the way that just because you have the baby, that doesn’t mean you’ll go back to your post-pregnant size like magic. You’ll still be about the size you were at say three months, plan accordingly.
- SNACKS! Unless you are one of very few, who trust hospital food? And if you are a snacker, three meals a day may not cut it..
- A journal or camera. You may not want your labor filmed, some women don’t but you will want photos of that adorable new baby.
- For baby you’ll want a going home outfit as well and a receiving blanket to keep him or her warm.