Start of Week Twenty Four

Peanut, you're 23 full weeks and starting week 24!  At the end of the week, you'll be 6 months along, but we won't be in the third trimester until the end of week 26.  This week, you'll grow to somewhere between 1.2 and 1.5 pounds.  And you're growing to somewhere between 9 and 11 inches long, about like an ear of corn.    Your brain is growing quickly and your lungs are developing branches of the respiratory "tree".  You're making white blood cells and you can hear various loud sounds.  You've got eyelashes, eyebrows and hair, but there's no pigment yet, so the hair is all white.  We love you very much.

You're moving around daily, sort of mid-morning, early evening and at bedtime.  Jared was able to feel you move this week, and it was very exciting for him.  I wonder if he could hear you at all, if he listened to my belly.  I read to you sometimes and try to talk out loud as I go around the house.  This is my last week of track-out, so, starting March 4, I'll be back at work, and I'm really not looking forward to it.

The acid reflux is really bothering me--I think I'll have to buy a half gallon of milk to keep at work.  No pill has helped me so far.  I'm also tired a lot and achy in my pelvis.

The Monday after next is our next ultrasound, to check on the retroplacental bleed that was seen 5 weeks ago.  And it's 3 weeks until my next birth center appointment, my first shower (hosted by the school's Social Committee), and my birthday!

 24 weeks in the womb

24 week baby--note the non-pigmented eyebrows