How Does Your Body Change During Week 24 of Pregnancy?

4 min read

Written by Gayathri Lakshminarayanan

Gayathri Lakshminarayanan

CA, B.Com

Gayathri’s passion for writing had its foundation at the very early stages of her life when she was on her college editorial board and also won several awards for writing events and book review competitions. She combines her corporate experience with her writing skills and her experience as a homemaker makes her an empathetic contributor in the parenting domain . Her shift from full-time accounting professional to a homemaker gave her career a new direction.

pregnancy week 24

Your little one is growing stronger day by day. You may notice that the kicks and movements increase as the pregnancy progresses. You must have also gained considerable weight during pregnancy. A pregnancy belt or a belly band could help you support your abdomen during pregnancy. Make sure you consume healthy food and exercise regularly to keep yourself mentally and physically fit. Let us learn more about how does your body change during week 24 of pregnancy. Let us get started.

How Does Your Body Change During Week 24 of Pregnancy?

The following are some of the changes that you may notice during week 24 of pregnancy.

1. Skin Pigmentation

Skin changes are widespread during pregnancy. During pregnancy, the body stimulates pigment-bearing cells called melanin. You might notice dark patches on your body and face. These patches are known as chloasma. They usually go away post-delivery. The hormonal changes in the body are the primary reason for skin pigmentation.

What to do?

Skin pigmentation is usually not a cause for concern, as the skin returns to normal after delivery. Avoiding excessive exposure to sunlight and using sunscreen can help reduce chloasma.

2. Sleep Trouble

Sleep trouble, also known as insomnia, is widespread during pregnancy. As the pregnancy progresses, the other pregnancy symptoms also increase, making it difficult for the body to sleep. However, there is no cause for concern, as sleep trouble does not affect the baby. The causes of insomnia can be any of the following:

Frequent visits to the bathroom
Heartburn, Constipation, and morning sickness
Pain and Aches
Disturbing dreams
Very active baby
Pre-birth anxiety

What to do?

If you do not sleep within 20 to 30 minutes after bed, try getting up and accomplishing a tiresome task for the next 15 minutes that could make you tired. This does not mean doing a weary job like cleaning the room but functions like making the electricity bills and such simple tasks.

Avoid caffeine and chocolate
Eat in small portions several times during the day
Try to avoid phones, tables, and any other screen time.
Try listening to white noise to go to sleep.

3. Carpel Tunnel Syndrome

If you did not experience the tingling sensation in your hands and arms during the previous week, you could expect it in week 24 of pregnancy. It is widespread for women to experience a tingling sensation in the hands and arms during pregnancy. This is commonly known as carpel tunnel syndrome.

The wrist bones and ligaments combine to form a tunnel in the wrist. When pregnant women perform any activity that reduces the space in the carpel tunnel, extra pressure is placed on the median nerve.

What to do?

Avoid any strenuous activity that could put pressure on the median nerve
Stretch your hands and arms
Wear a wrist Splint

4. Blurred Vision

The pregnancy hormones produce extra fluid in your eyes, which may result in blurred vision. The changes in pregnancy hormones could cause a temporary change in eyesight. While this might be concerning, it does not warrant permanent eye issues.

The following are some eye changes that you may notice during pregnancy:

Changes in the shape and thickness of Corneas
A decrease in tears
Increase in eye pressure

What to do?

Try to follow the below strategies to reduce the strain on the eyes.

Avoid Contact lenses
Limit Screen Time
Use well-lit room
Perform eye exercises
Rest your eyes
Wear Sunglasses

Other Symptoms

The following are some other symptoms you may experience during week 24 of pregnancy.

1. Swollen Feet and Ankles

The body produces excess fluid to support the lives of both the mother and the baby. The extra fluid is retained in the feet, ankles, and fingers.

What to do?

Try taking hot and cold massages to relieve swollen feet and ankles.

2. Constipation

The increasing pregnancy hormones make it difficult for the waste to pass by and lead to constipation.

What to do?

Try to consume foods high in fiber and avoid spicy foods to get relief from constipation.

3. Gas/Bloating

Gas and bloating are yet another result of the increasing pregnancy hormones.

What to do?

Avoid spicy food and drink plenty of water.

4. Leg Cramps

The extra pressure put on the body could create leg cramps.

What to do?

Try straightening your leg and twisting your ankle for flexibility and pain relief.

5. Pain in the lower abdomen or Pelvic Area

The expanding uterus can put pressure on the pelvic area and create pain in the pelvic region. It is prevalent and not a cause of concern.

What to do?

You can use a pregnancy belt or belly band to relieve the pain.

6. Headache

The pregnancy hormones change rapidly and could cause headaches.

What to do?

Keep yourself hydrated and eat in small portions several times a day.

You still have a few more weeks to finish your second trimester. Though it started well, you had to experience several new symptoms that could give you much more discomfort. Your appetite could increase and you could keep control over what you eat. Choose a healthy life with a proper diet and exercise and have a healthy pregnancy.

Happy Pregnancy!