24 Weeks Pregnant: What to Expect This Week
Twenty-four weeks pregnant marks a profound milestone: viability. Baby's lungs are now producing surfactant — the substance that allows them to inflate and breathe air. This is a landmark in any pregnancy.
Baby at Week 24: Size of a ear of corn
Baby's Development at 24 Weeks
The lungs are producing surfactant for the first time, which is the critical substance that prevents the air sacs from collapsing after birth. The brain is growing and developing folds and grooves (gyri and sulci) that dramatically increase its surface area. Baby's face is almost completely formed with all recognisable features. The eyes have fully formed irises but still lack the final pigmentation that determines eye colour. Skin is becoming more opaque as fat deposits grow.
Your Body at 24 Weeks Pregnant
The glucose tolerance test (gestational diabetes screening) is usually done between weeks 24 and 28 — your provider will schedule this. Stretch marks continue to develop. Some people experience a significant growth spurt in the bump between weeks 24 and 28. Shortness of breath may begin as the uterus starts pressing up toward the diaphragm. Pelvic pressure increases as baby grows heavier.
Tips for Week 24
- Attend your glucose screening test — gestational diabetes is very manageable when caught early.
- Sleeping position: left side is ideal, but right side is also fine. Try to avoid lying flat on your back for extended periods from now on.
- Install your car seat before the birth — many hospitals won't let you leave without one correctly fitted.
- Research your hospital's skin-to-skin and delayed cord clamping policies — important for your birth plan.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the glucose tolerance test?
The glucose tolerance test (GTT) screens for gestational diabetes. You drink a glucose solution, wait one to three hours, then have a blood test. It's typically done between 24 and 28 weeks. Gestational diabetes develops when the body can't produce enough insulin to manage blood sugar during pregnancy. It's very common and very manageable with diet, exercise, and sometimes medication.
What does viability mean at 24 weeks?
At 24 weeks, a baby has approximately a 50–70% chance of survival with intensive neonatal care, though outcomes vary widely by centre and individual circumstances. Survival rates and quality of outcomes improve significantly with each additional week of gestation. Week 24 is a major milestone because it's the threshold at which most hospitals will provide full life-sustaining treatment.
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