Welcome to week twenty four!
Even strangers may notice your growing bump and ask about your pregnancy. It is a good time to discuss with your partner how much family and friend involvement you would like at the time of the birth so that you can prepare them ahead of time.
If you planned on attending a childbirth class, you may have registered by now if it is one of the longer versions. Your community also probably has breastfeeding and infant care classes, and this is a great time to look into those as you make decisions about feeding and caring for your baby. You can check with the facility in which you plan to give birth and/or one of the Doulas in your area for locations and dates/times.
Your community probably has breastfeeding and infant care classes, and this is a great time to look into those as you make decisions about feeding and caring for your baby.
How my Baby Grows
- Your baby is now very long and lean
- His/her skin is still thin and translucent
- That sweet little bump is a baby the size of an ear of corn
- From head to bum (crown rump length) he/she is about 8 inches long and weighs over a pound
- Your baby is starting to fill out more and more each week
- At this point of the pregnancy your baby is considered viable, this means that with long term neonatal intensive care (NICU) support he/she has a chance of survival if you were to go into preterm labor and delivery early
- Your baby is still moving much more than you are able to feel
Symptoms Mama may Feel or Experience
- Somewhere between now and 28 weeks you will have blood work done to rule out something called gestational diabetes (more on this in week 28) and to check your iron level
- If you are interested in more information now on gestational diabetes please see our articles on this topic in Go-to-Topics under pregnancy
- This test is very important because if you become diabetic during the pregnancy and do not know it, the baby can have a very poor outcome
- If your iron level is low, you may be asked to take an iron supplement and to increase the iron in your diet
- This happens because you have 40-50% more blood volume which dilutes the hemoglobin (iron part) in your body
- This is the element that stores iron for use in building red blood cells
- If you do have to supplement with iron tablets you may struggle with constipation, be sure to drink plenty of water, stay active, eat more fiber and even with all that you may need to use a stool softener
- Excellent sources of iron in your diet are spinach, red meat, organ meats like liver, legumes, quinoa and turkey
Thoughts to Consider
- Infant care classes can be lots of fun for both you and your partner
- They can build your confidence in caring for your baby, dispel myths and provide you with opportunities to practice certain skills
- Infant safety is usually stressed in these classes which will help you have the right equipment at home and in the car, and may even teach you how to perform things like infant CPR
- Other topics discussed are diapering, feeding (breast and/or bottle), formula types, bathing, swaddling, pacifier use, warning signs of when to call your pediatrician, and available community resources
- Breastfeeding classes taken ahead of time in your third trimester are invaluable, even if you are not sure if you will breastfeed or plan to only breastfeed a short time
- They will teach the benefits of breastfeeding and may share the American Academy of Pediatrics, World Health Organization and other agency recommendations for feeding a newborn and why
- You may have a chance to see videos on proper latch on and positioning of the baby for breastfeeding and/or have an opportunity to practice with a breast model and baby doll created for this purpose
- You will receive answers to the common questions asked about breastfeeding
- You will also learn about pumping, storing and safe use of breast milk
Tips for a Healthy Pregnancy
- If you are due now for a dental exam, please keep that appointment as healthy teeth and gums are important during pregnancy to prevent infections that could harm you and your baby
- Take time for yourself each day, time to relax and consider your baby and the joy that he/she will bring to your family, time with your partner or a friend, time alone just to walk and take deep breaths, a long hot bath or a cup of herbal tea, whatever relaxes and reenergizes you
- How is that journal coming along, are you writing your thoughts and feelings, events that are happening in the news or anything else that will help you look back on the pregnancy as a special time in your life, these will be precious one day as you talk with your child about preparing for their birth
