Week 24: Prepare To Chug The Nastiest Drink Of Your Life Because Glucose Screening

It’s pregnancy week 24, and here’s what’s going on…

MIND

Getting rest is more important than ever since your body is working overtime. And now you’ve got another foe: snoring! Your extra body weight and changes in your mucus membranes mean that you might be snoring like an old man. Crank your humidifier and apply the nasal strips, because mama, you need to sleep in the coming weeks to protect your peace of mind. Also, get your partner some ear plugs.

BODY

Sometime between now and week 28, you’ll take a glucose screening test to check for gestational diabetes. Be prepared to chug the nastiest drink of your life for the glucose screening test you’ve got coming up. It’s a whole lot easier to take ice cold than room temperature, so ask your doc to stick it in the fridge for you. Bottoms up!

That extra girth is putting enough pressure on your nerves and veins to trigger killer leg cramps; if a leg cramp strikes, flex your toes with your leg straight a few times, or stand on a cold surface. To help prevent them, eat plenty of calcium and potassium (banana split, anyone?).

BABY

Your baby’s about the size of a large baby bottle — you know, like the one you’ll find someday during a game of What’s That Smell? two weeks after it rolls under your couch and spoils. Your baby is still moving around, but as they grow, the leaps and jabs will start feeling more like rolls and wiggles in those increasingly cramped quarters.

Surfactant is being produced in the lungs, which enables the air sacs to inflate so baby can take a deep breath and belt out that first cry you can’t wait to hear! Until then, your partner can try satisfying their desire to hear the baby by putting an ear to your belly. They might just be able to hear the baby’s heartbeat, depending on baby’s position.

NEST

Have you ordered your breast pump? If you plan on breastfeeding, you’ll need one. You will eventually learn how to use your breast pump, and also how to love/hate it. But for now, you have to order it. If you have insurance, call your insurance company and order one. They are typically covered. Unfortunately, they can be expensive, so if you’re not insured, try contacting a federal benefits program like Women Infant and Children (WIC). This program can be a great resource for other discounted items like infant formula.