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24 Weeks Pregnant: What To Expect
The second trimester of your pregnancy is about to end, and you are on the verge of the third trimester now. The baby’s growth is coming along well, and your growing belly is proof of the changes happening to you and the baby, so let’s understand them in detail.
Your Baby's Growth during Pregnancy - Week 24
At week 24, your baby has been steadily gaining about six ounces every week and weighs around 1.32 pounds, and is nearly a foot in length. Most of the baby’s weight is a result of its muscles, bones, fat and growing organs. The baby’s face is extremely small but nearing complete formation with its hair, eyebrows and eyelashes producing its beautiful look. Your baby’s hair hasn’t developed any colour yet since the pigments are yet to show up. Your baby’s skin is very tender and highly transparent and a closer look at it will show bones, blood vessels and its organs too.
What is the Baby Size?
You will be very keen to know how your baby is growing. At 24 weeks pregnant, the baby size is now almost as large (or small) as an ear of corn when measured from its head to heel, which is approximately 11.8 inches. Your baby is practising breathing through its nostrils now, preparing for the real world. However, it is the amniotic fluid that is being inhaled now instead of air.
Common Body Changes
The many bodily changes during pregnancy that you will experience as you enter the 24th week will leave you worried but be patient and these will pass too. The area around the abdomen and breasts will become dry and itchy as the skin stretches across it. Your uterus will also feel tight which is due to the Braxton Hicks contractions one experiences during this period.
Symptoms of Pregnancy at Week 24
You are likely to experience the following symptoms once you enter week 24 of your pregnancy, so read on for a heads up:
Backaches
This symptom is probably continuing from earlier and getting worse as days go by. Your uterus is growing correspondingly with your baby and this pushes the uterus against your spine, thus straining it and curving it too. Also remember, your back must work that much harder to carry the growing baby and this leads to pain.
Swelling of the feet
This is a common symptom during this time of the pregnancy and is caused due to excess fluids in the body. The swelling is usually on the ankles, feet and hands. However, you should watch out if the swelling spreads to other parts of the body like the face, hands and fingers. Also, severe swelling on one foot and none on the other could be a sign of preeclampsia, another dangerous pregnancy complication.
Cramps
Leg cramps can be a sign of dehydration so drink lots of water during the day, stretch your legs often and go out for walks to keep them at bay. Cramps could also be due to a nutritional deficiency which should be bought to your doctor’s notice at the earliest.
Belly at 24 Weeks of Pregnancy
At 24 weeks of pregnancy, you will experience slightly stronger and more pronounced kicks than earlier. Your partner too can feel the baby moving around and kicking. You will have to control weight gain for a healthy pregnancy, but gaining 6 to 7 kilograms by the 24th week is normal, so do not worry. It is the sudden weight gain over a couple of weeks that should be a cause of concern for you and should be bought to your doctor’s notice.
24 Weeks Ultrasound and other tests
Around this time of pregnancy, your doctor will suggest an ultrasound test and you will see how the fat formation has begun its process which makes your baby’s skin opaque. The internal organs and blood vessels will no longer be visible due to this. Along with this, an oral glucose tolerance test or a glucose screening test will also be scheduled to check the presence of gestational diabetes, which occurs due to raised levels of pregnancy hormones.
What To Eat
There are enough theories and misconceptions floating around about to leave you confused about what should be your 24th week pregnancy food, so read on to have a clear idea.
Include a lot of high-fibre food in your diet like whole wheat rotis, dalia (cracked wheat), wholegrain bread, fresh fruits and dry fruits/nuts.
Remember to drink water so that it is absorbed by fibres and help tackle constipation.
Carrots, oranges, sweet potatoes and palak (spinach) are wonderful sources of Vitamin A in the form of beta-carotene and should be a part of your diet during this time.
While eating out at restaurants, watch out for the loaded sugars, calories and fats hidden in regular food. The best way is to eat a little bit at home so you do not arrive hungry at the restaurant and eat your way through the treats that tempt you. A handful of nuts or a slice of your favourite fruit is ideal to eat before eating out.
Tips & Care
Do’s
To reduce feet swelling, keep them at an elevated level while sitting down.
Create a light exercise routine like a short walk to keep a good posture and backache away.
For itchy and dry eyes, use eye drops after checking with your doctor.
Don’ts
Do not use stretch-mark creams, hair colour or skin moisturisers before consulting with your physician.
Do not sleep on your back for long periods as this could restrict blood flow to the placenta.
