Mom’s Tip of the Week 24
Did you know ... ?
At 24 weeks pregnant it’s time for a blood sugar test. By checking your blood glucose (sugar) levels sometime between now and your twenty-eighth week, your doctor can determine if you have gestational diabetes. Don’t worry; this condition is temporary, but if you have it, you’ll work with your doctor to treat it and ensure the well-being of you and your baby.
Your Baby at 24 Weeks Pregnant
What’s Happening in There
- Your baby is growing fast! At 24 weeks pregnant, she weighs in at about 1.3 pounds and measures almost eight and a half inches long. She has gained a third of a pound in one week! Much of that weight is added baby fat, which she’ll need to keep warm once she’s born. All of her organs, bones, and muscles are also continuing to grow.
- Her face is almost completely formed. She’s looking good, with hair on her head, symmetrical eyebrows, and long lashes.
- Her inner ear is completely developed. This means she can control her balance. If she’s upside down or flipping around, she might be doing it because it feels good.
- She’s starting to develop a schedule. You might notice that your baby is now regularly sleeping (tired from all that growing!).
- It’s a key time for your baby’s breathing development. At about the time you are 24 weeks pregnant, her lungs are beginning to create surfactant, an important substance that keeps the air sacs in her lungs from collapsing when she exhales. Even though your baby is receiving oxygen through the placenta, her lungs are getting ready for the world.
Baby Brain Waves
Your Baby’s Brain Is Developing
Your baby at 24 weeks is quite a little thinker: Her cerebral cortex is now starting to mature and form connections, which means that in the next trimester, she may be able to think consciously and even form early memories.
Pregnancy Health
Real Issues, Real Solutions
The issue: Globally, 42 percent of all pregnant women are iron-deficient, which can lead to anemia—and complications for you and your baby.
The solution: Know how you can work with your doctor to watch for anemia—and what to do if your iron levels are low.
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