This piece has been medically reviewed and written with the assistance of Katherine Walker, Service Development Manager at NCT.
At 24 weeks pregnant, your baby’s little face is nearly fully formed, and your belly grows more noticeable by the day. As your body continues to change in preparation for your baby’s arrival, the excitement is really starting to build—especially as more people begin to notice your growing bump. If you choose to find out the gender at your anomaly scan, you’re already cheering for team boy or team girl.
This is a time of incredible changes for your whole family, especially for you and your baby, and it's perfectly normal to have a mix of emotions—from joy and anticipation to a bit of nervousness. But let’s dive into what to expect this week and how to make the most of this special time as you prepare for the amazing adventure of parenthood.
We break down what to expect at 24 weeks pregnant, from the symptoms you might experience to the amazing changes happening with your baby.
How many months is 24 weeks pregnant?
Counting your pregnancy in weeks and months can get confusing. You are around six months pregnant now!
In the sixth month of your pregnancy, your uterus is now about the size of a football, sitting above your belly button, and your bump is even more prominent.
How big is my baby at 24 weeks?
Your baby is growing fast -they're about 30 cm long and weigh around 600 grams, roughly the size of an ear of corn. They’re getting plumper as fat starts to develop under their skin, making them look more like the newborn you'll soon meet. They'll continue to put on about three to three and a half ounces a week until the birth.
Baby Development at 24 Weeks Pregnant:
Reaching 24 weeks is a huge milestone because it's the point of "viability." This means that if your baby were to be born prematurely now, they would have a chance of survival with medical intervention. However, they still need more time to develop fully, so the best place for them is still inside your tummy.
Your baby’s lungs are maturing daily and are beginning to produce a substance called surfactant, which helps keep tiny air sacs in the lungs called alveoli open. They’ll even practice breathing in the womb, moving their chest up and down and exhaling amniotic fluid.You may even feel your baby getting hiccups, which is part of helping their lungs get ready. You'll probably be feeling her move now too.
There are plenty of changes taking place for your baby this week. Their brain is growing, their taste buds are developing, and their body is filling out.
While your baby’s skin is still thin and translucent, that will soon change: she’ll soon start to plump up, with much of the weight gained this week due to growing organs, muscles, bones, and fat. The skin will become less see-through as fat deposits are made.
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Noticing that your wrists and fingers are feeling numb, especially at night? It’s probably carpal tunnel syndrome, another confusing pregnancy symptom. The swelling you’ve noticed during pregnancy is responsible: it causes fluids to accumulate in your lower body during the day and redistributes them around the rest of your body once you’re lying down, which puts pressure on the nerves that run through your wrists and thus can cause pain, tingling, a sense of numbness or an ache in your hands, fingers and wrists. These symptoms will usually disappear within a few weeks of your baby's birth, but for now, try to gently move your hands and wrists and avoid sleeping on them at night. Some people find an over-the-counter splint helpful
Red or darker than usual, itchy palms
Known as palmar erythema, itchy and red or darker than usual palms and the bottoms of your feet may result from an increase in oestrogen and blood volume. Avoid irritants like harsh soaps and seek relief by applying cold water or ice to your palms or feet.
Haemorrhoids or piles
You may also be experiencing the joy of haemorrhoids or piles, essentially varicose veins in your bottom. Like the veins in your legs, the ones in your bottom can stretch so that blood starts to collect in them, causing pain and swelling. The reason they’re so common in pregnancy is down to those pesky hormones, again – they can cause sluggish digestion and constipation, meaning you strain when you go to the loo, putting extra pressure on the veins around your bottom.
Blurred vision
Seeing double? Chances are it's those pesky pregnancy hormones again! They can decrease tear production, which increases fluid build-up in the eye, which can obscure your vision. Ask your GP for eye drops if your eyes feel dry, and don’t panic: these symptoms will go away once your baby is born. Any vision problems should be discussed with a healthcare professional as sometimes they can be a sign of a more severe problem.
Backache
At 24 weeks, you are no stranger to backache, but it may even get worse as time passes. As your baby gets bigger, so does your uterus, and this puts pressure against your spine, adding to the strain and potentially making it more curved. Not to mention the extra baby weight.
Now is the time to practice good posture. Try to keep your back straight and shoulders back, and avoid slouching. This helps distribute weight more evenly and can reduce back pain.
Gentle activities like walking, swimming, or pregnancy yoga can strengthen your back muscles and improve flexibility.
Linea Nigra
Linea nigra is a dark, vertical line that appears on the abdomen during pregnancy. It typically runs from the pubic bone up to the belly button, though in some cases, it can extend higher. The line is caused by hormonal changes that increase the production of melanin, which darkens the skin on all skin types. Moisturiser can't hurt, but it should fade not long after birth.
Stretch marks
As your belly grows to accommodate your baby, the skin stretches significantly. This rapid stretching can cause the collagen and elastin fibres in the skin to tear, resulting in stretch marks. Not all women get stretch marks, but if your mother or other close family members had them, you'd probably get them, too.
Keeping your skin hydrated can improve its elasticity. Use creams, oils, or lotions specifically designed for pregnant skin. The best ingredients for improving the appearance of stretch marks are cocoa butter, shea butter, or vitamin E.
Your Body at 24 weeks Pregnant:
As ever, your body is changing week by week: by week 24, your uterus will be about the size of a football. If you had risk factors at your booking appointment, it’s also time to take a glucose screening test—also known as an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)—to check for gestational diabetes, a high blood sugar condition that can affect pregnant women.
As we mentioned, you may be experiencing haemorrhoids or piles. You may notice itchy bumps around your anus and bright, red blood in the toilet bowl and on the loo paper. As unpleasant as they are, piles can be treated easily with haemorrhoid creams to numb the pain and itching, so book an appointment with your GP if you need advice.
How big should my bump be at 24 weeks pregnant?
At 24 weeks pregnant, your pregnancy will definitely be starting to show, and you can expect to have gained around 14 to 16 pounds.
What our expert says about being 24 weeks pregnant
Katherine Walker, Service Development Manager at NCT, said: ”You may become aware that your heart is beating a bit faster than usual, and you might notice you’re breathing a bit faster too; this is because your body is now pumping 50% more blood through your body so that your baby receives plenty of oxygen, you are breathing for two!
“The main changes for your baby at this stage are putting down fat and maturing their lungs, they are getting ready to be born ready to breathe and maintain their body temperature. You might be thinking about birth, there are lots of decisions you can begin to consider at this stage before it’s too imminent.”
What to do this week
Do your research:
Now is a great time to start exploring books or apps that offer guidance on childbirth and parenting to help prepare you and your partner both mentally and emotionally.
Book a meeting with your manager:
It’s time to tell your employer that you’re pregnant if they don't know already. This is known as the notification week, or the 15th week prior to the week your baby is due. You’ll probably have told your line manager before this point, especially if you’ve been taking time off for antenatal appointments, but in case you haven’t, now’s the time to mention it!
About our expert
The National Childbirth Trust (NCT) is the UK’s largest charity for parents. It offers support through every stage of pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood. The trust provides antenatal and postnatal courses, local meet-ups, and a range of resources to help parents feel more confident and connected.
Hannah Carroll is our Senior Digital Writer at Mother&Baby. In her capacity, she curates top-notch listicles, crafts insightful how-to guides, and delivers expert product reviews. As a mother of three, Hannah draws upon her comprehensive understanding of all facets of family life to bring true insight into all the products that make running a home easier.