Pregnancy Week 24
What to expect when you're 24 weeks pregnant
Baby development at 24 weeks pregnant
At 24 weeks, your baby is now potentially viable (that is, they would likely survive with the help of a ventilator if delivery had to take place) and is making impressive advances every day. In anticipation of what’s to come, your baby will practice breathing.
Your baby’s about 8.2 inches from crown to rump and weighs approximately 1.3 pounds. This is about the size of an ear of corn!
Lots of developments are progressing on your baby’s face. Their nostrils are now open, and your baby goes through the motions of breathing by inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid. Their eyelids have fully separated, are lined with eyelashes and are ready to reveal sparkling eyes. Your baby’s inner ear, which controls balance, is now developed. They’re beginning to get a sense of upside-down and right-side-up in the amniotic sac.
Your baby’s skin, wrinkled in earlier weeks, now smooths and becomes more opaque as fat builds up underneath. It also becomes somewhat less translucent as pigment starts to deposit.
Week 24 pregnant belly
At 24 weeks, you can now feel the top of your uterus just 2 inches from your belly button. You’re likely gaining about a pound each week from your baby’s weight gain, an enlarging placenta, amniotic fluid and fluid accumulation in your body’s tissues.
Week 24 pregnancy symptoms
Your baby probably sleeps while you’re up and about, lulled to dreamland by your movement. When you’re still — such as when you're attempting to sleep — is the time your little one will likely choose to be up and at ’em.
- Aches and pains: Feeling more aches and pains is normal at this time as hormones loosen ligaments and muscles to give you more room to share with your baby.
- Bumps on breasts: You may notice some small bumps arising from your areolas. These are Montgomery’s tubercles, and they secrete an oily lubricant to nourish your skin and keep it supple.
- Dry eyes: Tear production in pregnancy often decreases as a result of hormones, causing dry eyes and irritation. If dry eyes become a daily nuisance, lubricating eye drops are a quick over-the-counter remedy.
- Blurred vision: Hormones may be to blame for newly blurred vision, and they can also cause increased eye curvature during pregnancy. If you have symptoms and slightly blurred vision, consult with a medical practitioner.
- Excess saliva: If you find yourself swallowing excess saliva, rest assured it’s typical at 24 weeks of pregnancy.
- Itchy skin: Your skin might itch as a result of increased blood circulation. If the itching interferes with sleep, affects your palms or the soles of your feet or otherwise becomes severe, consult your obstetrician.
Pregnancy checklist at 24 weeks
At six months pregnant, you’re well over halfway there but may not be able to see the end in sight. It’s important to take care of yourself, get exercise, take your vitamins and let yourself rest when you’re feeling fatigued.
Reminders for
Week 24
- Glucose testing. Glucose challenge testing is usually done between weeks 24 and 28 of your pregnancy to determine if you have gestational diabetes or another abnormality of glucose metabolism. You’ll drink a full glass of glucose solution, and your blood will be drawn from your arm after about an hour to check your blood glucose level. If the reading falls outside of the normal range, a longer glucose tolerance test is usually recommended to determine if a dietary change would be beneficial.
- Track your weight gain. On average, you should gain about a pound a week. Women who start their pregnancy with an average BMI are advised to gain around 30 pounds over the course of their pregnancy. Is your weight gain on track? Talk to your doctor if you’re concerned about gaining too much or not enough weight.
- Shop for belly support. As your belly size continues to increase, you may find yourself in need of some extra support — maybe a seatbelt extender or a supportive pregnancy pillow. There are hundreds of products on the market to make your pregnancy more comfortable.
Explore pregnancy by week
Week 23 | Week 25
