Useful tips about the 24th week of pregnancy

The 24th week of pregnancy is the sixth obstetric month.
If you look at the pregnancy calendar -> pregnancy by week, then 162-168 days have passed since conception. More than half of the pregnancy has already passed, and the changes that have overtaken the body are visible very clearly. The 24th week of pregnancy is a period when you can enjoy your position, because everyone around you is already noticing this, but you can still feel great. Toxicosis, which torments many at the beginning of pregnancy, has passed, and the difficult period of ending pregnancy has not yet arrived.

Of course, not everyone can be in excellent condition; during this period, many complain of fatigue in the limbs and back, because women still have to work at 24 weeks of pregnancy. Also, frequent trips to the toilet can interfere with your previous life, because you need a ladies' room nearby. A growing belly pushes the stomach more and more, this can cause heartburn, which will last until the end of the term. The only thing that can alleviate the condition a little is proper nutrition in small quantities.

Changes accompanying the 24th week of pregnancy

The 24th week of pregnancy is marked by a significantly larger belly, although this does not prevent the woman from leading her usual rhythm of life. But the expectant mother needs some time to get used to the child growing inside her. You should stand up, sit down, and walk with caution.

The future woman's gait changes, and all movements are smooth, somewhat slow. And this is normal, since at 23-24 weeks of gestation a sharp weight gain is observed. The center of gravity of the body, as well as the angle of inclination of the pelvis, also changes, shifting somewhat, thereby forcing the woman to move slightly differently.

Features of fetal development at 24 weeks of pregnancy

By this time, the mother’s tummy is quite crowded, and the baby at 24 weeks of pregnancy can no longer perform acrobatic somersaults as before. But his activity does not decrease. The body of the unborn child is improving. All of its systems and organs are actively working.

• The bronchial tree is fully formed. The fetal lungs are covered with a special film that will prevent them from drying out during breathing.
• A baby at 24 weeks of pregnancy continues to accumulate subcutaneous fat, which is also a temperature regulator, helping to maintain a high body temperature for the baby.
• The baby's brain is becoming more and more developed. During this period of pregnancy, convolutions and grooves are formed.
• The child's muscle mass also increases.
• The hairs on the baby's head continue to grow.
• By the end of the 6th month of pregnancy, your baby’s sebaceous and sweat glands are fully functioning independently.
• Your baby's face has already acquired those features that will not change until the birth itself. This means that outwardly the baby at 24 weeks of pregnancy looks exactly the same as you will see him for the first time after birth.

Fetus at 24 weeks of gestation

What happens to the baby at 24 weeks of pregnancy? This is already a small man, his appearance has been formed, all internal organs have completed their development, and now it’s time for reflexes. The baby already feels everything, the taste that comes to him from the food eaten by his mother, joy, anxiety, light, darkness. Already at 24 weeks of pregnancy, the baby inside can be awake for about 4-6 hours a day, and this can happen when the mother is sleeping. Its tremors can already be clearly felt, they can even be seen by those around you with the naked eye. With his movement, he can often show his dissatisfaction, for example, his mother’s position is uncomfortable for him or he is hungry. It is worth listening to the tremors and recognizing the secret messages of the unborn child.

Possible dangers at 24 weeks of pregnancy

The number of contractions of the baby’s heart at this stage can be 180 beats/min. Due to the baby's excessive activity, there is a risk of hypoxia. This is a serious and dangerous condition that can impair a child's growth and development.

If the mother has previously suffered injuries or has chronic diseases, there is a risk of spontaneous miscarriage. Main symptoms: spotting, bloody discharge, leakage of amniotic fluid. Cramping sensations may occur.

What complications can there be at 24 weeks:

• hypertonicity of the uterus;
• threat of abortion;
• metabolic syndrome;
• inflammation of the bladder (cystitis);
• haemorrhoids;
• diabetes;
• varicose veins on the legs and hips;
• placental abruption;
• frozen pregnancy.

Be attentive to changes in the nature of discharge. The appearance of an unpleasant specific odor, cheesy consistency, strange shades, pus or other impurities may indicate the development of an inflammatory process inside.

It is important not to forget about physical development

Laboratory tests and examination at 24 weeks of pregnancy

1. If a woman did not undergo a scheduled examination by the gynecologist observing her at 22-23 weeks, it is required at 24 weeks.
2. The 2nd planned ultrasound will show whether or not the fetus has defects and abnormalities in growth and development, and if the doctor has certain suspicions, he will refer the woman for genetic screening.
3. During the examination, the doctor compares the degree of development of the fetus and its size accepted at this stage of pregnancy.
4. The baby’s heartbeat is also listened to – the rate of beats per minute should be 180.
5. They conduct a study of the condition of the amniotic fluid itself and the general condition of the placenta.
6. They also take a set of measurements of the pregnant woman - her weight and abdominal volume, measure the height of the uterine fundus, and take blood and urine for examination.

Possible risks at 24 weeks of pregnancy

At the 24th week of pregnancy, some women may be concerned about late toxicosis - gestosis.
At the same time, the limbs swell, the heartbeat quickens, there is an increase in blood pressure and a headache. The risks of uterine hypertonicity, varicose veins, and the development of diabetes mellitus in pregnant women cannot be excluded, since insulin release is especially active now. In particular, those who have diabetics in their family should pay attention to this. In case of increased thirst, frequent urination or itchy skin, you should definitely consult a doctor. This may indicate that the fetus is overweight. At the end of the second trimester, fetal hypoxia may occur. This condition is accompanied by an increase in the child’s motor activity and an increase in his heart rate of more than 180 beats per minute. Hypoxia leads to impaired growth and development of the baby. The threat of miscarriage develops against the background of chronic diseases of the expectant mother or injuries during pregnancy. The appearance of discharge mixed with blood can be a sign of placental abruption and even termination of pregnancy.

