24 Weeks Pregnant
Here's what's happening during Week 24 of your pregnancy:
Your Growing Baby
The fetus develops waking/sleeping patterns. Real hair (not lanugo) begins to grow on the head. Length: about 12 inches; weight: 1 ¼ pounds. Fetus fact: If born now, your baby would have about a 50 percent chance of surviving.
Your baby's skin becomes less translucent as pigment is deposited, and it looks wrinkly because her body is making her skin more quickly than it makes the fat to pad underneath it. Your baby's unique hand- and footprints are forming. You may feel jumps as she has bouts of hiccups. In fact, it may seem like the baby is in perpetual motion. Some babies now kick in response to sounds and touch from outside the womb. Encourage your partner to talk to the baby, and see if she kicks in response!
Your Growing Belly
Your uterus is about 1 1/2 to 2 inches above your belly button, and your bump is definitely apparent and hard to disguise!
You may be suffering from heartburn, muscle aches, sore feet, fatigue, and dizziness. Call your care provider if you feel dizzy often or if you faint; it may be a sign of anemia. Dizziness if often caused by low blood sugar or by standing up too fast. Rise slowly, and eat regularly.
Tips & To-Do's
Old Wives Vs. Science
Folk wisdom or science? if you suffer from heartburn during pregnancy, your baby is likely to be born with a full head of hair. Answer: Science “Folksy” sounding but true. Researchers at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore found that when pregnant women reported moderate heartburn, they had hairy newborns 82 percent of the time; the majority of heartburn-free women gave birth to bald babies. Find out how much of the pregnancy advice you receive is backed by research, and how much is mere folk wisdom >>
Things to think about this week
Start shopping for baby furniture and nursery accessories. (Leave painting and furniture-refinishing to others; fumes can pose a hazard.) Check out our annual Buyer's Guide for top gear picks >>
