24 Weeks Pregnant

Key Takeaways

• Your body: You’ve probably gained about 15 pounds or so at this point. Remember, you're building a human being, and you have a heavy placenta and extra blood volume—so every pound is important! If you’ve gained a lot more (or less) than that, talk to your doctor.
• Prenatal testing: The next test on the docket: the glucose screening. You’ll drink a super-sweet drink and have your blood sugar measured one hour later. If your blood sugar is high, you’ll need to move on to the three-hour test.
• Your bump: Finally! It’s really showing (and you’re probably loving your maternity leggings!). Your fundal height at this point is probably between 22 and 26 centimeters (from the top of your uterus to your pubic-bone area)—give or take.
• Baby development: No horror movies for baby just yet, but their startle reflex has now developed, so they might kick you in response to some unexpected stimulus.

Your week 24 baby is working on being ready to survive (and thrive!) in the outside world. You, on the other hand, are probably experiencing some aches and pains (think: leg cramps, backaches and swollen feet). This was the point in pregnancy when I finally treated myself to a prenatal massage—and it was glorious! Can’t make it to the spa? Ask your partner to give you a foot rub. You deserve it, mama-to-be!

Video Highlights at 24 Weeks

Baby at Week 24

Wondering what it’d be like to get a look at baby at 24 weeks in the womb? Your 24-week-old fetus is growing fast. Their wrinkly skin is still a bit see-through but becoming more opaque every day, taking on a fresh, pink glow, thanks to the small capillaries that have recently formed. They’re also quickly putting on baby fat, looking cuter and cuter each day. Their eyelashes, eyebrows and head of hair are still filling out, but the hair itself has yet to develop any pigment. Baby’s startle reflex has developed now too, so you might find that loud noises make baby jump!

Want a fun new party trick? Ask your partner or a friend to put their ear to your belly—they might just be able to hear baby’s heartbeat!

How big is baby at 24 weeks?

Wondering about the size of baby at 24 weeks? Your approximately 12.7-inch 24-week-old fetus now weighs around 1.5 pounds.

Are babies fully developed at 24 weeks?

Not quite yet. While baby may look like a newborn already, a 24-week fetus still has a good amount of fat to gain, and their little lungs aren’t fully developed yet. Baby is growing taste buds and has fingerprints and footprints already(!), but their brain is still developing and growing. Baby is getting closer and closer to being ready to meet you, but they still have some important work to do in that 24 week baby bump of yours.

24 weeks pregnant is how many months?

Now that you’re 24 weeks pregnant, you’re six months along. That said, remember that doctors track pregnancy in weeks. Once you look at 24 weeks in months, it’s no wonder you’re tired. Those six-month symptoms are no joke!

24 week ultrasound

You likely won’t have an ultrasound this week, but inside your 24 weeks pregnant belly, baby is making some serious progress.

Around 24 weeks pregnant, your doctor will order a glucose screening test—one of the more memorable prenatal tests—to see if you’re at risk for gestational diabetes. The test is designed to see how your body processes sugar, so you’ll be asked to drink a sweet liquid called Glucola (which reminds us of Gatorade) and then hang out for an hour. Once the hour is up, you’ll have your blood drawn and then it will be tested to see how your body has processed the sugar.

If your doctor finds abnormal results, you may have to have a follow-up test called the glucose tolerance test. Hunker down in the waiting room for this one! It will measure how your body processes sugar over a three-hour period to see if you really do have gestational diabetes. If you do, it’s not the end of the world. Your doctor will counsel you on how to keep your condition in check so the rest of your pregnancy stays healthy. And you and baby might get extra monitoring—meaning, extra ultrasounds. Look on the bright side: At least you’ll get to peek at baby more often!

Pregnancy Symptoms at Week 24

Your (pretty annoying) 24 week pregnant symptoms probably look a little bit like this:

Swollen ankles and feet

If your tootsies are puffy, elevate them while you're sitting. Getting up and walking often can help too. A little bit of swelling is totally to be expected, but sudden or severe swelling, especially in your face or hands, or swelling that is uneven (in one leg and not the other) aren’t run-of-the-mill. In fact, those are signs of preeclampsia, a dangerous pregnancy complication, so tell your OB if you’re experiencing any swelling that seems out of the ordinary.