A change in the nature of vaginal discharge: a yellowish-green color, an admixture of blood or pus, an unpleasant odor indicate a sexually transmitted infection, the formation of cervical erosion, and the threat of miscarriage. If alarming symptoms are detected, you should contact an obstetrician-gynecologist.

Note to moms

The 24th week of pregnancy is the period when many pregnant women experience depression. The body has taken on big changes, the appearance has changed, and many people panic because they are afraid of gaining weight. Many things begin to irritate you, you want culinary delights, but you shouldn’t eat your depression with them.

• It is imperative to adhere to proper nutrition and its regimen, because constant meals in large quantities, especially late in the day, lead to excess weight gain, which will be difficult to get rid of later. And during pregnancy there is no need for excess weight.
• It is imperative that at the 24th week of pregnancy and after its end, the diet contains vegetables, fruits, meat, fish, dairy and fermented milk products, and cereals. A balanced diet will help your baby stay fit and develop well.
• Normal weight gain per week can be monitored independently using purchased electronic scales. It should be no more than 500 g in 7 days. Otherwise, you may be overweight, which you will have to fight with later.

Discharge at 24 weeks of pregnancy

Normally, at week 24, the discharge should be light, without foreign inclusions, in small quantities and without aroma. The infection can lead to the appearance of leucorrhoea with foam, in the form of cottage cheese, and also having a different color - yellow, gray, greenish, brown.

This phenomenon indicates the development of a pathology that needs to be treated. It is not recommended to refuse the therapy prescribed by the doctor - the progression of the disease can negatively affect the child’s health.

The appearance of leucorrhoea in a large volume, which is colorless and resembles water in consistency, may indicate rupture of the amniotic membrane and leakage of water. In this case, you need to contact a gynecologist to find out the exact cause of this phenomenon.

Bloody discharge with or without pain may indicate the onset of premature labor or placental abruption - in this case, you need to call an ambulance. Women who have a low-lying placenta should be especially careful about their well-being.

Development before birth

Every day it becomes clearer that inside there is a little person who has his own demands, wants something or is opposed to certain things. Therefore, it is worth listening to your feelings at 24 weeks of pregnancy, and learning to understand the language of the baby in the womb. After all, his movements are not always random movements in the water. This probably says something. From this period, you can establish a connection through the mother’s tummy, stroking the baby, especially when certain parts of it stick out. He feels everything completely and will understand the care and affection that his parents want to convey to him.

Thus, you can calm a very active baby by placing your hands on the stomach and stroking it a little. The child will calm down and fall asleep from the pleasant sensations. It is imperative that the baby’s father participate in this process every day and also talk to him.

A child’s memory is so unique that the voices that he hears quite often in the womb are remembered even after birth. Therefore, in the presence of mom and dad, the newborn child will feel protected. By the same principle, it is necessary to include a variety of rhythmic music for your child, preferably classical. You will notice that he will move to her beat.

It is worth including reading a good fairy tale into your daily routine. If you don’t have time, then you can allow yourself to turn on audiobooks, of which there are now a lot on the Internet. All these activities will help develop brain activity, so that soon the child’s mind will be the same as that of a newborn.

Why do you need an ultrasound at 24 weeks of pregnancy?

Ultrasound 24 weeks of pregnancy video can tell the doctor a lot about the development of the baby and the condition of the mother. An ultrasound scan examines the internal organs of the fetus, listens to the heart, and measures the baby’s growth. The doctor also evaluates the condition of the uterus and placenta, the amount and nature of amniotic fluid.

By the way, a wonderful gift for future parents would be a photo of the baby taken on an ultrasound scan at 24 weeks of pregnancy. You yourself can ask the doctor to take a photo of the fetus at 24 weeks of pregnancy.

Harbingers of childbirth

As at any time, at 24 weeks of pregnancy there is a risk of premature birth. A number of reasons may contribute to this. For example, leakage of amniotic fluid can be a serious warning sign. The bubble can burst so that all the water comes out, and then, unfortunately, the pregnancy cannot be saved, but it can leak out little by little, and then there is a chance that the baby will be born full-term, but for this you will need to do everything: it is under the strict supervision of doctors in the hospital , at rest, always lying down. This is the only way to save the pregnancy and reach a certain period of fetal viability. After all, if a baby is born at this stage, the chances that he will survive are almost negligible. The cause of this situation of water leakage at 24 weeks of pregnancy can be sexually transmitted infections. That is why it is worth giving importance to this important factor, as mentioned above.

Tests at 24 weeks of pregnancy

There are no mandatory tests during this period; they may only be required as prescribed by the attending physician. The reasons may be: poor health of the pregnant woman, diabetes mellitus or a history of any illnesses. Taking blood and urine for a general analysis is a planned procedure that a woman performs regularly. Thus, you can find out the level of red and white blood cells, the presence of protein, etc.

Your blood sugar may be elevated if you are at risk for diabetes. This is a dangerous and complex disease that can bring many complications during gestation. Monitor your well-being and take clinical tests in a timely manner!

Ultrasound

A mandatory ultrasound examination was scheduled and completed two weeks earlier - at 22 weeks. At 24 weeks, the procedure can be prescribed only if the pregnant woman registered late or for some reason missed a scheduled examination.

During the ultrasound diagnostic procedure you can hear the baby's heart beating

A more serious reason: suspicion of malformations of the child, chromosomal abnormalities (can lead to the development of Down syndrome). The doctor evaluates the child’s parameters and their compliance with the current gestational age.