Pregnancy Guide: What You Need to Know at 24 Weeks Pregnant

Is your head spinning with all the things you need to accomplish before the end of the second trimester? Distract yourself by planning your birth (as much as you can) and start thinking up names if you haven’t already. Here’s what you need to know at 24 weeks pregnant

24 Weeks Pregnant in Months

24  weeks is how many months pregnant?

24 weeks into your pregnancy puts you right in the middle of your sixth month of this amazing journey. Isn’t it incredible how time flies? Each week is a step closer to meeting your little one. Keep taking good care of yourself and cherishing these moments – you’re doing great!

Next up, here’s everything you need to know about your little one this week.

Pregnancy Week 24: Baby

If you’ve reached Week 24 of pregnancy, congratulations! You’re now approaching the last third of your pregnancy. The second trimester may be over soon but your baby keeps growing rapidly. In fact, we’ve got some great news for you.

Why is 24 weeks pregnant a milestone?

Reaching 24 weeks pregnant is a remarkable milestone on your pregnancy journey. At this point, your baby has reached a significant stage of development. According to medical experts, a baby born at 24 weeks is now considered “viable,” meaning that with the right medical support, they could potentially survive life outside the uterus.

This might sound both exciting and a bit overwhelming, but rest assured that babies born this early are still considered premature, and they typically require intensive medical care to thrive.

Baby’s Growth

Before the third trimester, let’s see how your baby is growing. You may have just swallowed a large corn cob, as your little one is about the size of one now. They are around 30 cm in length and weighs 598 g.

They’re growing and developing faster than ever—and they’ve already got a healthy set of lungs! Your baby can now breathe amniotic fluid and swallow it. This means they gets all the nutrients they need to grow without being born.

Your baby’s brain is also developing quickly. This week, their brain will begin to form into different lobes: the frontal lobe (which controls language and decision-making), the temporal lobe (which controls memory), and the parietal lobe (which controls body awareness).

Your baby’s heart is also starting to form this week, so it will be able to pump blood through their body when they’re born.

Image Source: iStock

Baby’s Development

Are babies fully developed at 24 weeks pregnant?

You’re already in your sixth month. But your baby has a lot more growing to do before they’re ready to come out. In this week-by-week pregnancy guide, you’ll learn that:

• Your baby’s face is now completely formed. The ears are also in place, and they can pick up sounds more effectively now.
• Their eyes and eyelashes are also formed, although the eyelids are closed. They will also start REM (rapid eye movement) this week.
• Their brain is growing rapidly.
• Their tastebuds fully develop when you reach week 24 of pregnancy.
• By now, their lungs are developing branches and the respiratory tree.
• Babies born at 24 weeks have a 50-50 chance of survival.

Baby’s Hearing

This week, the bones in your baby’s middle ear are fully developed and her inner ear is developing. These two processes allow her to hear sounds from the outside world—like mommy’s voice or music from the radio—and send those signals to her brain so she can understand what they mean.

Your baby’s hearing will improve, so keep talking to your little one!

Baby’s Teeth

This week, your baby’s teeth are forming in the gums. The lower front teeth will be the first to appear.

Baby’s Movement

You might feel more movement from your little one this week as well—and if you’re feeling anything like me, it’s all you can do not to squeal with delight every time you feel them move!

If you haven’t already bought your maternity clothes, now would be a good time to start looking around for some comfy options that will keep you comfortable during those long nights spent cuddling with your new little bundle of joy.

24 Weeks Pregnant: Your Body

At 24 weeks pregnant, it’s hard to believe that the last leg of pregnancy is already around the corner. You’ve come a long way, and for many expectant mums, symptoms no longer seem as severe. But there are still things we need to be aware of and keep an eye on. Take a look at some of the body changes you should start to experience going into the delivery week, as well as tips on what to do before your due date arrives.

