24 Weeks Pregnant

24 Weeks Pregnant: Your Baby’s Development

When you’re 24 weeks pregnant, your baby is growing and getting stronger! You may feel your little one’s movements more than you did before, with pokes and kicks becoming increasingly frequent. You may notice periods when your baby’s movement levels seem to increase, such as before bedtime. Likewise, you might also notice other times when these movements seem less frequent, which could occur when your baby is resting or sleeping. Your healthcare provider can offer advice on whether you should be monitoring your baby’s movements. If your provider gives you the go-ahead, this downloadable fetal movement tracker can help you keep a record. Another important milestone at around 24 weeks pregnant is that your baby’s inner ear is fully developed. This organ controls the sense of balance and helps your baby feel if they’re right side up or down in the womb. And although your baby’s lungs are formed by this week, the lungs will be ready to function normally in the outside world only after they start producing surfactant. This substance helps keep the lungs’ air sacs inflated, and your baby will start producing it at around 26 weeks. If you’re 24 weeks pregnant with twins, learn more about the development of your multiples in our twin pregnancy week-by-week guide.

The Size of the Fetus at 24 Weeks Pregnant

Now that you’re 24 weeks pregnant, your fetus is about the size of a full ear of corn. Your little one weighs slightly over 1 pound and is almost 8 inches long from crown to rump. Take a peek at how your baby may look at 24 weeks with the visual below.

How Many Months Is 24 Weeks Pregnant?

At 24 weeks pregnant, you’re just a few weeks away from the end of the second trimester, which runs from 14 to 27 weeks. This puts you approximately at the end of six months pregnant. Keep in mind, there are various ways to group the weeks of pregnancy into months, and knowing which week you’re in is the most helpful to you and your healthcare provider.

Your Body at 24 Weeks Pregnant

By the time you reach 24 weeks pregnant, you may have gained about 10 to 15 pounds, and your baby bump is still growing day by day. As your belly expands, you might want to wear a maternity belt or belly band to keep your abdomen well supported, especially when exercising while pregnant. Eating a healthy diet and getting regular exercise will help you feel better both physically and emotionally during pregnancy. Plus, staying fit during pregnancy will make it easier to lose the weight you’ve gained later on, after your baby is born.

24 Weeks Pregnant: Your Symptoms

At 24 weeks pregnant, here are some of the symptoms you may be experiencing:

• Skin changes. Throughout your pregnancy, your skin may change or become irritated. At 24 weeks pregnant, you might notice the following skin changes:

  • Pigment changes. You might start noticing darker patches of skin on your body and face due to hormonal changes. This happens because the pigment-bearing cells called melanin are stimulated. The brown patches on your face are called chloasma, and the dark line down your abdomen is called the linea nigra. After your baby is born, these pigmented areas usually fade with time. Experts say that avoiding heavy sun exposure and using sunscreen can help reduce chloasma.

  • Stretch marks. As your body grows, you might also notice streaks where the skin stretches. Stretch marks during pregnancy are most likely to occur on areas like your belly, buttocks, and breasts. You can’t prevent stretch marks, but they can fade over time after the birth of your baby.

  • Itchy skin. You might also experience itchiness as your skin stretches; applying moisturizer might help reduce the itchy feeling.

• Round ligament pain. You might be experiencing pain on one or both sides of your abdomen or hip area. This could be round ligament pain, which is quite common during pregnancy. It happens because the ligaments holding your uterus in place become strained and stretched. Gently stretching and changing positions may help reduce the pain. If the pain ever gets too intense—or if it’s accompanied by other symptoms, such as fever or bleeding—contact your healthcare provider for a checkup.

• Trouble sleeping. The size of your belly at 24 weeks pregnant might make it difficult to find a comfortable sleeping position. Some well-placed pregnancy pillows can help! Try sleeping on your side with your knees bent and with one pillow between your legs and another one under your belly for support. Read more in our trimester by trimester guide to sleep.

• Loss of balance and dizziness. Your growing belly affects how your weight is distributed, making it a little easier to feel off balance. On top of this, changes in circulation can make you feel dizzy or light-headed. It may help to move slowly (particularly when you get up or change positions), drink lots of water, and stay cool. If you do feel dizzy, lie down on your side. If you’re concerned, ask your healthcare provider for advice.

