Welcome to the 24th week of pregnancy! You have reached the week of viability! Modern medicine has made some amazing strides in caring for premature babies, and if the unthinkable happens and your baby is born at this stage there is a good chance that they will make it through. It is also the time to start looking for pre-term labor warning signs.
What you may be experiencing
Most moms-to-be worry about their weight gain at one time or another during their pregnancy, which is normal. The idea of putting on 25-30 pounds in less than a year can be discerning for many moms- but know it is all for a good cause. And you will lose a fair amount of that weight in the weeks following delivery. Here is a breakdown of where the added weight is coming from.
Fetus: 7.5 to 8.5 pounds
Amniotic fluid: 1 to 2 pounds
Placenta: 1 to 2 pounds
Increase of blood and fluid volume: 4 to 8 pounds
Uterine muscles: 2 to 3 pounds
Breasts: 2 to 3 pounds
Fat deposits around internal organs: 2 to 10 pounds
Your baby
Your baby will weigh in at around a pound and a half now, and is about 21 cm long from tip to tail. Inside your baby is now getting Rapid Eye Movement and beginning to dream- though we still don’t know what they could be dreaming about. Possibly playing with their toes, the sound of your heartbeat, or sucking their thumb.
Concerns or points of interest
Braxton Hicks contractions can confuse some moms into thinking that they are in pre-term labor. It is important to notice the warning signs since there is often things that can be done to stop impending labor at this stage. And call your doctor immediately!
Contractions that hurt or occur more than five times in one hour
Vaginal bleeding
A change in vaginal discharge- especially if its water
A change in babies movements
Severe headache
Abdominal pain
Pain when urinating