What You Need To Shop For
As you enter week 24 of your pregnancy, there are a few things that you should begin shopping for. Maternity wear should be at the top of your shopping list now since your expanding belly may not fit in those old gowns and pants. Try the wrap dress to flatter your blooming body or a tunic top for comfort and style. Bring home ear plugs and eye patches as these will help you sleep better and you will wake up feeling rested. If you are planning a baby’s room, start getting stuff in a slow and steady manner (going overboard with kid stuff is quite common though) and decorate the room before it announces its arrival.
Conclusion
Every day and every passing week will be different for the mother-to-be and the 24th week will bring in its own set of challenges and little worries. However, with a little bit of confidence and self-belief should help you tide over these temporary issues.
Previous Week: 23 Weeks Pregnant
Next Week: 25 Weeks Pregnant Read more
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How to Teach Preschoolers The Difference Between Big and Small
It's important to teach your child the basic concept of big and small as he gets ready for preschool. The activities listed here will help you formulate your lesson plan on big and small for preschool. Remember to make it fun. If he enjoys what he's doing, he'll learn sooner!
Teaching the difference between big and small is generally the starting place for preschoolers when teaching them opposites and mathematical concepts. You can help your child learn quickly by incorporating fun ideas in your lesson plan.
How to Teach Big and Small to Preschoolers
Show him picture books demonstrating the difference between the two concepts. You can take it a step further and show him real objects that highlight difference in size.
All children love playing with balls and blocks. A fun activity to teach your child the concept of big and small is to mix different sized balls or blocks, and ask him to sort the big from the small.
Music is a wonderful way of introducing new concepts to preschoolers. Play some fun nursery rhymes about big and small. Try out 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star'- it never fails to enchant!
You can also create ‘big and small’ activities for kids. Staple a few pages together to make a book. Ask your child to draw small things and big things. You can also have him look for pictures of small and big objects in an old magazine, cut them, and paste them in the book.
Make a box of assorted items containing things in 2 sizes. For example, a big rock and a small rock, a long pencil and a short one, and a big jar and a small jar. Get 2 empty cartons, one big and one small, and ask your preschooler to help you sort the big and the small items into them.
Try and use the terms ‘big’ and ‘small’ in daily life as much as you can, even in normal conversations with your child. Show him examples of big and small as you go about your routine.
Stacking and sorting toys are a great way to teach your child the difference between big and small. You can get nested bowls or stacking rings, which demonstrate the difference. You can do the same with regular household items. Give your child plastic bowls or straws or pencils of varying sizes.
Games are always fun and all children love them, especially outdoors games. Take your preschooler to the playground and give him fun instructions like “Put something small in your pocket”, “Hide behind something big”, and “Touch the biggest thing you see”. This is a fun and exciting big-and-small game for children as they love running around following the instructions.
Most preschoolers enjoy talking about how big they are, and like comparing themselves to other objects or children. These activities will also interest them. Encourage your child to play and see how quickly he learns. Read more
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Should You Give Cold and Cough Medicines to Infants and Kids?
Cold and cough are very common ailments that babies and young children may suffer from. It is normal for children to suffer from these ailments, but should you give them medicines for a cough and cold every time they suffer from the bout? Giving too many medicines to a child is not a good idea and self-medication should also be strictly avoided in case of younger children. So, what should you do? Read this post and know various aspects concerning administering medicines to your baby or kids in detail.
Are Cold and Cough Medicines Safe for Infants and Children?
Administering cold and cough medicines to infants or young children may not be a good idea. This is because medicines for a cough and cold may pose serious threats for children younger than two years of age. It has also been proved that cold and cough medicines do more harm than good to babies. Moreover, any such medicines should only be given after they have been prescribed by a doctor.
Which Cold and Cough Medicines Are Not Recommended for Babies and Kids?
You should refrain from giving these cough and cold medicines to your baby or kid:
Cough suppressants.
Decongestants.
Cough expectorants.
Some types of antihistamines such as chlorpheniramine maleate, diphenhydramine and brompheniramine.
Risks of Giving Cold and Cough Medicine to Infants and Children
A cough and cold medicine may sometimes pose serious threats to children who are below two years of age. Convulsions or rapid heart rate are some of the side effects that babies and children may experience. Also, dangerous side effects have been reported in case of overdosage or when parents administer two or more over-the-counter medicines with similar ingredients. There is not enough scientific evidence available which support the fact that cold medicines are helpful in curing the condition. Therefore, one must not rule out the potential risks and give cold and cough medicines sparingly or after consulting the doctor only.