• Leg cramps. Have you been experiencing painful calf or foot muscle contractions lately? It’s not unusual to feel this kind of cramping at 24 weeks pregnant. In fact, you might encounter this symptom from time to time right up until the day your baby is born. Although experts don’t know the exact cause of leg cramps during pregnancy, they do agree on what to do about them:

  • Stretch your calf muscles before you go to sleep at night

  • Stay physically fit through regular exercise

  • Drink plenty of water to help reduce cramping.

24 Weeks Pregnant: Things to Consider

As you reach 24 weeks pregnant, you may start to wonder what’s around the corner, if there’s anything particular you should know about this stage of pregnancy, or how to prepare for your baby’s arrival. Below you’ll find a few things to consider.

• Sex while pregnant. As your belly grows, you and your partner may be wondering whether sex is still safe. If your pregnancy is progressing normally, having sex is probably safe, but if your pregnancy has complications, your healthcare provider may recommend you abstain. Because everyone’s situation is unique, your provider is the best person to ask about your specific situation. Read up on sex during pregnancy for more information, and discuss your feelings with your partner, too. Keep in mind that during pregnancy, the sex drive of both you and your partner may vary.

• Glucose screening. A glucose screening test is usually done some time between 24 and 28 weeks pregnant. The test will help your healthcare provider assess your risk of gestational diabetes. Your provider will advise you if you need this test; to learn more, see our article on glucose screening and testing.

• Driving or riding in a car. As your belly gets larger, you’ll need to make adjustments to your daily routine, such as how you can fasten your seatbelt to safely protect you and your baby. The lap strap of the seatbelt should go under your belly and rest snugly against your hip bones. Put the shoulder strap across the center of your chest rather than under your arm. Never cross any part of the seatbelt over your belly.

• Hydration. Staying hydrated is important. As a mom-to-be, you need plenty of water to stay healthy and support your growing baby. Experts recommend drinking 8 to 12 cups of fluid a day when you’re pregnant. If you tend to forget to drink during your busy day, you could

  • set a phone reminder every few hours, prompting you to drink water

  • set out full bottles of water at the start of each day and try to drink them all.

• Birth preferences. At 24 weeks pregnant, you’ve passed the halfway mark, so it might be a good idea to start discussing your preferences for childbirth with your healthcare provider and birth partner. Your birth partner could be your partner or another trusted friend or loved one. The more your provider and birth partner know about your personal preferences and the kind of birth you’d like to have, the better they can support you when the time comes. Your birth partner can support you by helping with certain comfort measures like massages and lots of encouragement and emotional support. There’s still lots of time to have these discussions and to write a birth plan, if you’d like to, but now is a good time to start having these conversations.

• Babyproofing. Although your baby’s arrival is still a few months away, and your baby being able to crawl and walk could be almost a year away, the second trimester is still a great time to start baby proofing. This is because you may still have a bit of energy, and once your baby has arrived, you’ll have lots of other things on your plate. Remember, while you can get some things out of the way now (like securing electric cables and adding child proof locks to low cupboards) baby proofing is an ongoing task and you’ll need to revisit it before your little one can crawl.

• Your subconscious. At 24 weeks pregnant, you may be experiencing some strange things that you can’t quite place. Perhaps you’re having crazy dreams, or maybe you’re struggling to stay focused when normally you’re on top of things. Read our articles on vivid pregnancy dreams and “pregnancy brain” to separate fact from fiction and find out why this may be happening.

24 Weeks Pregnant: Ask Your Healthcare Provider

At this point in your pregnancy, you may want to ask your healthcare provider a few questions. Remember, you are on this journey together, and your provider is there to support you. Consider the following questions, but feel free to ask more:

• Are there any pregnancy screenings or tests that you need to schedule during the rest of this trimester?

• Is it necessary to drink filtered tap water?

• Are there any foods to prioritize at 24 weeks pregnant? Any foods you need to avoid?

• Are there any vaccinations needed during pregnancy? When is the best time to have them?

• What help is available if you’re feeling down while pregnant?

24 Weeks Pregnant: Your Checklist

Here’s a handy checklist for when you’re 24 weeks pregnant: