Second trimester · 24 weeks pregnant
Week 24: the viability milestone
Lungs make surfactant and the inner ear brings balance.
From this week a baby born early has a real chance of survival with intensive care. The lungs begin producing surfactant, the brain grows quickly and your baby can tell which way is up.
Size and weight
About the size of
an ear of corn
Length
30 cm
Weight
600 g
Averages from standard growth charts. Measured crown to rump until week 20 and head to heel afterwards.
How your baby is developing
- The lungs develop tiny air sacs and start making surfactant, which keeps them from collapsing.
- The inner ear is fully developed, giving the baby a sense of balance.
- The brain grows rapidly; taste buds are fully formed.
- The skin becomes less transparent as fat builds up.
How you may feel
- Your care provider measuring the bump (fundal height)
- An itchy, tight belly
- Red, itchy palms
- Backache
- Trouble sleeping
- A dark line down the belly
From about now you will start to recognise your baby's own pattern of movement. Get to know it; it is the single most useful thing you can monitor yourself.
What's next
Tests and appointments
- Fasting glucose or HbA1c at 24–26 weeks, then the 75 g glucose tolerance test at 24–28 weeks to screen for gestational diabetes.
- Haemoglobin check, and a repeat antibody test at 28 weeks if you are Rh-negative.
What to do this week
- Book the glucose test; it involves fasting, a sugary drink and blood tests over two hours.
- Start settling on your side to sleep; from 28 weeks it lowers the risk of stillbirth.
- Moisturise the itchy belly; see a doctor if itching is severe or on palms and soles.
Call your doctor or maternity hospital if
- Any vaginal bleeding, or fluid leaking from the vagina
- Regular, painful tightenings or period-like cramps
- A severe headache, blurred vision, or sudden swelling of your face and hands
- Severe or persistent abdominal pain, fever, or pain when you pass urine
If something feels wrong, trust yourself and call 103 or your maternity hospital. You will never be wasting anyone's time.
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