Your baby

It may come as a relief to know that at 24 weeks your baby is ‘legally viable’. This means that if your baby was born now, he would have a chance of survival outside your womb and would be cared for in an intensive care unit.

Your baby now weighs in at around one pound, six ounces and measures 21cm crown to rump. Once your baby reaches two pounds in weight, his chances of survival if born prematurely rise to almost 70%, while 90% of premature babies weighing between two and four pounds survive.

From now on your baby will continue to deposit brown fat and the lungs will be maturing in readiness for birth. You’ll be in no doubt that your baby is kicking. He is also developing a sleep and wake cycle with rapid eye movement, and often hiccups while practising breathing techniques.

Your progress

You may find sleeping becomes increasingly difficult, not just because of your growing bump, but also the endless trips to the loo and restless thoughts about your baby.

Sleeping on your back becomes increasingly difficult, as it can make you feel breathless and uncomfortable. Sleeping on your front, of course, is a dim and distant memory. So try sleeping on your side with cushions for support under your bump and upper leg. This position will allow maximum flow of blood and nutrients to the placenta, while helping your kidneys to function effectively.

From this point on, you’ll probably gain between half and one pound each week. You may start getting breathless as hormones relax your lung muscles and your growing uterus pushes up against your diaphragm, crowding your lungs. You may also struggle to concentrate and forget things more frequently, as those hormones surge around your system.

What to think about

Although you needn’t baby-proof your house until your baby is around eight months old, you may want to ‘parent proof’ your house in preparation for the new-baby-fog that will be descending on your happy home in just a few weeks.

People say that having a child can make your brain fuzzy. After all, newborns typically sleep for only three or four hours in a row before needing to be fed yet again. And sleep deprivation is like being drunk, only less fun… So now’s the time to clear the decks so you can find everything you need and your clutter doesn't drive you crazy.

Here are some tips to avoid going bump in the night (or during the day, for that matter):

Tame cords. You can use twist ties or specially designed cord containers to keep loose electrical wires from getting underfoot.

Kill clutter. No matter how messy your house gets, make sure there's a clear path to walk through each room, even if you have to use a shovel.

Bump protection. If you get bruised shins from bumping into the corner of the coffee table or other pieces of furniture, consider getting it out of the way for the time being.

Lose the toys. If you have older children, explain that toys left lying around are dangerous. Make sure there's enough easy-access storage space so that every toy has a home other than the floor.

Light up the night. Put a nightlight in the bathroom, in any dark halls and at the top and bottom of staircases.

Secure the stairs. If you have hardwood stairs, consider sticking non-slip tread strips on them and make sure your stairs have handrails.

Smoking ban. Don't let anyone smoke in your house. Designate an outdoor area and put a container with sand there if you have to.

Cleaning supplies. Before the baby arrives, stock up on cleaning and other household supplies such as batteries, toilet paper, paper towels and bin bags.