05 Nov 2003 - 2:14pm - 24 Weeks

The fetus weighs more than 1 1/4 pounds. Though it still has little body fat and its skin is thin and fragile, it's now well-proportioned. The brain is growing rapidly, and the baby is starting to fill the space in your uterus. If you went into labor at this time, however, many healthcare providers would make every effort to halt the progress of preterm labor to enable the fetus to continue maturing.

You may be noticing faint, red streaks--otherwise known as striae or stretch marks--on your abdomen, hips, and breasts. While creams won't erase them, wearing a supportive bra may help prevent or minimize them on your breasts. They are typical developments at this stage of the pregnancy and they will fade to silvery, white marks after giving birth. Also, your eyes may be light-sensitive and may feel gritty and dry. This is a perfectly normal pregnancy symptom known as dry-eye. To ease your discomfort, use an "artificial tears" solution to add moisture.

Rapid eye movement has begun. Your baby, weighs in at one pound, six ounces, and measures 21 centimeters crown-to-rump.

Remember that if you drink alcohol or smoke during pregnancy it is never too late to quit! Each day you go without a drink or cigarette improves your baby's chance of being healthy at birth and beyond. Drinking alcohol is the number one cause of mental retardation.

Dehydration may cause preterm labor or an increase in uterine irritability, so be sure to drink six to eight (eight ounce) glasses of fluids every day. It helps some women to fill two, one-quart containers with water each morning so they don't lose count as the day progresses. Fruit juices and milk can count toward the magic 64.

It is very normal to experience anxiety about your pregnancy weight gain. The prospect of putting on 25 to 30 pounds in less than a year is one that many women fear or dread. As your appetite increases, with your feeling of well-being, during the second trimester -- and due to changes in your metabolism -- you may find it extremely easy to gain weight. Your body is doing what it is supposed to! Just keep in mind that while you might be able to indulge in an occasional chocolate bar or piece of baklava when not pregnant, it might turn into fat now. Make every calorie count by eating a varied diet of healthy foods. Select snacks from foods such as cheese, plain yogurt, hard-boiled eggs, fruits and veggies.

Much of the weight gained during pregnancy goes to your baby and the products of conception:
Fetus: 7.5 to 8.5 pounds
Amniotic fluid: 1 to 2 pounds
Placenta: 1 to 2 pounds
Increase of blood and fluid volume: 4 to 8 pounds
Uterine muscles: 2 to 3 pounds
Breasts: 2 to 3 pounds
Fat deposits around internal organs: 2 to 10 pounds

This is an excellent time to review some warning signs. Be sure to let your care provider know -- day or night -- if you have any of these signs or symptoms of preterm labor.

These would include uterine contractions or tightenings that increase in frequency or are occurring five times in one hour. Notify your provider or the hospital if you have any bleeding -- even if it is scant or brown in color. If you have any vaginal discharge -- especially if it is watery -- this could be a sign of a leak or rupture in your amniotic sac. Infection is a risk, so call your care provider immediately. If you notice a change in the pattern of your baby's movement, it would be good to notify them as well. Maternal symptoms, such as severe or persistent headache, abdominal pain, pain with urination or backache that might indicate a bladder or kidney infection should never be ignored.

Time is passing so quickly, even when sometimes it seems not to. 24 weeks now; only 16 more to go.

It is somewhat scary that so much of what I've been reading, or receiving, or even that my doctor asked me on has to do with premature labor. I mean... it's only 24 weeks. Are they trying to make me worried? ;)

Things are moving along quite well, and we survived yet another LARP weekend, even despite getting caught in a field battle (which didn't pan out the way we PCs expected at all; though once it spread out and I could get away from the thick of things, I left the main action and stuck as much to the edges as I could).

The baby is happily kicking at the moment, and all is going well. So much to do! We need to register (still haven't gotten around to that) and finish up the baby's room. And I suppose it might be a good idea to come up with some girl's names!

(Since so many people ask, if it's a boy, it will be Joshua Anthony.)

I find that I am intensely hungry these days. I cannot eat as much in one sitting - no room for the tummy to expand all that much - but I need to eat more often, and the sensation of the gaping maw that is my hungry tummy is amazingly overwhelming. Several times this weekend I had to leave in the middle of things to get food, for example.

No cravings yet, though. At least no weird cravings.

My belly is nice and big and round, and I'm astounded at the thought that it's going to get much bigger. I look forward to the opportunity to see the baby again in 8 weeks, and 8 weeks after that to hold our little one in my arms.

It's so hard to be patient! ;)