That face up! At 24 weeks pregnant, your baby's facial features are becoming more defined. At this rate, your little one will exist ready for all those photos you'll snap after you requite nascency!

Your Baby at Week 24

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She's all the same just a hair over eight inches long and weighs just a pound and a half, but this week your baby is starting to expect much more like the cuddly cutie you lot've been picturing in your heed's eye. Granted, her mini mug has some filling out to practice, as does the residuum of her slender silhouette, simply every bit she accumulates more musculus and fat, she'll plump upward nicely.

And here'due south another do good to her rounding out. Once your skinny-minnie puts on more subcutaneous fat, her at present translucent pare will become opaque. In other words, you lot won't be able to meet right through her birthday adapt to her organs, bones, and veins similar you could now…that is, if you had a window on your womb.

Is she gear up for her shut-up? Almost. She'due south withal sporting bright white eyelashes, eyebrows, and hair, all of which have yet to acquire pigment. When they modify to dark-brown, crimson, black or blonde, you'll have your very own cover girl.

And here's a breaking brain bulletin: If you were to measure your little one's encephalon wave activity you'd see that it's similar to that of a newborn infant. Wondering what that means? Those brains cells have matured enough to develop conscious idea and, most probably, retentivity.

Couple that with her amped upward auditory organization and information technology'due south no wonder that babies who hear certain musical pieces while in utero recognize — and are calmed — by that aforementioned music when they're born. So crank upwards the Beethoven, Beatles, or Black Eyed Peas…your babe's sure to get her groove on — at present and later!

At a Glance

Bulking up

Your little bean is putting on more than and more weight, much of information technology coming from accumulating baby fat forth with growing muscles, organs and bones.

Stone-a-goodbye, baby

Baby'south auditory system is rapidly advancing, which means if she frequently hears a certain vocal now she'southward likely to recognize information technology and feel calmed by it when she's born.

White-haired baby

Your baby is still sporting white eyelashes, eyebrows and hair, all of which have withal to acquire pigment.

24 weeks pregnant is how many months?

If y'all're 24 weeks significant, y'all're in month 6 of your pregnancy. Simply 3 months left to go! Notwithstanding have questions? Hither's some more than information on how weeks, months and trimesters are broken down in pregnancy.

How big is my baby at 24 weeks?

Your baby is almost eleven½ inches long and weighs ane pound, gaining steadily at a rate of about half-dozen ounces per week. Much of that weight comes from growing organs, bones, muscle and accumulating baby fatty.

Baby's face is formed

Wondering what (and who) your babe will look like? If you had a baby cam at 24 weeks significant, you'd almost be able to tell past now. That beautiful face, though still tiny, is almost fully formed, consummate with eyelashes, eyebrows and hair.

Volition your baby take brown, blackness, blond or red hair — or something in between? Actually, right now her locks are white, since there's no pigment yet. The fat that will be piled on under baby's pare is likewise missing from the picture correct now.

Until those fat deposits are made, that very tender peel is even so very transparent, which means a close look would let yous see clear through to all the organs, bones and blood vessels. Fortunately, that run across-through look won't last much longer.

Fetal hearing

What's been playing on your little rocker'southward stereo system these days? All kinds of sounds tin exist heard past your baby in your womb: air exhaling from your lungs — deep breath at present — those gastric gurgles produced past your stomach and intestines, your voice and your partner'south, which your baby will be able to recognize at birth, and fifty-fifty very loud sounds such as honking horns, barking dogs or a wailing fire truck.

Your Body at Calendar week 24

week by week 24

Navel changes

If your onetime innie is now an outie, welcome to the club. Almost every expectant mom's pregnant abdomen button pops at some point as that swelling uterus pushes on everything in its path.

Things should return to normal after commitment, though your umbilicus, and some other parts of your body, might look a fleck, well, stretched. Just think of it every bit ane more than bluecoat of award that simply moms get to wear.

Carpal tunnel syndrome

What other pregnancy woe is pushing your buttons when you're 24 weeks meaning? Well, probably your uncomfortably numb wrists and fingers. Chances are information technology could be carpal tunnel syndrome.

The uncomfortable tingling and numbness you notice in your wrists and fingers is usually associated with piece of work that requires repetitive movement, such as typing, but carpal tunnel strikes pregnant women for a different reason — though repetitive motility tin definitely contribute.

The swelling that's so common during pregnancy causes fluids to accumulate in your lower extremities during the 24-hour interval, which are redistributed to the rest of your body, including your hands, when you're lying down — putting pressure on the nerve that runs through your wrist. That causes numbness, tingling, pain or a dull ache in the fingers, mitt or wrist.

Get relief by avoiding sleeping on your hands and propping your arms upward with a pillow at dark. Shaking your hands and wrists might as well assistance. Exist sure, too, that if you are doing repetitive motions such as piano playing or typing, which can aggravate your symptoms, take frequent hand-stretching breaks.

If y'all're in a lot of pain, a wrist brace might be just the ticket to comfort. Luckily, when the regular swelling of pregnancy stops subsequently delivery, the carpal tunnel symptoms get away, likewise.

