3 Dimensional Evolution of Baby in Utero Development of the Fetus Video

That face! At 24 weeks pregnant, your baby's facial features are condign more than divers. At this rate, your picayune one volition exist ready for all those photos y'all'll snap after yous give birth!

Your Infant at Week 24

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She'south notwithstanding only a hair over 8 inches long and weighs just a pound and a half, but this calendar week your babe is starting to look much more like the cuddly cutie yous've been picturing in your listen's eye. Granted, her mini mug has some filling out to practise, as does the rest of her slender silhouette, but as she accumulates more muscle and fat, she'll plump up nicely.

And here'due south another benefit to her rounding out. Once your skinny-minnie puts on more subcutaneous fatty, her at present translucent skin will become opaque. In other words, you won't be able to run across right through her altogether suit to her organs, bones, and veins like yous could now…that is, if you had a window on your womb.

Is she ready for her close-upward? Nigh. She's still sporting bright white eyelashes, eyebrows, and hair, all of which take however to acquire paint. When they modify to brown, red, black or blonde, you'll have your very own cover girl.

And hither'south a breaking brain bulletin: If you were to mensurate your footling 1'south brain wave action you'd see that information technology'southward similar to that of a newborn infant. Wondering what that ways? Those brains cells have matured enough to develop conscious thought and, near probably, memory.

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

At a Glance

Bulking up

Your petty edible bean is putting on more and more weight, much of it coming from accumulating baby fat along with growing muscles, organs and basic.

Rock-a-good day, baby

Baby'due south auditory system is chop-chop advancing, which means if she frequently hears a certain song now she's probable to recognize it and feel calmed by information technology when she's built-in.

White-haired babe

Your babe is still sporting white eyelashes, eyebrows and hair, all of which accept yet to acquire paint.

24 weeks pregnant is how many months?

If you're 24 weeks significant, y'all're in calendar month 6 of your pregnancy. Only 3 months left to go! Still have questions? Here'south some more information on how weeks, months and trimesters are broken downward in pregnancy.

How big is my baby at 24 weeks?

Your baby is virtually 11½ inches long and weighs 1 pound, gaining steadily at a charge per unit of nigh 6 ounces per week. Much of that weight comes from growing organs, bones, muscle and accumulating infant fat.

Babe's face is formed

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

Will your baby take brown, blackness, blond or red hair — or something in between? Actually, right now her locks are white, since in that location'southward no pigment withal. The fat that volition be piled on nether baby'south skin is as well missing from the motion picture right at present.

Until those fat deposits are made, that very tender pare is still very transparent, which ways a close expect would let you lot see clear through to all the organs, bones and blood vessels. Fortunately, that run into-through await won't last much longer.

Fetal hearing

What'south been playing on your little rocker's stereo system these days? All kinds of sounds can exist heard by your baby in your womb: air exhaling from your lungs — deep jiff now — those gastric gurgles produced by your tummy and intestines, your voice and your partner's, which your babe will be able to recognize at birth, and even very loud sounds such every bit honking horns, barking dogs or a wailing fire truck.

Your Body at Week 24

week by week 24

Omphalos changes

If your former innie is at present an outie, welcome to the club. Almost every expectant mom's meaning navel pops at some point as that swelling uterus pushes on everything in its path.

Things should return to normal later on delivery, though your navel, and another parts of your body, might wait a bit, well, stretched. Just call back of it every bit i more than badge of award that simply moms get to wear.

Carpal tunnel syndrome

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

The uncomfortable tingling and numbness you lot find in your wrists and fingers is usually associated with work that requires repetitive motion, such as typing, but carpal tunnel strikes significant women for a different reason — though repetitive motion tin definitely contribute.

The swelling that's so common during pregnancy causes fluids to accrue in your lower extremities during the solar day, which are redistributed to the remainder of your body, including your hands, when you're lying downward — putting pressure on the nerve that runs through your wrist. That causes numbness, tingling, pain or a dull anguish in the fingers, hand or wrist.

Go relief by avoiding sleeping on your hands and propping your artillery up with a pillow at night. Shaking your hands and wrists might also assistance. Be sure, too, that if you are doing repetitive motions such as piano playing or typing, which tin can aggravate your symptoms, take frequent hand-stretching breaks.

If y'all're in a lot of pain, a wrist brace might exist just the ticket to condolement. Luckily, when the regular swelling of pregnancy stops after delivery, the carpal tunnel symptoms go away, too.

Soothing red, itchy palms

Sure, you lot'd heard that pregnancy comes with a diversity of symptoms, most of them not very pleasant — really, none of them very pleasant, unless you count fast-growing hair, nails and breasts. Merely maybe you didn't expect so many seemingly random symptoms — such as the red, itchy palms that have nothing to do with the amount of dishwashing you're doing. The ruby may spread, too, to the soles of your feet, though you're less likely to discover that once your feet become more than hard to see.

