Week 24 is the medical viability milestone — with intensive-care support, most babies born now can survive. Your baby’s lungs are producing surfactant, tiny fingerprints are set, and the glucose challenge test is on your calendar.
Common symptoms at 24 weeks pregnant
- A more pronounced bump that now sits above the belly button
- Back pain as the abdominal muscles stretch
- Occasional heartburn or reflux
- Sensitive gums that bleed easily when brushing
- Occasional round-ligament twinges when you shift position
Tips for week 24
- Complete the glucose-challenge test between 24 and 28 weeks to screen for gestational diabetes.
- Switch to a supportive maternity belt if you are on your feet for long periods.
- Add omega-3-rich foods (walnuts, chia, salmon) for baby’s brain and eye development.
- Book a growth-and-well-being scan for around 28-30 weeks if your provider does routine third-trimester scans.
This week's checklist
- Take the glucose challenge test
- Start a birth plan draft
- Consider a maternity support belt
Frequently asked questions
What is the glucose challenge test like?
You drink a sweetened glucose solution, wait one hour, and have your blood sugar checked. If the reading is high, a longer glucose-tolerance test confirms the diagnosis.
What are the warning signs of gestational diabetes?
Most cases have no symptoms — that is why we screen everyone. Excessive thirst, urination, and fatigue are worth mentioning to your doctor.
Is heartburn at 24 weeks harmful?
Heartburn is uncomfortable but not harmful. Eat smaller meals, avoid lying down for two hours after eating, and ask your doctor about a pregnancy-safe antacid.
When to call your provider
Most weeks of pregnancy pass without alarm, but a small set of symptoms always deserves urgent attention. Call your doctor or head to the nearest maternity emergency room straight away for any of the following:
- Heavy, bright-red vaginal bleeding or the passage of clots
- Severe headache with visual changes, upper-abdominal pain, or sudden facial swelling
- Any leaking of fluid before 37 weeks or a sudden gush of fluid at any week
- A clear drop in your baby’s usual pattern of kicks, or fewer than 10 movements in two hours during their active window
- Fever above 38 °C, painful urination, or one-sided calf swelling
Where week 24 sits in the second trimester
The second trimester covers weeks 13 to 27 and is often called the honeymoon of pregnancy. Energy comes back, morning sickness fades, and this is the phase when you feel the first kicks, complete the anatomy scan, and start planning practical things — nursery, maternity clothes, and childbirth classes. Week 24 sits comfortably in this window.
Educational content — not a substitute for medical care. Contact your obstetric provider urgently for heavy bleeding, severe headache with visual changes, one-sided leg swelling, upper-abdominal pain, reduced fetal movement, or any concern that feels wrong to you.