Soothing crimson, itchy palms

Sure, you'd heard that pregnancy comes with a diverseness of symptoms, nigh of them not very pleasant — actually, none of them very pleasant, unless you count fast-growing hair, nails and breasts. Just perhaps y'all didn't look then many seemingly random symptoms — such as the red, itchy palms that have zilch to do with the corporeality of dishwashing you're doing. The ruby may spread, too, to the soles of your anxiety, though y'all're less probable to notice that once your feet become more hard to encounter.

Though this is a relatively normal symptom, specially this far into pregnancy, exist certain to mention it to your doctor — at that place's a chance information technology could indicate a rare complexity chosen cholestasis of pregnancy, though this is more than common in the third trimester.

Yous tin blame those pesky hormones for this ane, also — along with nigh all the other strange symptoms y'all'll have as the months go by, like the metallic taste in your rima oris, skin tags actualization out of nowhere, bigger feet, increased saliva and vision changes, to proper noun a few.

Every bit for getting the cherry-red out, in that location are no sure solutions...also delivery. Until and then, avoid annihilation that makes the red redder, such as becoming overheated, taking long, hot baths or showers or wearing likewise-warm or likewise-tight gloves or socks.

Some women notice relief by soaking their hands and feet in cold water or applying an ice pack for a few minutes a couple times a day. You might even endeavour going on a dishwashing strike while you lot're expecting — just tell your spouse it'south md's orders!

Pregnancy Symptoms Week 24

Constipation

Constipated? Pregnancy hormones cause intestinal muscles to relax in order to keep nutrient in your digestive system longer, so you and your baby can absorb more than nutrients. Merely just considering it's for a skillful cause doesn't make it pleasant. Drink lots of h2o and juice to get things moving faster through your arrangement and soften your stool so it's easier to pass. Read More

Lower abdominal achiness

As your uterus continues to aggrandize, the ligaments that support it stretch, which may cause some pain. Occasional lower abdominal achiness is normal, but if the discomfort is accompanied by symptoms such as fever, chills or haemorrhage, see your practitioner. Read More

Blurred vision

Are your contact lenses bothering y'all lately — or is your vision sometimes blurry? Pregnancy hormones can decrease tear production, causing eye irritation, and increase fluid buildup in the eye, temporarily altering your vision. This should pass shortly after delivery, then don't become out and get whatever new eyeglass or contact-lens prescriptions while you're expecting. Read More

Migraines

If you find your headaches last for days, are severe and are sometimes accompanied by nausea or vision changes, they might exist migraines. Let your practitioner know and keep a journal of what you ate, where you were and what you were doing before you experienced each migraine then yous can pinpoint the triggers — and start to avoid them. Read More than

Leg cramps

When leg cramps kickoff to cramp your manner, try straightening your leg and gently flexing your ankle and toes up toward your shins several times. This tin can stop the spasm. Read More

Swollen feet and ankles

Don't exist alarmed if the swelling in your feet has caused you to "grow" out of your favorite shoes. Only do what you can to avoid letting fluid, which you're more probable to retain during pregnancy, pool in your legs — which means elevating your legs when you're sitting. Read More than

Tips for You This Week

Become fix for the glucose screening

Your md volition requite you the glucose screening betwixt 24 and 28 weeks. If your claret saccharide levels show that you have gestational diabetes — a temporary condition that appears during pregnancy — yous'll likely have to modify your nutrition, monitor your blood sugar at domicile, and maybe increment your activity levels.

While researchers aren't certain why some women get gestational diabetes while others don't, they practice know that you may be at an increased risk if y'all are overweight, are older, are pregnant with multiples, accept a higher level of abdominal fat, or accept a family history of diabetes.

Take shorter showers

Suffering from dry out skin during pregnancy? Taking besides many baths tin strip your skin of its moisture.

Stick to short showers — which is good training for actual maternity — in warm, not hot, water, and use a balmy cleanser. For very dry pare, try a moisturizer or put a warm-mist humidifier in your room.

See if a doula is correct for you

Have y'all considered hiring a doula to assist with delivery and early on baby intendance? A doula's duty is to be your head cheerleader during commitment. Unlike an OB/GYN or midwife, doulas do not have medical training — instead, they're there to back up you emotionally.

Some studies show that moms with doulas are less likely to require C-sections, inductions and hurting relief, while births may be shorter with a lower rate of complications.

Do some meal prep

Your freezer is your friend; cook in one case and fill information technology many times over with nutritious leftovers.

Brand a large tray of lasagna past layering defrosted frozen spinach or broccoli on top of the pasta along with some shredded cheese, good-quality jarred lycopersicon esculentum sauce and lean ground beef or turkey. Slice the leftovers into individual portions and and so freeze to reheat and feast some other day.

The same goes for soups and stews — make a vat and freeze into unmarried-serve containers, so reheat them later on as a nourishing snack. Ditto mini meat loaves and muffins.

For the fridge, eddy a dozen eggs at a time: Mash half into egg salad for dejeuner today and tomorrow and keep the rest intact for snacks on the run — or snacks to keep you lot going while y'all make dinner.

