24 Weeks Pregnant: Pregnancy Symptoms & Baby Development

Expectant Mother with depression

Explore pregnancy stages week by week

quick explanation

See how your baby is developing at 24 weeks pregnant. Learn about changes to your body, your baby and important nutrients for week 24 of pregnancy.

stage

24

Weeks

reading time

4

minutes

24 weeks pregnant is how many months?

Month 6 (Trimester 2)

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Baby development at 24 weeks

All that breathing practice comes in handy for your baby.

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Pregnancy at 24 weeks

We take a closer look at how insulin is affecting your blood sugar.

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Diet & nutrition

We explore iodine, the intelligent nutrient.

What does my baby look like? What size is my baby?

In week 24 of pregnancy, your baby is around 21cm long from the crown of its head to its bottom, roughly the same size as an ear of corn, only heavier. It should weigh around 600g.1,2

Your baby is pretty much complete now, if a little on the skinny side. He or she will continue to plump out over the coming weeks. Your baby also now has all their facial features, including eyebrows and eyelashes – they may even have some wisps of hair growing1.

A substance called ‘surfactant’3 is appearing inside your baby’s lungs. It helps keep the tiny air sacs in his or her lungs (alveoli) open. Your baby has been practicing breathing since around week 17 so, if they were to arrive prematurely, they’d have a good chance of surviving and breathing without the aid of a neonatal unit.

foetus-pregnancy-week-24 Baby development at 24 weeks

Your baby will become a little less acrobatic due to their size. That said, they still have a tactile relationship with their surroundings and you’ll continue to feel, and even see, your baby move, roll, kick and stretch.

Pregnancy at 24 weeks (second trimester) What’s happening in my body?

You should be showing and growing now. Or should you? Every pregnancy is different: some mums-to-be start showing early, while others can go their entire term with a barely-noticeable bump. What’s important is that you listen to your doctor or midwife, and (while it can be difficult) ignore people telling you how things ‘should be’. Even if they’re a parent themselves, their pregnancy was unique to them, as yours is to you.

You should also keep an eye on your insulin levels. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels and if you don’t have enough, your blood-sugar can become extremely high.

Low insulin levels can also lead to gestational diabetes4, which can cause problems for your and your baby. This is why most women are offered a Glucose Tolerance Test between now and week 28. Talk to your doctor or midwife for more details.

Certain groups of women are more at risk of developing gestational diabetes than others. These include women with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or higher and women from South Asia, the Middle East or Afro-Caribbean heritage.5

Pregnancy symptoms at week 24

Braxton-Hicks contractions, also known as ‘false labour pains’ happen when the womb contracts and relaxes. It’s your body’s way of ‘rehearsing’ for birth and not something to worry about. Some women don’t even notice them6.

Those hormones are the likely culprits. Paracetamol is usually safe to take during pregnancy, but always at the lowest effective dose, and for the shortest possible time.7

Your breasts may become larger and feel sore. You may also find your nipples stick out more than usual and darken in colour as your body begins to prepare for breastfeeding.

As your belly grows, you may see the appearance of stretch marks on your stomach or breasts8. They usually become much less noticeable after birth. Don’t waste money on ‘miracle creams’ - simple moisturiser is enough.

Your body holds more water while you’re pregnant, so if you stand for too long gravity will take a toll and send the water to your ankles, hands and feet. Put your feet up - right up: prop them up so they’re higher than your heart for an hour each day.9

These digestive problems are caused by your baby growing into some of the space your stomach occupies, and your changing hormones.10

Focus on Iodine

ou can think of iodine as fuel for your baby’s brain as studies have shown it can increase a baby’s IQ11, and even lead to improved lifelong wellbeing12.

However, mild iodine deficiency may be common among and pregnant women13, and research from the University of Surrey and University of Bristol suggests that even mild pregnancy iodine deficiency may be associated with poorer cognitive function13.

Thankfully, most mums-to-be can get enough iodine from a well-balanced diet. White fish is the richest natural source, and dairy products including yogurt and cow’s milk are also rich in iodine.

However, iodine from dairy produce varies from season to season14, which can affect how much iodine is in your diet15. Milk produced in winter, when cows are fed on winter feed rations, contains more iodine. During summer, lower levels have been measured14.

Speak with your doctor or midwife about taking an iodine supplement. If you’re already getting enough iodine in a well-balanced diet, then it’s unlikely you’ll need a supplement, and too much iodine can be harmful to your baby.

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Because the best sources of iodine are animal-based, vegetarians and vegans may be at a higher risk of deficiency15

The science behind Iodine, powered by Nutricia

It’s easy to feel confused by iodine. On one hand, mild to moderate deficiency can lead to poor cognitive function in a baby. On the other hand, too much iodine is also bad for you and your baby. It’s a delicate balancing act.

Your body needs iodine to make thyroid hormones, which influence normal cell function and bodily processes such as your heart rate and metabolism. During pregnancy, your baby’s cells also rely on your iodine intake, including the cells in their rapidly developing brain16.

All women need at least 0.14mg of iodine a day17. The World Health Organisation suggests pregnant women take 0.25mg daily18. If you’re worried about your iodine levels, speak to your doctor or midwife who may suggest taking supplements.

 

Your baby's future health begins here

At Aptaclub, we believe that experience helps to build resilience; and that each new encounter, whether in pregnancy or after birth, can shape your baby’s future development. With our scientific expertise and one-to-one round the clock support, we can help you and your baby embrace tomorrow.

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Get in touch with our Careline experts

Our nutritionists and feeding advisors are always on hand to talk about feeding your baby. So if you have a question, just get in touch

  1. Deans A. Your New Pregnancy Bible, The experts’ guide to pregnancy and early parenthood. 4th ed. London: Carroll & Brown Publishers Limited, 2013. p. 42.
  2. Murkoff H, Mazel S. What to Expect When You’re Expecting. 4th ed. London: Simon & Schuster Ltd, 2009. p. 261.
  3. Mother&Baby. 24 weeks pregnant: advice, symptoms and what to expect. [Online] Available at: https://www.motherandbaby.co.uk/pregnancy-and-birth/pregnancy/pregnancy-week-by-week/week-24-twenty-four-weeks-pregnant [Accessed December 2019]
  4. NHS UK. Overview - Gestational diabetes. [Online] https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/gestational-diabetes/Page last reviewed: 6 August 2019. Next review due: 6 August 2022
  5. Diabetes UK. What is gestational diabetes? [Online] Available at: https://www.diabetes.org.uk/diabetes-the-basics/gestational-diabetes [Accessed December 2019]
  6. Tommy’s UK. Braxton Hicks. [Online] Available at: https://www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/labour-birth/braxton-hicks [Accessed December 2019]
  7. NHS UK. Can I take paracetamol when I'm pregnant? [Online] Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/pregnancy/can-i-take-paracetamol-when-i-am-pregnant/ Page last reviewed: 1 June 2018. Next review due: 1 June 2021.
  8. NHS UK. Stretch marks in pregnancy. [Online] Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/stretch-marks-pregnant/ Page last reviewed: August 2019. Next review due: August 2022
  9. Tommy’s. 10 common pregnancy complaints. [Online] Available at: https://www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/im-pregnant/early-pregnancy/10-common-pregnancy-complaints Page last reviewed: April 2018. Next review due: April 2021.
  10. NHS Start4life. Week 15 - your second trimester [Online] Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/start4life/pregnancy/week-by-week/2nd-trimester/week-25/ [Accessed December 2019]
  11. Bath SC et al Effect of inadequate iodine status in UK pregnant women on cognitive outcomes in their children: results from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Lancet 2013;382(9889):331-7.
  12. NHS UK. Iodine supplements could help mums, babies and the economy. 10th August, 2015. [Online] Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/news/pregnancy-and-child/iodine-supplements-could-help-mums-babies-and-the-economy/ [Accessed December 2019]
  13. NHS UK. Could a mother's lack of iodine harm her child's IQ? 22nd May, 2013. [Online] Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/news/pregnancy-and-child/could-a-mothers-lack-of-iodine-harm-her-childs-iq/[Accessed December 2019]
  14. Travnicek et al. Iodine content in raw milk [Online]. 2006. Available at: https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/a8ec/21e3ae400707d370dcd41e5cd20bf5d2393b.pdf [Accessed December 2019]
  15. Furmidge-Owen, V. A longitudinal study of iodine status throughout gestation in UK women [Online]. 2013. Available at: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/proceedings-of-the-nutrition-society/article/longitudinal-study-of-iodine-status-throughout-gestation-in-uk-women/9093BC156744A8BB6AAA1857266DACED [Accessed December 2019]
  16. Delange F. Iodine requirements during pregnancy, lactation and the neonatal period and indicators of optimal iodine nutrition. Public Health Nutr 2007;10(12A):1571-1580.
  17. Department of Health. Report on Health and Social Subjects 41. Dietary Reference Values for Food Energy and Nutrients for the United Kingdom. London: TSO, 1991.
  18. British Dietetic Association. Food fact sheet: Iodine [Online]. 2013. Available at: www.bda.uk.com/foodfacts/iodine.pdf [Accessed December 2019]

Last reviewed: 14th January 2020 
Reviewed by Nutricia’s Medical and Scientific Affairs Team

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