Week 24: What to Expect + Gina’s Pregnancy Update

Birth, Birth Preparation, Pregnancy

Welcome to week 24 of your pregnancy! There is a lot going on with you and baby, so in this blog we are going to break down what to expect!

Baby is the size of an eggplant (or Mr. Potato Head)
Baby’s lungs are continuing to develop with the production of surfactant + their nostrils are now open!
Baby’s vestibular system is starting to develop, so they are starting to figure out up and down!
This week (or week 23) is the start of viability! If your baby is born pre-term, hospitals are able to support life outside the womb starting around week 23/24.
You may notice increased bleeding and gum sensitivity–oral health is a big deal during pregnancy!
You may also be noticing increased back or pelvic pain!
Your provider may begin to offer the gestational diabetes test!

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What's going on with baby during week 24??

Baby is the size of an eggplant or Mr. Potato Head (for our millennials). Baby is continuing to grow, but some of the key features of this week include:

Baby is now producing surfactant which helps to lubricate the lower lungs to breathe! This is really important to support baby outside the womb.
In addition, baby’s nostrils are now open, so they can start practicing amniotic fluid through their nose! Most babies are nasal breathers at birth, so this is a big deal!
Another cool fact is that their vestibular system is starting to develop–so you baby can start to tell up from down. If baby is breech before 24 weeks, it is less of a big deal because baby is not aware of up/down yet. Between 24-28 weeks, baby develops this sense and will likely find their down down position.

If your baby is still breech at 28 weeks, it is time to start being more deliberate with helping your baby turn head down! It is less likely that they will flip on their own if they are breech at 28 weeks–so incorporating exercises that help create more space for the baby to flip head down, such as doing inversions, seeing a Webster-certified chiropractor, and discussing options with your provider can be really helpful at this point.

What might be going on with you during week 24??

Prenatal Oral Health Changes: Red, Swollen Gums

You may notice that you are experiencing more red and swollen gums during your pregnancy–your oral health can be impacted during pregnancy! Check with your dental insurance to see if they will cover an extra dental cleaning during your pregnancy to help prevent oral health issues.

Your prenatal oral health can impact your pregnancy, as well! Oral health complications can cause pregnancy complications, such as pre-term birth–so it’s important to continue to see your dentist throughout your pregnancy.

Prenatal Comfort: Increased Back Pain and Pelvic Pain

Over 50% of us may experience back pain (and other discomforts) throughout our pregnancy–so it is common and you are not alone. But, pain is NOT a requirement of pregnancy! The only solution for pain relief is not to give birth–there is a lot you can do during pregnancy to find relief.

Work with a pelvic floor physical therapist during pregnancy (you do not need to wait until postpartum to see a PT). You do NOT need to have internal PT work done during pregnancy (or anytime) but working with a professional either in-person or virtually can help you find relief.
Incorporate strengthening exercises for a more comfortable pregnancy, such as back-side strength to help you maintain an upright position and core and pelvic stability exercises to increase your support. You can explore our prenatal fitness programs for daily workouts that include these types of exercises.
Try external support devices, such as a belly band, seat cushions, and a birth ball!

Gestational Diabetes Test Options

During this week of pregnancy, your provider may begin to offer the gestational diabetes screening. This is a one-hour test that screens you for gestational diabetes that can develop during pregnancy. If you “fail” the screening, you will do the diagnostic three-hour test.

During the screening, you can take the traditional glucola drink or try another option such as the Fresh Test which is an FDA-approved glucose testing option that does not have preservatives and we find doesn’t cause the same jittery feeling. Many clinics offer this, or you can purchase it and bring it to your clinic for your test. You have options when it comes to your prenatal care, so discuss with your provider your options for the gestational diabetes test!

How is Gina feeling at week 24??

Prenatal Workouts & Pain-Free!

I am feeling pretty good physically! I have been really consistent with my workouts (I am doing our prenatal strength program) and filming more prenatal on-demand workout videos, so my prenatal discomfort has been pretty minimal. In previous pregnancies, when I’ve taken too many days off from my workouts, I found that my pelvic pain would flare up. But, luckily, I’ve been pretty consistent this pregnancy and relatively pain-free!

Thyroid Testing: Looking good!

I had a check-up with my normal healthcare provider to take a look at my thyroid levels. I have low thyroid levels (hypothyroidism), and the thyroid is incredibly important for conception, pregnancy, and just life, so I am really focused on ensuring my thyroid is functioning as best as it can!

I see my provider every 4-6 weeks to do blood work to check on how my thyroid is doing, and we make adjustments to my thyroid medication based on the results. My provider checks for:

Free T3
Free T4
TSH

During pregnancy, the reference ranges for our thyroid change and are more narrow–and this shifts each trimester too. If you have thyroid issues, it is normally recommended to have your levels checked every 4-6 weeks throughout your pregnancy. In my pregnancy, I have had to nearly quadruple my medication dose to meet my thyroid needs during pregnancy! My provider anticipates that I may need to increase it a few more times as I near my third trimester, but so far looking good!

Gina Conley, MS