Leg cramps

Tight, achy or “jumpy” legs can be a sign of dehydration, so check that you’re drinking plenty of water. Stretch your legs often and take lots of walks. Let your doctor know you’re getting leg cramps; they’re probably not an issue, but occasionally cramps can be a sign of another problem, such as a nutritional deficiency, so it’s worth keeping an eye on.

Backaches

Yep, you’re still experiencing back pain—and it might even be getting worse. That’s because as baby gets larger, so does your uterus (of course), and your uterus presses against your spine, making it more curved and strained. Plus, your back muscles have to work harder to carry the extra weight. Tell your doctor about any severe pain (aka sciatica).

Linea nigra

That's the dark line that runs up the center of your belly. Influenced by pregnancy hormones, the linea nigra should fade within a few weeks to months after giving birth.

Stretch marks

These “tiger stripes” may continue to appear as your skin stretches even more. If you’re 24 weeks pregnant with twins, you’re probably more likely to get them.

Your Pregnant Belly at 24 Weeks

At 24 weeks pregnant, you’ve probably been feeling baby kicking for at least a few weeks, but now they’re getting stronger and stronger. In fact, your partner or others who touch your belly might start to feel those kicks through your 24 week baby bump soon too.

Recommended 24 weeks pregnant weight gain is about 14 to 16 pounds for moms-to-be of normal BMI. If you’ve gained a bit more than that, don’t worry—it’s drastic or sudden weight gain that’s cause for concern—but for the healthiest pregnancy possible, you’ll want to find ways to keep your weight gain under control.

Did you know 24 is a magic number for twin moms? It’s recommended that women who are 24 weeks pregnant with twins have gained 24 pounds by now. In fact, if you have, you’ve actually reduced your risk of preterm labor.

What position is baby in at 24 weeks?

Usually, at 24 weeks pregnant, baby is still small enough that they may change position frequently. They may be upright, transverse or positioned sideways, which can be a bit less comfortable. You may be able to tell which position baby is in based on where the kicks and punches are coming from.

Tips for 24 Weeks Pregnant

Here are some good-for-you actions to take this week.

Get your squeezes in

Exercise is important before having a baby, and that includes working your pelvic floor. Kegel exercises get your vaginal muscles and perineal muscles ready to deliver that baby and can reduce the likelihood of tearing. So squeeze, mama!

Follow doctor’s orders

If your glucose test shows that you have gestational diabetes, try not to fret and just follow your doctor’s instructions regarding diet, exercise and other methods of managing it.

Look out for relaxin

You might be amused by your newfound flexibility with all that relaxin in your system, but be careful not to overstretch your loose joints and ligaments. Just take it easy when you’re stretching, so you don’t hurt yourself accidentally.

Eat thoughtfully

Now that you (hopefully!) don’t feel nauseous anymore, you might be more hungry. Just be thoughtful about what you’re eating and when, so you don’t make heartburn worse. Eat small meals more often to keep indigestion at bay.

Wins, Challenges and Wisdom

Week 24 in the books! You’ve got this. And if you’re worried that you don’t, take comfort from other moms in The Bump community who’ve overcome this anxiety and shared their words of advice.

• Win: “I'm not sure if it's possible to go until delivery without knowing, but I'm nobody to judge. I do know that it's possible to get to 24 weeks and not know. As unbelievable as it may sound, I just found out that I'm pregnant and already 24 weeks! I honestly had no symptoms other than some slight nausea, which I kept thinking was due to the stomach virus my kids had. I'm breastfeeding my 7-month-old and haven't had a regular period, and felt absolutely no movement yet… I went in to the doctor the other day to have a blood test done and found out I'm 24 weeks pregnant. It was a big surprise, but a wonderful one.” - michelle04us
• Challenge: “I have beautiful 5-year-old twin boys who were born at 24 weeks and 5 days. Now I’m pregnant again and I’m so nervous about having another preemie birth! Everyone tells me not to worry… but I'm still freaking out!” - BabyLouLou
• Wisdom: “I just kept telling myself that no matter what, this baby needs to be celebrated—and all he will ever know is love and joy.” - hopefulelise