24 Weeks Pregnant: Pregnancy Symptoms & Baby Development

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.

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.

You 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.