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Those kicks getting stronger, Mom? At 24 weeks, baby is developing more muscle and tone so their movements might feel more pronounced. Here’s what else is happening.
How Big is Baby?
Break out the ruler: Little one is about 1 foot long!
What’s New with Baby?
Gaining about 6 ounces a week, your little one just keeps growing. And while their lungs are fully formed, they’re now maturing to get ready for breathing (and crying!) outside the womb. If born right now, your baby is considered “viable,” meaning they could survive given the right expert medical support.
What’s New with Mom?
Your uterus is growing above your belly button now and it’s really crowding things in there, pushing your abdominal organs to different spaces. Keep the Tums handy—as the uterus pushes upward you might start to have more acid reflux (yes more), along with shortness of breath with increased activity. You might also notice a faster heart rate due to your increased blood volume.
Fun Fact
Weeks to months before your baby is born, your breasts may start to produce colostrum, a thick yellowish fluid rich in protein that nourishes the baby before mature milk comes in. This may result in some leaking, which is perfectly normal.
What You Need to Know About Preeclampsia and Eclampsia
Up to 8% of pregnant women will be diagnosed with preeclampsia, a complication that causes high blood pressure, protein in the urine and, sometimes, abnormalities involving the liver and platelets. Left untreated, preeclampsia can lead to serious complications for both Mom and baby—the condition can prevent the baby from getting enough blood and oxygen and can damage a mother’s organs. And in rare cases, unmanaged preeclampsia can progress to eclampsia, a much more serious condition involving seizures and organ damage that can be fatal.
But here’s the good news: Preeclampsia is often caught early and, with the right medical care, is usually managed just fine.
Preeclampsia typically develops after 20 weeks of pregnancy, often characterized by a sudden onset of high blood pressure. According to Dr. Shivani Patel, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist UT Southwestern Medical Center, other symptoms include “a general feeling of not feeling well, headaches, vision changes, swelling and pain in the upper abdomen similar to heartburn.”
Shivani Patel, M.D., is an associate professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at UT Southwestern Medical Center. She specializes in maternal-fetal consults and cares for women with high-risk pregnancies, babies with health issues that are detected in utero, and complications that arise during pregnancy itself.
Preeclampsia is most common in first pregnancies, and women diagnosed with preeclampsia in a previous pregnancy have about a 1 in 3 chance of developing it again. But there are many other risk factors. “Common ones include being over age 35, of African ancestry, or having medical conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure prior to pregnancy, or underlying medical problems such as kidney disease, or lupus,” says Patel.
If you’re diagnosed with preeclampsia, your doctor will likely recommend regular blood and urine testing, blood pressure monitoring and dietary changes. Sometimes, women need blood pressure medication, bed rest or hospitalization.
But this is just how to keep it in check. The only “cure” for preeclampsia is delivering the baby, so often, early delivery is recommended.
Postpartum, women with preeclampsia or eclampsia will need to have their blood pressure monitored closely and treated if it’s high. “They should see a healthcare provider within 3–10 days of discharge to ensure their blood pressures are controlled once out of the hospital,” says Patel.
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This blog is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute the provision of medical advice or professional services. This blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
The above article was written by DFWChild editor Amanda Collins Bernier with information provided by UT Southwestern Medical Center as part of their sponsored content.
