Week 24

Drink up! Around 24 weeks, your doctor will order a Glucose Tolerance Test — one of the more memorable prenatal tests — to see if you’re at risk for gestational diabetes. Basically, the test is designed to see how your body processes sugar, so you’ll be asked to drink a cup of a sweet drink called Glucola (which reminded us of Gatorade) and then hang out for an hour. Once the hour is up, you’ll have your blood drawn and then it will be tested to see how your body has processed the sugar. You know what’s also sweet? Those movements and kicks you’ve been feeling. They seem to get stronger every week. At week 24, baby’s progress isn’t just about internal stuff, it’s about her looks too. With pinker, more opaque skin, she’s looking more and more, well, like a baby. You, on the other hand, are probably experiencing some of the discomforts of the later months of pregnancy at week 24 — leg cramps, backaches, swollen feet. Hang in there, mama-to-be!

Your 10.5-to-11.8-inch fetus weighs about 12.7 to 20.8 ounces and every week she gets closer and closer to being ready to survive (and thrive!) in the outside world.

your baby at 24 weeks

• Her see-through skin is gradually becoming more opaque.
• And it’s got a new pink glow, thanks to the small capillaries that have recently formed.

pregnancy symptoms at 24 weeks

• Swollen ankles and feet. Be sure to elevate them while you’re sitting.
• Leg cramps, which can be sign of dehydration.
• Back aches — yup, still!
• Linea nigra. That’s the dark line that runs up the center of your belly. It will fade after baby’s born.
• Stretch marks, which may continue to appear as your skin stretches even more.

your must-do’s

• Glucose screen test
• Schedule your monthly prenatal visit to the OB

your nice-to-do’s

• Start babyproofing your home.
• Start writing your birth plan.

source: pregnant.thebump.com