Week 24
Second Trimester

What happens to me?

Since premature labor is potentially dangerous to you and a baby who is not fully developed, it is important to recognize the signs of labor. Premature labor is actually more common in the summer months. This may be caused by dehydration in some women, so during the summer make sure you are drinking plenty of water. If you experience any of the following symptoms call your doctor immediately:

• Contractions or cramps, more than five in one hour
• Bright red blood from your vagina
• Swelling or puffiness of the face or hands
• Pain during urination (possible urinary tract, bladder or kidney infection)
• Sharp or prolonged pain in your stomach (pre-eclampsia signs)
• Acute or continuous vomiting (pre-eclampsia signs)
• Sudden gush of clear, watery fluid from your vagina
• Low, dull backache
• Intense pelvic pressure

How much will I be showing?

You may feel clumsy as your center of gravity has shifted. Your uterus extends about 1-½ inches from your belly button and you will have a rounded appearance. If it has not happened yet, your bellybutton pops out, but should return to normal shortly after birth.

What happens to baby?

The baby is almost completely formed now and is beginning to deposit fat on its body. The purpose of this fat is to retain body heat since newborns are unable to regulate their body temperature at first.

If the baby is born around this time, it will have a good chance of survival (about 85%) if it receives special care. The baby would have to be in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), probably for many weeks or even months. Generally, the baby ends up staying in the NICU until just around its original due date.

Lung development is the major concern with premature babies. If pre-term labor is detected early enough, the mother can be given a steroid shot that can speed up lung development.

The baby’s hearing is well established, and it can make out a distorted version of your voice, the beating of your heart, and your stomach rumblings. Loud noises often heard in-utero, such as the barking of a dog or the roar of a vacuum cleaner, should not faze the child when it hears them outside the womb. Numerous studies seem to indicate that the unborn prefer classical music.

How big is the baby?

The baby weighs approximately 1 pound 5 ounces and is almost 9 inches long.

Tip of the Week

Keep consumption of sodium to 3,000 mg or less per day. This may help you reduce fluid retention.

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