24 weeks

It’s another week! I swear my belly has grown even just this week, and I think I may have my first tiny stretch marks. Lots of gymnastics from the baby (obviously a summer Olympic fan). I’ve also been tired a lot, and naps are awesome.

This week the baby is considered viable: Baby2See claimed a 36% chance of survival, but there was a BBC News article in May that claimed a 41% survival rate (of course, survival takes serious medical care at this point). Since last week was about a 20% chance that’s a huge jump! (And if I’m really at 23 weeks, then next week will be the critical jump-point.) It’s better to wait until at least 34 weeks, of course, and 38 is considered full term. (Hang in there, kiddo, we’s got a ways to go.)

Lots of sources I’ve read have made comments about the baby “savoring” mother’s meals and similar phrases that suggest the baby can taste what I eat. I was (and perhaps still am) pretty skeptical about that idea, but it looks like the amniotic fluid gets “flavored” at least a bit by what I eat. Apparently this is for sense development, so baby’s taste-buds work when she’s born. There are reports of amniotic fluid smelling quite heavily of garlic or other spices if that’s what mom has been eating; and the fetus swallowing more often after mom eats something sweet, or grimacing after mom eats something bitter. Weird.

Baby is supposed to be about 1.3 lbs and 12 inches from crown to heel.

Published: 08.14.08 / 1pm | Filed Under: pregnant

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