You are 24 weeks and 1 day

This week, think about starting to talk to your employer about your maternity leave.

111 days until your due date

You're more than halfway through and probably showing, so you've likely already told your boss. But just telling your company isn't enough; you need to know all the details of your maternity leave and what happens if you decide to stop work before the baby is born.

Every company has different rules; some offer paid maternity leave and others don't. Talk to human resources about your company's policies on maternity leave and time off. If there's no paid leave, you may be able to use paid vacation or sick days, and you may be eligible for FMLA leave.

As a matter of fact

FMLA eligibility

You may be eligible for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act.

You must have worked for your employer for at least 12 months (and 1,250 hours in the past 12 months), at a site with 50 or more employees within 75 miles.

Ask a Doctor

My doctor measured me and said I seem small for dates. What does that mean?

It means your baby seems small for this stage of pregnancy, but that doesn't necessarily mean there's a problem. You'll have a scan to measure the baby accurately and check its development thoroughly.

Sometimes slow growth is caused by intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), which can result from a problem with the placenta, carrying more than one baby, or heart disease in the mother, all of which affect the nutrients reaching the baby. Preeclampsia, smoking, alcohol, and recreational drugs can also cause IUGR.

Focus on

Your body: Stretchy skin

You may have developed stretch marks as your skin stretches quickly with pregnancy weight. They start pinkish-red and can be itchy, then fade after pregnancy to a paler, silvery color and become less noticeable. They usually appear on the breasts, belly, hips, and thighs and affect most pregnant women.

Stretch marks can run in families and are more likely as you get older, because older skin is less elastic. Moisturizing won't prevent them but may keep your skin smooth. Exercising and eating healthily can slow how fast you gain weight and "stretch."

This is general information based on NHS guidance, not medical advice, and every pregnancy is different. Talk to your midwife or GP about anything that worries you. If your baby's movements slow down or change, or you have bleeding, severe pain or leaking fluid, call your maternity unit straight away. In an emergency, call 999.

FMLA eligibility

My doctor measured me and said I seem small for dates. What does that mean?

Your body: Stretchy skin

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