When you are 24 weeks pregnant, it is a great time for pregnancy yoga, to start preparing your body and mind for childbirth.
Your baby continues to grow and the uterus is becoming slightly snugger. However, there is still plenty of room for your baby to kick hard enough to wake you up at night. The coolest new ability of your baby this week is knowing what is up and down.
This article covers fetal development, and mom’s body changes when 24 weeks pregnant.
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What to Expect When 24 Weeks Pregnant?
In this article…
How Many Months is 24 Weeks Pregnant?
When you are 24 weeks pregnant, you are in your second trimester and the sixth month of pregnancy.
It is best to stick to counting weeks only to avoid the confusion that often happens when trying to count pregnancy weeks and months.
However, if you need help with understanding how to count how many weeks and months you are pregnant vs. what week and month you are in, here is the explanation.
Your Baby at 24 Weeks
How Big Is My Baby at 24 Weeks?
The fetal age of your baby is now 22 weeks. At 11.8 inches (30 cm), the baby is almost a foot long and weighs approximately 4 ounces more than last week, around 1.3 pounds (590 gr). At this point, your baby is the length of a large ear of corn.
This growth spurt will continue for some time now, and your baby will soon take on a more plump appearance. Most of the weight your baby gains now will consist of muscle weight and the brown fatty deposits in the skin that help retain the body temperature.
What Does my Baby Look Like at 24 Weeks Pregnant?
PinAt 24 weeks, your baby’s body is in proportion, although everything is still tiny. The face is almost entirely formed, together with the eyelashes, eyebrows, and hair. However, due to the lack of pigment, it would still be impossible to tell what hair color the baby has.
Because the fat under the skin is still forming, the skin is transparent. Once formed, these fat deposits will also help the baby regulate temperature.
Many parents who get an ultrasound during this time have the opportunity to get a photograph of their baby, which will undoubtedly resemble their soon-to-be new family member.
Fetal Development
Although a baby born at 24 weeks would be extremely premature and need help in the neonatal unit, there is a chance of survival if the birth happens now.
The brain is developing rapidly at this point, along with the baby’s taste buds. Quit smoking, stay away from alcohol, and eat healthy foods to promote your baby’s development!
The lungs’ branches are forming, along with the cells that produce surfactant, the substance that helps the air sacs inflate once your little one is introduced to the outside world. The lack of surfactant is one of the reasons why premature babies need help breathing because their lungs are not developed enough to function properly on their own.
Although the eyes are shut tightly, the facial features of your new baby are practically complete, with hair on the scalp, eyelashes, and eyebrows.
Your baby’s inner ear is fully developed now, and your baby may respond to sounds. Because of the vestibular system in the inner ear that helps maintain balance, the baby can now sense if they’re right-side up or not.
Mom’s Body when 24 Weeks Pregnant
Your Belly
The top of your uterus should now be felt above your belly button, and your pregnant belly is likely to have a round, beautiful shape. No wonder you are having trouble bending over and sitting comfortably at times!
Your baby’s kicks are getting stronger, and soon it will be possible to feel them from the outside too.
Pregnancy Symptoms
PinYour mucus membranes may have swollen due to the increase in blood flow, which can make you feel like you have a constant cold and stuffy nose. Some women find that this affects them only at night, while others have no symptoms at all. Saline drops in the nose can sometimes help aid these symptoms. However, some women tend to put up with this temporary side effect until it dissipates after their baby’s birth.
Having swollen ankles and feet is pretty common. If that is an issue you have, make sure to sit with your feet elevated as this might help. Watch out for the signs of extreme swelling because that might be one of the symptoms of preeclampsia. If you notice it, talk to your health provider.
Backaches might be getting worse as time passes. It is no wonder, considering that your uterus is growing and pressing on your spine. Your joints loosen because of the pregnancy hormones. On top of that, your belly is growing, and you are gaining weight, which is an additional challenge for your back muscles.
Leg cramps are an uncomfortable but common pregnancy symptom. Regular walks, as well as stretching, especially your calf muscles, might help with this issue. Because leg cramps might be a sign of dehydration, make sure to always drink enough water. Drinking adequate amounts of water and eating fiber-rich foods might also help prevent or relieve constipation problems.
Some pregnant women might experience round ligament pain. It is a sharp, stabbing, or dull pain that happens because the ligaments that hold your uterus in place are becoming stretched.
You might have already gotten stretch marks by now. If not, don’t be surprised if they start to appear. With your skin stretching and your belly expanding, they can appear at any time.
Things to do and buy this week
Continuous stretching of the skin can make your belly irritated and dry, so be sure you use a moisturizer each day to help alleviate any dryness or irritation that you may feel. Here is a good one, available at Amazon.
Be sure to take in lots of fluids each day to help keep your body from retaining water and reduce any constipation problems that you may have. As mentioned, it might also help to relieve leg cramping.
If you haven’t done so, you may have to go for your blood glucose screening test soon. This test helps to check for gestational diabetes, a pregnancy-related elevated blood sugar condition. If left untreated, it can increase your chances of having a difficult vaginal delivery or even a cesarean section because your baby will grow too large. It can also lead to other complications. Low blood sugar for your baby right after birth can also pose problems, so be sure to talk this over with your doctor during your next prenatal visit.
It is time to start thinking about attending a prenatal birthing class. You can find a prenatal class in the area where you live or online (or both).
Get immediate expert help with your pregnancy questions through JustAnswer Pregnancy:Week 24 Pregnancy Video
Diary of a Daughter
What’s it really like being 24 weeks pregnant…? Here’s a true diary from a 24 weeks pregnant mom (Me..!)
Sick again. Second stomach infection in two weeks, I can’t believe it! I am so exhausted.
I actually lost 3 pounds, so now my total weight gain is only 10 pounds. Too little, according to my midwife.
My baby continues to wake me up every night.
Are you also 24 weeks pregnant? Please share your experiences and thoughts by leaving a comment below!
Read Next
- See what your baby is up to in these fetal development videos
- Pregnancy yoga tips for each trimester
- How your breasts change during pregnancy and after
Week 23 | Week 25
References:
- Mayo Clinic, Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy
- Joanne Stone MD and Keith Eddleman MD, The Pregnancy Bible: Your Complete Guide to Pregnancy and Early Parenthood
- Nilsson, L; Hamberger, L. A Child Is Born
- Soderberg, L., Mammapraktika. B Wahlstroms.
Image: Image of 24 weeks belly by Graham and Sheila
Paula Dennholt founded Easy Baby Life in 2006 and has been a passionate parenting and pregnancy writer since then. Her parenting approach and writing are based on studies in cognitive-behavioral models and therapy for children and her experience as a mother and stepmother. Life as a parent has convinced her of how crucial it is to put relationships before rules. She strongly believes in positive parenting and a science-based approach.
Paula cooperates with a team of pediatricians who assist in reviewing and writing articles.