Cut up enough fruit salad or veggies to keep you happily and healthily munching for days. And instead of grilling one craven breast for dinner, grill iv or more; the remainder volition make delicious sandwiches, salad toppings for dinner or fajita fillings in the days to come up.

And past the way, y'all don't have to go it all alone. Make it a team effort and enlist the help of your partner if you have one, family, friends, neighbors and fifty-fifty other children if this isn't your first!

Ease the sting of hemorrhoids

Pregnancy tin put a lot of force per unit area on you — including on the veins in the rectal area, which can corking and bulge. Hemorrhoids are extremely common when y'all're pregnant, but accept some condolement (if you tin go comfy, that is) in the fact that they're perfectly harmless.

Keep it clean down there by using warm water and white two-ply toilet paper after a bowel movement. Don't wipe too difficult (that simply makes it worse) or linger on the toilet. If TP is too harsh, switch to wipes (preferably those made with evidently water or designed for sensitive pare) instead.

To ease the discomfort, effort soaking in a warm (not hot) bath.

Non gaining enough weight?

Having problem putting on enough pounds during pregnancy? Or are yous gaining weight too slowly? Inadequate weight gain tin can increment your hazard of preterm commitment, having a low birth weight baby and other pregnancy issues.

And then how picayune is too niggling when information technology comes to pregnancy weight gain? That all depends.

When you first got significant, your practitioner probably gave you a range to aim for based on several factors, including what your pre-pregnancy weight was.

If you've been told to proceeds the standard 25-to-35-pound total in your pregnancy, for case, next week at 25 weeks pregnant y'all should take put on anywhere from thirteen to xix of those pounds.

If you're falling brusk, you'll want to boot your weight-proceeds efforts into higher gear. Talk to your doctor or midwife for some advice.

Call back to floss

Desire to increase your odds of delivering a total-term infant? Put your dental floss where your mouth is. Surprisingly, research links good dental wellness and oral hygiene with longer pregnancies. Sounds crazy — but information technology'south true.

Something as simple as brushing your teeth at to the lowest degree twice a twenty-four hour period and flossing regularly can reduce the chance of gingivitis — a common status in which your gums go inflamed, red and even begin to bleed.

Untreated gingivitis (that's where the regular dental checkups come in) tin can progress to periodontitis — a more serious infection of the teeth — which has been linked to premature birth and even an increased risk of preeclampsia.

Go on on top of your teeth, and that erstwhile (untrue) wives' tale — the one that claims a adult female loses a molar with each pregnancy — can finally be put to rest.

From the What to Expect editorial squad and Heidi Murkoff, author ofWhat to Expect When You're Expecting. What to Await follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected wellness organizations. Learn how we continue our content accurate and upwardly-to-engagement by reading our medical review and editorial policy.

  • What to Expect When You're Expecting, fiveth edition, Heidi Murkoff.
  • WhatToExpect.com, When Your Baby Can Hear in the Womb, June 2021.
  • WhatToExpect.com, Sore and Bleeding Gums During Pregnancy, Oct 2020.
  • WhatToExpect.com, Hemorrhoids During Pregnancy, October 2020.
  • WhatToExpect.com, What Is a Doula and Should Yous Hire One for Your Infant'south Nascency?, May 2021.
  • WhatToExpect.com, Glucose Screening and Glucose Tolerance Examination, March 2021.
  • WhatToExpect.com, How Does Gestational Diabetes (GD) Impact Your Pregnancy and Baby?, December 2020.
  • Mayo Clinic, Fetal Evolution: The 2nd Trimester, June 2020.
  • National Institutes of Wellness, National Library of Medicine, Fetal Development, June 2021.
  • American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, July 2016.
  • American University of Family Physicians, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, September 2020.
  • American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, Palmar Erythema, December 2007.
  • National Institutes of Wellness, National Library of Medicine, Genetics Dwelling house Reference, Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy, August 2020.
  • Journal of Electric current Ophthalmology, Ocular Changes in Pregnancy, September 2018.
  • Mayo Clinic, Migraine, July 2021.
  • American Higher of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Gestational Diabetes, December 2020.
  • National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, Risk Factors for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in a Sample of Pregnant Women Diagnosed with the Disease, November 2015.
  • National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, Glucose Screening Tests During Pregnancy, June 2021.
  • American Higher of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Travel During Pregnancy, August 2020.
  • National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, Continuous Support for Women During Childbirth, Oct 2012.
  • DONA International, What Is a Doula?, 2021.
  • Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association, Certified Labor Doula, 2021.
  • American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Nutrition During Pregnancy, March 2021.
  • National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, Eating Right During Pregnancy, June 2021.
  • Food and Drug Administration, What You Need to Know Well-nigh Egg Safe, March 2021.
  • National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, Poly peptide in Diet, June 2021.
  • American Dental Clan, Pregnancy, May 2021.
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Weight Gain During Pregnancy, May 2021.
  • American Higher of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Weight Gain During Pregnancy, 2020.

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