The Baby @ 24 Weeks
According to What to Expect: Your baby weighs more than a pound and a half right now and sports a crown-to-rump length of about eight and a half inches. At this point in fetal development, the face is almost fully formed. Babies at this stage of fetal development are gaining about six ounces each week — with much of that gain coming from fat, in addition to growing organs, bones, and muscle. Most sources agree that once the baby has passed through its 24th week it is now viable outside of the womb. Basically that means the baby has a chance of survival if it is born at any point from now on. Obviously thats not ideal, and the risks are huge, but its pretty crazy to think that while I only "look fat" right now the baby is actually at such an advanced stage of development!Me @ 24 Weeks
Its funny how all of the guides and books talk about the wonderful developmental stages your baby goes through each week. For the woman, each week basically lists new problems you will face, possible pregnancy symptoms and dangerous complications too look out for. For the 24th week I was warned of two things: increased insomnia/restlesness and carpal tunnel syndrome.Insomnia? Check I am a problem sleeper and go through bouts of insomnia. On any given night it takes me hours to fall asleep...and if so much as a pin drops I wake up. During the bad parts, I dont sleep at all. I barely slept at all last week and had two nights where I literally didnt sleep. Now I could chalk this up to my normal insomnia battle, but is it a coincidence that its a symptom for this week? I think not :)
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? Check According to the Baby Center: "Although you probably associate this condition with people whose jobs require repetitive hand movements (such as data processors, computer programmers, and assembly-line workers), it's also more prevalent in pregnant women. Symptoms may include numbness, tingling, burning, pain, or a dull ache in the fingers, hand, wrist, and even up the arm to the shoulder. In severe chronic cases, your hand may feel clumsy or weak. Symptoms usually affect both hands and can appear at any time, but they're more likely to begin or worsen in the second half of pregnancy when women tend to retain more fluid. The symptoms usually go away gradually after you give birth, as the swelling from pregnancy subsides." The site goes on to talk about how symptoms often occur at night ... which explains why each night this week my hands and arms have been falling asleep. So while my brain cannot shut off and I lay in bed awake each night, my hands and arms have no problem taking up the slack. So as I try to make myself fall asleep I need to take repeated breaks to try to shake off the numbness in my hands and arms. Its been a fun week ... Most sources also suggest that I am very obviously pregnant to others at this time. They discuss the liklihood of people (including randoms) touching my stomach. I obviously have not had to deal with this and dread the moment it happens, but luckily people dont generally touch fat womens stomachs. As long as I just look chubby and avoid the pregnant look I should be able to keep people paws off me :)
