24th Week Growth...

How your baby's growing: Your baby's growing steadily, gaining about a quarter of a pound since last week, when she was just over a pound. Since she's almost a foot long, that makes a pretty lean figure, but her body is filling out proportionally and she'll soon put on more baby fat. Your baby's skin is thin, translucent, and wrinkled, her brain is growing rapidly, and her taste buds are developing. Her lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" and cells that produce surfactant, a substance that helps the air sacs inflate easily.Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.

The unsung hero of the fetal support system is the umbilical cord, which forms a vital link between the fetus and the placenta. The cord contains two arteries and one large vein; by birth, it may measure up to four feet long. Every 30 seconds, nutrients and oxygen-rich blood are transported from the placenta to the fetus via the single vein, then back again to the placenta through the two arteries. This ingenious method ensures a constant supply of filtered air and nutrients, and keeps the mother's blood separate from the baby's.

This week Baby prepares herself for a big, lusty cry upon arrival. Her lungs are beginning to produce surfactant, a wetting agent that will help her breathe correctly and will keep her tiny lungs from collapsing or sticking together. Blood vessels and air sacs are developing in the lungs and will eventually exchange oxygen and circulate it to all parts of Baby's body.Baby still has a lot of growing to do. At 1.2 pounds and eight to nine inches, she should add at least another five pounds before birth for optimum health.This week, the following developments may occur:The inner ear, which controls balance, will become fully formed. This means that your baby may be able to tell when she is upside down or right side up while floating in the amniotic fluid. Baby will continue to explore her internal environment, flexing her fingers and touching her surroundings.

How your life's changing:
The top of your uterus is now an inch or so above your belly button, which means it's about the size of a soccer ball. With the skin on your abdomen and breasts stretching, you may feel a little itchy now and then. If your skin is dry, keeping it well moisturized may help. Also, your eyes may be sensitive to light and feel gritty and dry. This is a perfectly normal pregnancy symptom known as dry-eye. To ease your discomfort, use an artificial tears solution to add moisture.Most women will have a glucose screening test (also called a glucose challenge test or GCT) between 24 and 28 weeks. This test checks for gestational diabetes, a high-blood-sugar condition during pregnancy. Untreated, high blood sugar increases your risk for having a difficult vaginal delivery or needing a cesarean section because it causes your baby to grow overly fat, especially in his upper body. It also increases your baby's risk for complications like low blood sugar at birth. A positive result on your GCT test doesn't mean you have gestational diabetes, but it does mean that you should have the more involved glucose tolerance test (GTT) to find out.It's also a good idea to be aware of the signs of preterm labor. Contact your caregiver immediately if you notice an increase in vaginal discharge that is watery, mucus-like, or pink or blood-tinged; any vaginal bleeding or spotting; abdominal pain or menstrual-like cramping or more than four contractions in an hour; an increase in pelvic pressure; or low back pain that you haven't had before.

Years ago, it was believed that pregnant women shouldn't exercise for fear of harming the baby. But today, we know the opposite is true. Light to moderate exercise can aid circulation and help the fetus get the oxygen it needs. In addition, a regular exercise regime helps pregnant moms sleep better and minimizes the risk of varicose veins, back strain, and other common symptoms of mid to late pregnancy.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists offers a number of guidelines for prenatal exercise, including:
*Exercise at least three times a week.
*Don't overdo it--stop as soon as you feel fatigued.
*Don't exercise on your back after the first trimester (the growing weight may restrict blood flow to the uterus).
*Eat a balanced pregnancy diet, including plenty of carbohydrates.

As your baby continues to grow, you may begin to notice heartburn, a burning sensation that can reach from the lower throat to the bottom of your breastbone. During pregnancy, heartburn is caused by both hormonal and physical changes in your body. The placenta produces a hormone that relaxes the valve dividing the esophagus from the stomach, allowing stomach acids to move up into the throat. At the same time, the growing baby can push stomach acid up into the esophagus as well. You can help ease heartburn by eating five or six small nutritious meals a day. Also try to avoid going to sleep right after eating.
This is about the first time that your doctor may recommend testing you for gestational diabetes, a temporary type of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy. Women with gestational diabetes tend to have babies of very high birth weight, which can lead to difficulties during labor In addition; gestational diabetes can lead to low blood sugar in the baby after birth. During the screening test, you'll drink a sugary solution and then have your blood drawn. If your blood sugar levels are abnormal, you'll have further tests. Gestational diabetes usually can be controlled with a special diet. Also, mothers who develop gestational diabetes with their first child are more likely to have the condition with subsequent pregnancies as well.