24 weeks pregnant: a quiet milestone and the glucose test window
A week that carries a big word, viability, and a few practical things to set in motion.
Updated October 13, 2026 · sources checked October 13, 2026
In short
At 24 weeks you are at the end of month six. The NHS says your baby is around 30cm from head to heel and is now considered viable, meaning they could survive with specialist neonatal care if born now. The one thing to do this week is to check when your glucose screening is planned, between 24 and 28 weeks.
Where you are at 24 weeks
You are in the second trimester, which ACOG counts from 14 weeks to 27 weeks and 6 days, and at the end of month six in Cleveland Clinic's month-by-month grouping (weeks 21 to 24). If you are not sure of your dates, our pregnancy week calculator gives you the exact week and day, and the due date calculator shows the date your care team is working towards. If you conceived through IVF, the dates your clinic gave you take priority.
Your baby this week
The NHS measures your baby at around 30cm from head to heel and compares this to a corn on the cob. Everything is in proportion now; your baby is simply smaller than a baby who has had more weeks in the womb. Cleveland Clinic puts the end of month six at about 12 inches and about 2 pounds.
ACOG describes weeks 21 to 24 as the time when kicks and turns get stronger, the sucking reflex develops, fat starts forming under the skin and the ridges that will become fingerprints and footprints appear. The skin still looks wrinkled and reddish from the blood vessels underneath.
The NHS also notes that your baby is now considered viable. Said gently: if a baby were born now, neonatal units can help them breathe, feed, keep warm and fight infection, and there is a chance they would survive. It is a reassuring landmark, not a countdown: each extra week in the womb still matters for your baby.
Your body and common symptoms
- Hunger. Many people feel ravenous now. The NHS says you do not need extra calories until the third trimester, from week 28. Regular meals and filling snacks help more than eating for two.
- Aches in new places. The NHS mentions pain around the ribs, back, breasts and bottom, as hormones loosen ligaments and your baby pushes against different parts of you. Changing position, resting with your feet up and a pillow behind your back can make evenings easier.
- A small bump, or a big one. Bump size varies hugely. The NHS reminds you not to worry if you can barely see yours: every pregnancy is different, and your midwife or doctor checks growth for you.
- Alcohol. If you are finding it hard to stop drinking, the NHS lists the risks for your baby, including premature birth and low birth weight, and says your midwife or doctor can help without judgement.
Is this normal? When to call
Aches, hunger and tiredness are normal at 24 weeks. Call your maternity unit or OB-GYN straight away, day or night, if you have a severe headache that does not go away, blurred vision or flashing lights, pain just below the ribs, or sudden swelling of your face, hands or feet (possible signs of pre-eclampsia, NHS). Call too for vaginal bleeding, fluid leaking, regular tightenings, a dull low backache or pelvic pressure: ACOG says signs of preterm labor need attention right away. In the UK, call NHS 111 if you cannot reach your maternity unit and 999 in an emergency. In the US, call 911 in an emergency.
Appointments and tests around 24 weeks
| United States | United Kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Glucose screening | ACOG: usually between 24 and 28 weeks (earlier if you have risk factors) | NHS: oral glucose tolerance test between 24 and 28 weeks if you have one or more risk factors; it takes about 2 hours |
| Next routine check | Visits continue at the rhythm set by your OB-GYN or midwife | NHS: 25-week appointment if this is your first baby (blood pressure, urine, bump measurement, movements) |
Why the glucose test matters: in a randomised trial of 1,000 women with gestational diabetes, treatment (diet advice, blood sugar monitoring and insulin when needed) lowered serious complications for babies from 4% to 1% (Crowther 2005). Our guide to gestational diabetes explains the test and what happens if it is positive.
Your checklist for week 24
For your partner
Learn the warning signs in the box above, so that "I have a headache I cannot shift" or "something feels different" is met with a phone call, not a wait-and-see.
Previous and next week
Week 23 · Week 25: telling work and watching for swelling · The second trimester · All weeks
Questions parents ask
What does viable mean at 24 weeks?
The NHS uses the word to say that a baby born now has a chance of surviving outside the womb with help from a neonatal unit, which supports breathing, feeding, warmth and fighting infection. It does not mean your baby is ready to be born; every extra week in the womb matters.
When is the glucose test done?
ACOG says blood sugar is usually checked between 24 and 28 weeks, or earlier if you have risk factors. In the UK, the NHS offers an oral glucose tolerance test between 24 and 28 weeks if you have one or more risk factors, such as a BMI above 30.
How many months is 24 weeks pregnant?
Cleveland Clinic groups weeks 21 to 24 as month six, so at 24 weeks you are finishing your sixth month.
Sources
- NHS — Week-by-week guide: week 24 checked October 13, 2026
- Cleveland Clinic — Fetal Development: Week-by-Week Stages of Pregnancy checked October 13, 2026
- ACOG — Gestational Diabetes checked October 13, 2026
- NHS — Gestational diabetes checked October 13, 2026
- ACOG — Preterm Labor and Birth checked October 13, 2026
- NHS — Pre-eclampsia checked October 13, 2026
- Crowther et al. (2005), N Engl J Med — Effect of treatment of gestational diabetes mellitus on pregnancy outcomes (PMID 15951574) checked October 13, 2026
Mamavela explains; it does not replace your midwife, doctor or pediatrician, who know your situation. If something worries you, call them. In an emergency, call 911 (US), 999 (UK) or 112.