Though this is a relatively normal symptom, especially this far into pregnancy, be certain to mention it to your medico — there'southward a chance it could indicate a rare complication called cholestasis of pregnancy, though this is more common in the third trimester.

You lot can blame those pesky hormones for this one, as well — along with virtually all the other strange symptoms you'll take as the months become past, similar the metal gustation in your mouth, skin tags actualization out of nowhere, bigger feet, increased saliva and vision changes, to name a few.

Equally for getting the reddish out, in that location are no sure solutions...as well delivery. Until and then, avoid anything that makes the red redder, such as becoming overheated, taking long, hot baths or showers or wearing also-warm or too-tight gloves or socks.

Some women find 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 fifty-fifty try going on a dishwashing strike while yous're expecting — just tell your spouse information technology's doctor's orders!

Pregnancy Symptoms Week 24

Constipation

Lower abdominal achiness

Blurred vision

Migraines

Leg cramps

Swollen anxiety and ankles

Tips for You This Week

Get prepare for the glucose screening

Your doctor will give you the glucose screening betwixt 24 and 28 weeks. If your claret carbohydrate levels prove that yous take gestational diabetes — a temporary condition that appears during pregnancy — you'll likely have to modify your diet, monitor your blood sugar at dwelling house, and possibly increase your activeness levels.

While researchers aren't sure why some women get gestational diabetes while others don't, they practise know that you may be at an increased run a risk if you lot are overweight, are older, are significant with multiples, accept a higher level of abdominal fatty, or have a family history of diabetes.

Take shorter showers

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

Stick to short showers — which is skillful training for actual maternity — in warm, not hot, h2o, and apply a balmy cleanser. For very dry out pare, try a moisturizer or put a warm-mist humidifier in your room.

Encounter if a doula is right for you

Accept you considered hiring a doula to help with delivery and early baby care? A doula's duty is to be your head cheerleader during commitment. Unlike an OB/GYN or midwife, doulas practice non take medical grooming — instead, they're in that location to support you emotionally.

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

Do some meal prep

Your freezer is your friend; cook once and make full information technology many times over with nutritious leftovers.

Make a large tray of lasagna by layering defrosted frozen spinach or broccoli on acme of the pasta along with some shredded cheese, skilful-quality jarred tomato sauce and lean ground beef or turkey. Slice the leftovers into individual portions and then freeze to reheat and feast another day.

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

For the fridge, boil a dozen eggs at a fourth dimension: Brew one-half into egg salad for lunch today and tomorrow and go on the rest intact for snacks on the run — or snacks to keep you going while you brand dinner.

Cutting up enough fruit salad or veggies to proceed you happily and healthily munching for days. And instead of grilling one chicken breast for dinner, grill 4 or more than; the rest will make delicious sandwiches, salad toppings for dinner or fajita fillings in the days to come.

And by the way, you don't have to go it all alone. Make information technology a team endeavor and enlist the assistance of your partner if you have one, family, friends, neighbors and even other children if this isn't your first!

Ease the sting of hemorrhoids

Pregnancy can put a lot of pressure level on you — including on the veins in the rectal surface area, which tin can swell and burl. Hemorrhoids are extremely common when you're pregnant, but have some comfort (if you can get comfortable, that is) in the fact that they're perfectly harmless.

Go on information technology make clean down there by using warm h2o and white two-ply toilet newspaper after a bowel motility. Don't wipe besides difficult (that just makes it worse) or linger on the toilet. If TP is also harsh, switch to wipes (preferably those made with manifestly h2o or designed for sensitive skin) instead.

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

Non gaining enough weight?

Having trouble putting on enough pounds during pregnancy? Or are you gaining weight as well slowly? Inadequate weight proceeds can increase your risk of preterm delivery, having a low birth weight baby and other pregnancy issues.

So how petty is too picayune when it comes to pregnancy weight gain? That all depends.

When yous first got meaning, 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 full in your pregnancy, for instance, adjacent calendar week at 25 weeks pregnant you should have put on anywhere from 13 to 19 of those pounds.

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

Remember to floss

Want to increase your odds of delivering a full-term infant? Put your dental floss where your mouth is. Surprisingly, research links good dental health and oral hygiene with longer pregnancies. Sounds crazy — only it's true.

Something as simple as brushing your teeth at to the lowest degree twice a day and flossing regularly tin can reduce the risk of gingivitis — a common status in which your gums become inflamed, red and fifty-fifty begin to bleed.

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

Keep on peak of your teeth, and that sometime (untrue) wives' tale — the i that claims a woman loses a tooth with each pregnancy — can finally be put to residue.

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

What to Expect When You're Expecting, 5^thursday edition, Heidi Murkoff.

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