Considerations
Consider the following points before you give any cold and cough medicine to your munchkin:
If you are giving any two or more over-the-counter medicines to your baby, make sure you check the ingredients with utmost care. This is because sometimes medicines may contain similar kind of ingredients and giving such medicines may lead to drug overdosage.
Always administer medicine as per the weight and age of the child. Usually, dosage instructions are mentioned on the medicine label, read and follow them strictly.
Do not administer aspirin to your child. Aspirin can lead to medical complications in children like Reye's syndrome.
Alternatives to Cold and Cough Medicines for Babies and Children
Most of the times, the symptoms of a cough and cold in babies and kids may be mild and subside within a few days. So, instead of giving any medicines, you can try out other alternatives as well. There are many home remedial measures that you can adopt to help your kid feel better.
Home Remedies to Help Relieve Cold and Cough
Here are few home remedies that you may help relieve the symptoms of cold and cough in your child:
1. Lemon and Honey
Lemon and honey is a great remedy for a cough and cold. One tablespoon three times a day, should do the trick. Honey mixed with warm water is also a good option. However, do not give honey to babies who are less than a year old to avoid the risk of botulism.
2. Turmeric Milk
This age-old remedy has been passed down from generations. Simply stir a pinch of honey in a glass of milk and give it to your child at night before bed. You can even mix some jaggery for sweetness.
3. Orange Juice
Vitamin C does a great job in killing the germs that cause a cold. Give a few sips of the juice to your child regularly for best results. But, if your child has a sore throat it is best to avoid this.
4. Chicken Soup
The warmth of the soup will ease the nasal passage making it easier to breathe. Also, it has anti-inflammatory properties which are great if your child suffers from a cough.
5. Ginger Tea
Boil some ginger with tea and give a few spoons of it to your child. Babies under one year can drink a few spoons and older kids can have a small cup of ginger tea.
Can You Give Over-the-counter Medicines to Your Child?
Over-the-counter medicines can be procured without a doctor’s prescription but if you don't know how to administer the medicine correctly, avoid giving it to your child. Many doctors believe that babies and children younger than 2 years should not be given a cough or cold medicine until it becomes absolutely necessary. Therefore, you must exercise great caution while administering any medicine for a cough and cold for 1-year-old baby or to an older child, without consulting your doctor. This is because most cold and cough medicines mention the dosage as per the weight and not as per the age of the child, which may get tricky for parents to understand. Also, just because these medicines are easily available, you should not give them to your kid because they may not be recommended in all cases.
When to Consult a Doctor
Parents may often find it difficult to analyse when they should take their baby to the doctor. One simple rule that you can follow if you feel concerned or worried about the well-being of your baby or child is to take him to the doctor at once before self-prescribing medicines. Babies and young children cannot express their pain or discomfort and sometimes the serious signs or symptoms may be ignored. If your baby has a stuffy nose, it may disrupt your baby’s sleep, and this can make him cranky and irritable, so make sure you take your baby to the doctor at the earliest to ease his discomfort. Also, dehydration may become a cause of concern; dehydration can be established if your baby’s mouth appears parched. He may be shedding fewer tears while crying, he may appear tired and exhibit other such signs. If you notice the following symptoms, give him water. And instead of giving any cold and cough medicine to your little one, seek medical help.
If you act promptly and opt for home remedial measures, you may not have to give any medicine for curing a cold and cough. However, if your child appears sick and does not seem to improve after giving home remedies, you must visit your child’s doctor for consultation.
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Mom of a 3 m old boy
New Milestone
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Coloured Water Cups DIY
Colours are so magical, aren't they? See what you can create with colours with this fun activity!
Identifying colour is a big part of any child's life. It is one of the first things mothers begin to teach their babies through placards and crib mobiles. Colour sorting follows soon after and then finally mixing of primary colours to get secondary colours. In this activity we will see how something so simple as pouring coloured water can create new colours. It was exciting to us as adults, can you image how much your child will enjoy it?
