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ORIGINAL POST:
WEEK 21
Mother:
If you are prone to varicose veins, they may begin to show themselves. You can help to prevent them by wearing flat shoes, avoid standing for long periods of time and by putting your feet up regularly. As baby moves around in his liquid environment you may see your stomach wiggle. It is normal for legs to swell moderately so again try to avoid standing for long periods of time. You may notice that your center of gravity is thrown off due to your change in size, this may cause you to feel clumsy, don't worry you'll feel more like yourself after the baby is born.
Baby:
Your growing baby is always hungry so remember not to skip meals! Your baby is getting more proportionate everyday. The arms and legs now look normal in length. Remember to notice baby's movements; you should be able to feel vigorous kicking.
WEEK 22
Mother:
Again, low or flat shoes will help with back pain and swelling. Some women complain about hemorrhoids with pain, bleeding and itching. These are often brought on by your extra weight gain and they can be uncomfortable and painful. Constipation may be eased by a diet high in fiber. Your doctor may also have some advice or relief for hemorrhoids. Due to the baby's position your ribs may get sore. Sitting up straight and stretching will give you some relief. Baby Your baby weighs almost a pound and is around 10 inches long! Her liver is functioning now. Twins can easily find each other and even hold hands. .
WEEK 23
Mother:
The muscles in your uterus are stretching and you may occasionally feel a sharp pain, just relax as much as you can until it goes away. The condition known as an "incompetent cervix" is a concern because it may cause premature birth. A mucus plug closes your cervix. This keeps out germs. Your doctor may do a pre-screen to see if this is an issue for you, especially if it has been a problem in past pregnancies.
Baby:
Your baby weighs about 1 pound and if he were to be born now he would have a 10-35% chance of surviving. The pancreas is pretty well developed now and is producing insulin.
WEEK 24
Mother:
Though a moderate amount of swelling is very normal, a drastic increase is swelling accompanied by large weight gain, blurry vision, or rise in blood pressure could be a sign of toxemia (preeclampsia). Your caregiver may do a glucose test to conclude that you do not have gestational diabetes. Some signs of preterm labor are listed below: *Constant/occasional lower backaches *Pressure in the lower pelvis area *Cramping (with or without diarrhea) *Contractions (painful or not) 10 minutes or less apart
Baby:
Baby is working on her sleeping patterns. You may notice that her most active time of the day is right when you want to go to sleep. Your baby responds well to sounds now, she hears your voice, music and listens to the sound of your heartbeat. She may gain as much as 6 ounces this week; this is 1/3 of her body weight. This could be compared to a 150-pound woman gaining 50 pounds in 1 week!!! Her lungs are getting ready to breath by gain blood vessels.
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