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24th week of pregnancy: what happens to the mother, to the baby, development, movements
The second trimester, the middle of which falls on the 24th week of pregnancy, is the quietest time for the expectant mother. Nothing really hurts, and the pleasant jolts of children’s legs have become familiar. At this time, all the thoughts of a woman are occupied with the unborn child and her health, she has little interest in the outside world. This is a natural process of protection from unnecessary stress, which should be understood by loved ones.
What happens to a woman’s body in the 24th week of pregnancy
A woman can be tormented by heaviness in the legs, discomfort in the stomach and bladder, back pain. There is a feeling of dryness in the eyes, as if sand had been poured in them, or forgetfulness and absent-mindedness appear.
In the 24th week of pregnancy, a woman feels good if she is healthy.
But such symptoms are not necessary at all. If a woman went in for sports before pregnancy or continues to do gymnastics for pregnant women, there may be no discomfort at all.
The uterus continues to rise, it is already about 3 cm above the navel, the abdomen is increasing every day. It’s time to start wearing a bandage, and to prevent stretch marks, moisturize your skin daily.
With the threat of premature birth, if there was spotting or a past experience of an interrupted pregnancy, it is better to refuse sex at this time.
When visiting a doctor between the 24th and 28th weeks, the woman will have a blood glucose tolerance test. For the normal course of pregnancy, an important indicator is the level of glucose in the blood. During this period, a woman’s load on the pancreas increases, and malfunctions may occur in her work. Blood sugar rises, which requires dietary changes or even medical supervision.
If you do not pay enough attention to the increase in blood sugar during pregnancy, this will affect the development of the fetus. He will grow up to be quite large, which will lead to a difficult birth.
In addition, the baby will get used to the increased consumption of glucose, and after birth, he will be in a state of hypoglycemia. The sugar level in breast milk and infant formula, which he will be fed, is significantly lower than it receives during intrauterine development.
Fetal development at the 24th week, photo of mom’s tummy
The child at this time weighs about 600 g, in a week he should become heavier by another 100 grams, the formation of subcutaneous tissue continues. The woman feels the movement inside the abdomen more strongly and is already getting used to it.
What happens to the baby at the 24th week can be seen in the photo of the mother’s belly
The child sleeps most of the day, the rest of the time – from 4 to 8 hours a day – he actively moves. He already distinguishes light from dark and can feel the emotions of mommy. A woman’s positive emotions are accompanied by the production of special hormones that are passed on to the child, and he feels pleasure. The same thing happens with the negative. A strong emotional bond is maintained throughout pregnancy and throughout the baby’s first year.
The fetus completes the formation of the lungs. The cells of the alveoli begin to synthesize a surfactant, which prevents the pulmonary vesicles from sticking together.
Melanin is produced in the baby’s skin, it loses its transparency, and the iris of the eyes acquires color. The baby already independently determines his position in space, thanks to the fact that he has developed an inner ear that controls balance.
A pregnant woman’s eating habits often change. She wants some certain products, on the contrary, from some of her favorite dishes, on the contrary, it becomes bad. Taste whims are especially noticeable in the second trimester, when the child begins to feel the taste of the food eaten by mom. The correct diet for a woman during pregnancy is very important for the healthy development of the fetus.
Interestingly, when the mother is undernourished, the fetus turns on a gene that is responsible for the maximum absorption of nutrients. After birth, a child with such a gene may be at risk of obesity
But it rarely occurs to anyone to diet during pregnancy. Problems most often arise from a lack of certain vitamins, minerals, or plant fiber.
Lean meat, fish, dairy products, fruits, vegetables, various cereals and baked goods made from whole grain flour are good for the mom-to-be. Harmful are chocolate, coffee, soda, mushrooms, fruits and vegetables that can cause allergies, sweet white flour pastries, everything smoked, salty, spicy and fatty. Spice lovers need to give up their addictions for a while.
What should pay attention to?
Heaviness in the legs appears due to sprains. To eliminate unpleasant symptoms, shoes with orthopedic insoles are selected. A woman needs to make sure that her clothes and shoes are comfortable.
Usually, until the 30th week, the fetus takes the correct position in the uterus, head down. One of the reasons that he will not be able to turn in the right direction is the too tight clothes of the future mom.
At this time, it is advisable to sleep only on your side, placing pillows for convenience. If you are unable to fall asleep and have insomnia, your doctor may recommend safe sedatives such as glycine. But it is better not to take pills on your own.
The 24th week is a favorable time to observe good changes, and sometimes not very good ones, when timely medical assistance will correct the situation for the better. It is important to remember that the child can already feel the emotions of his mother, and relatives should not upset her, but help her whenever possible.
What happens when you get pregnant with twins?
The 6th month is coming to an end. Fruits weigh 654 g each, height ─ 29,4. With a singleton ─ weight – 732 g, height ─ 31. Fruits still have little subcutaneous fat, so their skin is all in folds, and their bellies are like balls.
Facial features acquire clear contours, eyes and lips are formed. The hairline continues to grow, milk teeth are formed deep under the gums. The eyelids have grown and children may blink. A woman is more acutely aware of unpleasant phenomena – heartburn, constipation, legs begin to swell.