Help your growing baby develop in the twenty-fourth week of your pregnancy

You might be susceptible to anemia during pregnancy. Support your pregnancy health by consuming foods rich in iron, B vitamins and vitamin C.

What’s happening in Week 24 of my pregnancy?

All these weeks, your growing baby’s lungs have been preparing to help your growing baby receive oxygen after being born.i The cells in his or her lungs are now producing surfactant,ii which is a substance that keeps the sacs from sticking together. As the lungs continue to mature, for now, he or she still receives oxygen through your placenta.

Meanwhile, the cerebral cortex layersiii in your growing baby’s brain are also continuing to develop. This development is vital for the eventual high-level cognitive functions of reasoning, communication, and memory, among others.

Your growing baby is so good-looking now with hair on his or her head and beautiful eyelashes!

He or she now measures almost 8.5 inches (21 centimeters), and weighs about 1.25 pounds (540 grams).iv

What can you expect in Week 24 of pregnancy?

Your doctor is likely to check for anemia or iron deficiency. You are at an increased risk of iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy as your iron requirement increases dramatically to make more blood to supply oxygen to your body’s tissue and your developing baby.v Being iron-deficient during pregnancy can lead to preterm birth or low birth weight.

What can I do to support my pregnancy in week 24?

You could take these steps to prevent anemia and support your pregnancy health:

  • Eat foods rich in iron, such as green leafy vegetables like spinach, and fish like sardines and salmon, poultry and red meat.
  • Continue to take your iron and folic acid supplement as advised by your doctor. Iron is important to prevent maternal anemia and other pregnancy complications.vi Folic acid also helps in the formation of red blood cells.
  • Eat foods rich in vitamin C. Vitamin C helps your body absorb iron better.
  • Eat foods rich in B vitamins including Folate (found in green leafy vegetables, legumes, and whole grain) and B12 (found in milk), which also supports red blood cell productionsvii 

In general, eating food high in fiber like fruits, vegetables and wholegrains, as well as exercising regularlyviii are healthy habits during pregnancy, as they lower your risk of developing gestational diabetes. But do remember to consult your doctor before doing any exercises.

At this enjoyable stage of your pregnancy, it might be a good idea to start putting together a list of things you’ll need for the delivery and scouting out some of the major items. Shopping – even window shopping – for the growing baby’s (and your) things, will get you even more excited about meeting him or her and is a great experience to share with your partner, friends, and family.

 

Your growing baby’s development in week 25

 

 

References:
 

i   You and your baby at 21-24 weeks pregnant. (2017, February 28). Retrieved April 10, 2017, from

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/pregnancy-weeks-21...

ii   Prenatal Form and Function – The Making of an Earth Suit - Unit 16:   6 to 7 Months (24 to 28

Weeks). (n.d.). Retrieved 10 April 2017 from http://www.ehd.org/dev_article_unit16.php

iii   Reynolds, C., & Fletcher-Janzen, E. (2013). Handbook of Clinical Child Neuropsychology. (Edited).

New York, NY: Springer Science + Business Media

iv   Curtis, G. B., & Schuler, J. (2016). Your Pregnancy Week by Week (8th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Da

Capo Press.

v   Iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy: Prevention tips. Retrieved 26 May 2017 from

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-de...

pregnancy/art-20114455?pg=1

vi   World Health Organization, WHO recommendations on antenatal care for a positive pregnancy

experience. Geneva: WHO Press. 2016.