24 Weeks Pregnant Symptoms

• Your bump is quite prominent. Your belly button will pop since the uterus is pushing everything in its path. By this week you would have gained seven to eight kilograms overall to your average weight.
• You will notice some visible stretch marks on your belly and breasts. You will also notice a dark line called linea nigra between your pubic bone and belly button.
• Your libido will drop drastically because you are feeling tired and achy.
• If you have not noticed any vaginal discharge yet before this week, then you will notice high levels of it now.
• At week 24 of pregnancy, your body is already preparing for breastfeeding. You may even notice your breasts leaking milk, or to be more specific, colostrum.
• Because of your growing belly, your balance may be thrown off and you can experience more back pains now.

To alleviate the discomfort caused by your growing belly and back pains, you may consider using a Belly Band. Made from soft cotton material, it provides a comfortable and non-itchy support. Its adjustable size allows you to customize the fit according to your belly size and gestational age, providing relief and helping you maintain balance during this stage of pregnancy

Maternal Weight Gain

At 24 weeks pregnant, it’s also important for your body to continue gaining weight—and not just because your baby needs food! Your body needs this extra weight gain because it’s preparing itself for labour and delivery.

Many women find that their appetite increases during the second trimester, so it’s okay if you notice that you’re eating more than usual. If your appetite hasn’t increased yet, don’t worry; it should happen soon enough.

The amount of weight you should gain varies from person to person; however, most doctors recommend gaining between 25 to 35 pounds total during pregnancy (with 15 to 25 pounds coming during each trimester).

24 Weeks Pregnant Tests and Screening

An oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) to check for gestational diabetes is usually done between the 24th and 28th weeks of pregnancy. You can also have a complete blood count (CBC) done to make sure you don’t have iron deficiency anaemia.

During your monthly checkup, your healthcare provider will check your blood pressure and weight and instruct you to take a urine sample, if you have certain conditions. If you also have a history of premature delivery or have an incompetent cervix, you will have your last round of ultrasound to check that at 24 weeks pregnant. 

Nutrition

Your baby is growing fast, and so is your belly! You may be experiencing some discomfort as your uterus expands and your body prepares for childbirth. As you get closer to your due date, you’ll probably experience Braxton Hicks contractions—these are “practice” contractions that help prepare your body for labor and delivery.

Eat at least 3 meals a day—breakfast, lunch, and dinner—to keep your energy up throughout the day.

Try not to skip meals; instead, eat smaller portions more often so that you don’t feel hungry between meals.

To support your changing body, try these tips for maintaining a healthy diet during pregnancy:

1. Be sure to eat plenty of protein from lean meats, dairy products, and eggs to meet your growing baby’s needs for amino acids and iron. These foods also help fill you up so you’re not reaching for high-calorie snacks between meals.
2. Choose whole grains instead of refined grains (such as white bread) because they provide more vitamins and minerals than processed foods do—and they’re easier on digestion too!
3. Include lots of fruits and vegetables in your diet every day to ensure that you’re getting enough folic acid (a B vitamin) which helps prevent birth defects such as spina bifida (when the spinal cord doesn’t develop properly). You should also aim for 1 cup of milk or yoghurt each day.

Pregnancy Care: Your Checklist For Week 24 of Pregnancy

• To keep the body healthy and reduce stretch marks, add more milk, cheese and Vitasoy Soya Bean Drink in your diet. Pile up on Vitamin C, and eat as many greens as possible. Consider getting a belly belt to support your growing bump too.
• If you have red itchy palms, avoid anything that creates more heat in your body.
• Sign up for a glucose test to determine if you have gestational diabetes. This condition occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin to regulate sugar levels.
• Hydrate as much as possible. Drink lots of water to cover the unusual thirst you will experience this week.
• The honeymoon period of pregnancy is almost over, so make sure you team up with your partner to do some babyproofing and fixing at home so you can channel all your third-trimester energy into preparing for labour.
• If you are confused between Braxton Hicks and preterm labour, don’t hesitate to talk to your doctor

Your next week: 25 weeks pregnant

Your previous week: 23 weeks pregnant

Updates from Pheona Ilagan

Here at theAsianparent Singapore, it’s important for us to give information that is correct, significant, and timely. But this doesn’t serve as an alternative for medical advice or medical treatment. theAsianparent Singapore is not responsible for those that would choose to drink medicines based on information from our website. If you have any doubts, we recommend consulting your doctor for clearer information.