Week 24
(counting
from first day of last menstrual period)
Around 22
Weeks After Conception
 Fetal
Development:
The baby gains about 6 ounces
this week as the body begins to fill out. This weight is
in muscle, bone mass and the growing organs and tissues.
The weight could top 1 1/3 pounds by the end of the
week.
Multiples: Week 24 is
usually considered the point of viability, meaning that
if your babies are born now, they have a chance for
survival. They would, however, be in intensive care for
many months.
Maternal Changes:
Between weeks 24 and 28, your care provider may order a
glucose tolerance test to determine if you have
gestational diabetes. Your uterus is 1 1/2 to 2 inches
above the navel.
Multiples:
Watch your vaginal discharge and report any changes to
your caregiver. Preterm labor may start by infection
that ascends from the vagina. Visit week 25 for Preterm
Labor Warning Signs.
Your doctor may want to do a
check of your cervix sometime soon so that if you
develop preterm labor symptoms, s/he will have a
baseline for comparison.
Ideas for Dad:
Take lots of pictures of Mom. Even though she may not
like it at the time, she will treasure the photos later.
They will make a wonderful keepsake, and maybe she'll
pose for you a la Demi Moore in Vanity Fair!
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