Week 24

You may feel like you're already enormous, but for most women, the really dramatic weight gain usually takes place in the next six weeks of pregnancy. At one time, pregnant women were weighed at every antenatal checkup, but thankfully attitudes to weight gain are much more relaxed now.

You'll likely gain around 2 stone in total during your pregnancy, but interestingly, only around a third of this is directly related to the baby. The rest is mainly due to your increased blood supply, body fat, retained water and your new, larger breasts.

• When you feel like eating meat, try to eat fish instead. Fish is easier to digest and supplies important omega 3 fatty acids, which are important for your baby’s brain development.
• Wear comfy shoes that you can easily slip on and off – it’ll gradually become harder to bend down.
• Start thinking about decorating and furnishing your baby’s room – you won’t need much at first, probably just a cot to go next to your bed and a table or surface for changing nappies. 

You'll be able to sense that your baby is growing fast. They’ll be demanding your attention in your growing belly, so take time to pamper yourself and spoil your senses.  It’s also a good idea to get your partner involved as you prepare for your family to expand, and there are lots of ways you can enjoy this special time together to the full.

Nausea and heartburn 

The most common symptoms in week 24 are heartburn and nausea. You’re likely to feel nauseous if you eat too much heavy food at once, as your stomach is now smaller and can only fully digest smaller amounts of food. So it’s a good idea to adjust your meals so that you eat less meat and more vegetables.

You can prevent heartburn (caused by acid reflux from your stomach to your throat) by sitting up straight while eating and by drinking a glass of water with every course to make the stomach acid less aggressive.