You will need
6 Plastic Cups
Food colouring in yellow red and blue
Water
Step-by-step Instructions
1. Arrange your 6 cups neatly.
2. Pour 6 drops of food colouring in three cups and mix in a little water.
3. Next mix 2 of the colours into an empty cup. Continue this with the remaining colours.
4. You'll find that yellow and blue makes green, red and yellow makes orange and blue and red makes purple.
5. You won't need to throw out the colours, you can use these for a neat tie-dye experiment!
Messiness Score
5
Level of Difficulty
Medium
Parental Involvement
Medium
Skills Enhanced
Colour sorting, pouring, colour identification
You will observe your child doing...
Your child will ask questions on how this happens
It will be fun because...
You can use the colours in baking or for a tie-dye experiment too! Read more
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Cucumber and tofu salad with tomatoes
Here's presenting a light vegan salad with loads of proteins. The firm type of tofu tastes and feels like biting into cubes of fresh mozzarella — only instead of being dressed with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, it is coated with sesame oil and soy sauce. This tofu and vegetable salad is rather like the East and West bridging together to some degree with this dish. Check it out!!
Serves
Preparation Time
Cooking Time
4 People
10 Minutes
3-5 Minutes
Ingredients
300 g to 350 g tofu (preferably silken tofu)
1/2 tomato
1/2 avocado
Juice of 1 lemon
2 pinches salt
For dressing
1 tbsp (tablespoon) sesame oil
1 tsp (teaspoon) sesame seeds
1 tbsp soy sauce
1/2 tsp sugar
ground black pepper, to taste
Method
1 Mix all of the dressing ingredients together.
2 Cut the tomato and tofu into 5 mm cubes.
3 Slice the cucumber.
4 Place the cucumber slices in a salad bowl like the one shown in the image. Sprinkle lemon juice and salt.
5 Arrange the tomato and avocado in the centre of the bowl as well.
6 Pour the dressing over top and sprinkle with ground pepper and sesame seeds.
Nutritional Information
Calories
96
Calories from Fat
28 %
Total Fat
3.1 g 5%
Saturated Fat
0.4 g 2%
Trans Fat
0.0 g
Cholesterol
0 mg 0%
Sodium
192 mg 8%
Potassium
480 mg 14%
Total Carbohydrates
10.0 g 3%
Dietary Fiber
1.4 g 6%
Sugars
3.9 g
Protein
6.2 g
Vitamin A
5%
Calcium
9%
Vitamin C
9%
Iron
13%
* Based on a 2000 calorie diet
Nutritional details are an estimate and should only be used as a guide for approximation.
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Dr Priyanka Kalra has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
5 hours ago
Q. In my growth scan doctor found that 2 round cord has been partly around baby necks. Is there any problem with this. will I get normal delivery?
Dr Priyanka Kalra
Obstetrician and Gynaecologist
40 mins ago
A. better cesarean. better to show to specialist always as they get the correct diagnosis. try to avoid self and extra medication that will only complicate this and create more damage to the child
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
3 hours ago
Q. I m preganant in 5 month in twin baby. Last lmp is 22/12/2023. my expected due date
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
2 hours ago
A. 29.9.24. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Sunita Mahato has added a new answer
Mom of a 1 m old child
3 hours ago
Q. #asktheexperts How to increase quantity of milk production?
Sunita Mahato
Mom of 3 children
3 hours ago
A. to increase milk take latction supplement as lactare...
take green papaya bottle gourd bitter gourd fennel seeds garlic oats ragi dalia sabudana ...
regular pumping increase milk use Babyhug electric breast pump...
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 4 months
3 hours ago
Q. hi doctor from two days i am eating milk cream with sugar and i want to burn it in my stomach I am 5 month pregnant plzz help ??
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
2 hours ago
A. at present weight no exercise is other than moderate walking. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
2 hours ago
Q. I am in my 8th month of pregnancy (last week), and for some reason I am continously facing lot of fatigue. I am feeling deprived of energy and I don't have any energy to do anything. resting isn't Helping in any way and taking small walks isn't too. what can be the possible reason and how to overcome this.
Read moreDr Ghouse
Paediatrician
2 hours ago
A. yes that can be both physical and psychological problems during pregnancy ok. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Sai Prasanthi R L has added a new answer
Trying To Conceive
54 mins ago
Q. hi,
pls advice , after hcg tigger injection can we do intercourse to conceive and till when we can do ...trying to conceive
Sai Prasanthi R L
Mom of a 10 yr 2 m old boy
52 mins ago
A. Hello dear! We understand your eagerness and concern. It is advisable to check with your consulting doctor regarding this matter. Clarify your concerns and follow your doctor’s advice. Maintain a good personal hygiene routine and a healthy lifestyle
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