Week 24 Pregnancy: Fetal Movement & The Bump

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Congratulations! You are now in week 24 of your pregnancy — 22 weeks from conception.

Week 24 Pregnancy: The Bump

At 24 weeks, your little one has reached a crown-to-heel length of 11.2 – 12 inches. She weighs about 1 lb, 10 ounces (3). That puts your baby at about the same length as an ear of corn!

The bump is growing, too! Your uterus is now at the height of about 1 1/2 to 2 inches above your belly button. And, the fundal measurement is almost 10 inches from the pubic symphysis to your naval.

Week 24 Pregnancy: Fetal Movement

Anterior Placenta

Your ability to feel fetal movement may depend on the position of your placenta. The placenta is typically located at the top of the uterus. An anterior placenta is located at the front of the uterus. If you have an anterior placenta, most of the fetal movement–your baby’s kicks and punches–may be hidden behind the placenta (5). In this case, it may take a little longer for you to be able to feel baby’s first movements.

Home Doppler

When there’s concern about fetal movement, home doppler units have become a popular way to check baby’s heartbeat. However, these are not recommended as a tool to self-monitor the health of your baby. If you have any concerns about fetal movement, it’s best to reach out to your healthcare provider. They can perform a complete assessment and are best qualified to interpret your baby’s heart beat.

Week 24 Pregnancy: Baby’s Development

Week 24 is full of exciting changes for your little one, including:

Alveoli are beginning to form in the lungs (3)
Respiratory movements are beginning to occur
The hair on baby’s head is growing long, and eyebrows & eyelashes have formed
Baby has a reflex hand grip (grasp reflex)

Week 24 Pregnancy: Symptoms

Swelling

Fun fact: 75% of all pregnant women experience swollen fingers, ankles, and feet (1). This swelling is due to increases in blood and fluid volume during pregnancy. If swelling is a problem for you, try some of the following tips:

Avoid standing for long periods of time
Wear supportive tights or prescription compression stockings
Eat foods high in potassium, like raisins and bananas
Flex your feet and ankles regularly when sitting

Check back in soon to learn about all about week 25 of your pregnancy!

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References:

(1) Glade, B.C., Schuler, J. (2011). Your Pregnancy Week by Week, 7th edition. First Da Capo Press.

(2) The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2010). Your Pregnancy and Childbirth Month to Month, 5th edition.

(3) Ladewig, P.A., London, M.L., Davidson, M.R. (2006). Contemporary Maternal-Newborn Nursing Care, 6th edition. Pearson Prentice Hall. Upper Saddle River, NJ.

(4) Retrieved at http://parentingpatch.com/how-big-is-your-baby-week-week-food-comparisons/

(5) Retrieved at http://spinningbabies.com/learn-more/baby-positions/anterior-placenta/