24 weeks pregnant

The beginning of the 24th week is also counted as the 6th month of pregnancy or the last month of the second quarter. Gosh! Just thinking that your baby is 15 weeks away, what a thrill! But take a deep breath and try to relax.

Whatever the timing you like to do, the important thing is that with the growth of your baby, your belly is no longer a secret to anyone else. Welcome to temporary preferential service.

Continue to caress your belly, singing and telling stories, that inside a small being feels comfortable listening to a sound that is already familiar. Does your baby already have a name? The preparations outside and inside continue and the details are being resolved.

Keep reading about what changes in your baby this week, the symptoms you should have, the care and attention you need to have and other issues related to pregnancy.

 

Baby development

To have a comparison of the size of your 24-week-old baby, imagine a corn cob from 28 cm to 32 cm, weighing from 500g to 600g, varying according to the baby’s genetics and other factors.

The control over the muscles and the sense of balance increase and he moves and chooses the most comfortable position, taking advantage of the space he still has, as in the coming weeks it will become tighter and more difficult to move as before.

The lungs are formed and the practice of breathing movements begins. The surfactant liquid is produced, a substance that decreases the surface tension of the alveoli, facilitating breathing.

The red and wrinkled skin gains a layer of fat underneath, to protect it from the cold when it is born. The eyes are complete with lashes and eyelids.

 

What happens to mom

Pains in the back and lower abdomen are the symptoms that bother this time. The baby’s weight, compressing the body’s organs, increases the need to urinate and makes it difficult to breathe.

The uterus expands and is 3 cm to 5 cm above the navel. Stretching the skin favors the appearance of reddish streaks in regions such as the belly, breasts, butt and thighs.

A heavy belly and constant trips to the bathroom result in insomnia, which becomes another symptom of pregnancy, leaving you more tired. Cramps should also appear.

 

Care that should be taken at this stage

The use of moisturizing creams all over the body, with the exception of the nipples, avoids or alleviates the problem with stretch marks, in addition to keeping the skin more hydrated, I tend to get more dry in pregnancy.

With the sensitivity to certain components and smells, it is necessary to pay attention to which aesthetic products are recommended for pregnant women. Camphor, lead and urea should be avoided, as they are toxic. Stronger smells can bring nausea. Give preference to products with vitamin E.

Have you talked to your boss or the HR department about your maternity leave? It is best to have everything organized well before the expected date of delivery, mainly due to the incidence of premature births that week. Some women work until the last day of the scheduled date, others prefer it for weeks before.

When choosing baby room furniture, pay attention to delivery times. The cheapest is not always the most guaranteed. Depending on where you buy it, even more so if you go online, you risk the baby being born before you get what you bought.

Prepare the bag to take to the maternity hospital. Until then, it is very likely that you will fix it again three or four times, yet prepare everything in advance, including baby’s stuff and yours.

Watch out for Braxton Hicks contractions and the signs of a premature birth. More severe pain and discharge should be reported to the doctor.

Keep hydrating and eating properly to reduce weight gain.

 

Preeclampsia and gestational diabetes

Two problems that can occur during pregnancy are gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia, which bring risks such as premature birth and mandatory caesarean section.

About 7% of pregnant women have gestational diabetes, which can develop into type 2 diabetes. For the baby, the risk of macrosomia, when the baby is born weighing more than 4 kg, hyperinsulinemia, increased insulin in the body and obesity .

In the case of pre-eclampsia, the baby is at risk of prematurity, respiratory distress syndrome and intrauterine growth retardation.

In case of a positive result, glucose levels should be controlled through a specific diet and practice of physical activities, and insulin treatment may be necessary.

To prevent pre-eclampsia, have healthy eating habits, with folic acid supplements, keep your weight under control and try to relax and rest.