24 Weeks Pregnant

Six months! You made it! Baby is growing and is now roughly the size of a Poo-Chi robot dog (remember those?)—and so are you. Around this time, it’s not uncommon to experience pain in your ribs, back, breasts, butt and abdomen while your hormones loosen up muscles and ligaments to make room for the (not-so) little one.

How Many Months Is 24 Weeks Pregnant?

24 weeks pregnant in months is six months pregnant, which is part of the second trimester of pregnancy. If you’re unsure about your due date, you can use our due date calculator to figure it out.

Your Baby at 24 Weeks

Your baby’s working on getting cuter. Their skin is still thin and see-through, but it’ll gradually become more opaque. Their hair and lashes are still white due to lack of pigment. As the weeks go on, their body is becoming more and more proportional, and some baby fat will soon appear, which will help with the whole see-through thing.

At 24 weeks, lots of exciting things are developing—and continuing to develop—like bone marrow and muscles. Find out more about what’s happening with your baby this week.

• Lung development: This week your baby is developing a protein that you’ve probably never heard of: surfactant. This fatty substance helps us breathe by making it easier to open the air sacs in our lungs. Your baby will keep developing more of it until about 35 weeks, according to Boston Children’s Hospital. (Preemie babies are often given extra artificial surfactant to help them breathe. Science is cool.)
• Nostrils: Their little nostrils are opening too—time to practice breathing amniotic fluid through them.
• Inner ear: According to the National Library of Medicine (NLM), your baby is developing their vestibular system. (A mouthful, we know!) This tiny system in our inner ear helps us maintain our balance, so your baby can now tell if they’re right side up or upside down.

How Big Is Your Baby at 24 Weeks?

Your baby is around 8.2 inches long from crown to rump and weighs 1.3 pounds this week. That’s about the size of a Poo-Chi robot dog.

24 Weeks Baby Movement

If you’re feeling movement from baby, it may feel like fluttering, “butterflies,” jerks or hiccups, or your baby’s activity may feel like gas bubbles.

Your Body at 24 Weeks

You have a big test coming up soon, so you’ll want to prep for that (stock up on reading and/or podcast material now!). Also on your mind? Managing some new aches and pains.

24 Weeks Pregnant Symptoms

Red or tender gums

Pregnancy hormones make your gums more sensitive, so it’s really important to brush twice a day—and floss daily, too. It’s a good time to see your dentist for a cleaning and checkup. Yep, it’s safe. In fact, it’s important not to skip that every-six-months routine.

Leg cramps

Painful muscle cramps in the legs are common in the second half of pregnancy—as if you need new aches and pains, especially ones that mess with your sleep. Stretching, exercise, proper hydration and massage can help prevent them. When leg cramps do hit, stretching or massaging the spot can help alleviate the discomfort.

Back pain

The NLM estimates that 50% of pregnant women get back pain, so count yourself in the majority if you have an aching back. Between pregnancy hormones loosening your joints, extra weight on your body and your uterus pushing against your spine and messing with your posture, it’s no wonder that it’s hurting.

Pregnancy Symptoms Coming Up In Week 25:

Pregnancy insomnia, carpal tunnel and frequent urination are some symptoms potentially coming your way in week 25 of pregnancy.

Week 24 Glucose Screening Test

Between 24 weeks and 28 weeks pregnant, you’ll get a glucose screening test to see if you have a sign of gestational diabetes, a condition that causes high blood sugar in pregnant women. According to Dr. Malavika Prabhu, a board-certified maternal-fetal medicine specialist, this test is necessary for everyone who is pregnant.

“Even if blood sugars outside of pregnancy are normal, every pregnant person is at risk of gestational diabetes (GDM), and up to 10% of women have GDM,” she said. Usually, there aren’t noticeable symptoms, so it’s important to get tested. Treatment can prevent complications, including preterm labor and high birth weight.

“GDM happens because the placenta secretes hormones that raise maternal blood glucose, but elevated blood glucose can increase risks in pregnancy if not diagnosed and treated either with dietary changes or medications,” says Dr. Prabhu.

There are two main gestational diabetes tests: the glucose challenge test and the glucose tolerance test. You’ll definitely get one but may end up getting both. Here’s what to expect for each:

Glucose Challenge Test: This is screening test that tells doctors if you have signs of gestational diabetes. For this 1-hour glucose test, you’ll drink a sweet Gatorade-like drink called glucola, then wait an hour (bring reading or listening material) and have your blood drawn. If your blood sugar level is high, it can be a sign of gestational diabetes, so you’ll likely get a follow-up test.

Glucose Tolerance Test: This is the follow-up test that can diagnose gestational diabetes, but some women take this one from the start. For this, you’ll need to fast for eight hours before the test. You’ll have your blood taken when you arrive, at one hour, at two hours and then at three hours. (That’s why it’s sometimes called the three-hours glucose test.) So that means four blood draws and 11 total hours of no eating. If two or more of the blood samples from your glucose tolerance test have high levels of glucose, you’ll be diagnosed with gestational diabetes.

Here’s more about what to expect with the tests.

Commonly Asked Questions About 24 Weeks Pregnant

Only a few more weeks until the third trimester. You may have some questions about how to get stuff done and, ahem, keep you going.

When should I start making a nursery?

It’s not too soon to start nesting. Use a Pinterest board to collect ideas. If you’re not doing a nursery (hey, not everyone has the space), think of other ways you can set aside a special space for baby’s things. Alcoves with a curtain and oversized closets can work in a pinch.

How do I relieve pregnancy constipation?

Constipation is no joke. Not only is it uncomfortable, but the added strain can lead to hemorrhoids. As your pregnancy progresses, chronic back-ups, so to speak, are not uncommon. Something like a Squatty Potty can make a major difference when it comes to keeping your bathroom habits regular.

Is there a healthy alternative for pregnancy cravings?

There’s no shame in satisfying your sweet tooth, but shake up the usual pint of Ben & Jerry’s in favor of an alternative treat. Try a bowl of frozen grapes, dates stuffed with nut butter and dark chocolate or homemade vegan cookie dough.

Sources

• Malavika Prabhu, MD, board-certified maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) specialist and attending physician at Massachusetts General Hospital
• Vestibular activity and cognitive development in children: perspectives
• What is hyaline membrane disease?
• Pregnancy-related low back pain