Week 24

Your baby is now starting to pack on the pounds from its growing organs, bones and muscles. You, in parallel, might also find yourself becoming more emotional than usual. Read on to find out what you can do about it.

At roughly 30cm long and weighing around 1lb 3oz, your baby is now what medical experts term ‘viable’; this means if they were born now, they’d be better equipped to survive in a neonatal unit.

Physically, if you’re suffering from backache at the moment, remember that a pair of comfy shoes can make all the difference. High heels are best put to the back of the wardrobe until you feel up to it after the birth. Remember to rest with your feet up, or simply take five minutes to sit down as often as you can throughout your day.

Emotionally, your hormones may be raging, causing hyper-sensitivity. You might find that you get much more upset at films, or much more irritated with your loved ones and work colleagues. On top of that, the sensation of your baby moving can make everything seem very real, and sometimes a little bit daunting. Confide in others; your friends and family are there to support you. Opening up about your feelings will stop you bottling them up and once you’ve shared it with someone you trust, you may feel a lot less burdened. Or, if you simply want to lock yourself away with a good book or a long bath, don’t be afraid to indulge yourself.

Learn about back pain in pregnancy >>

For expert advice or if you’d just welcome a friendly ear, call our Careline team on 800 6458 6262 (UAE)/ +971 4 420 9489 (Other countries) between the hours of 9am and 6pm Saturday to Thursday.