Week 24 of pregnancy
Updated 25 Oct 2026
Your baby this week
About the size of a small papaya
Source: Vinmec – Bảng cân nặng và chiều dài thai nhi theo tiêu chuẩn của WHO
Your baby's development
Your baby is about 30 cm long and weighs about 600 grams. Your baby's lungs are still developing and producing surfactant - the substance that helps the lungs mature.
Your baby's hearing is developing rapidly, which means that if your baby often hears a particular song, they may now be able to recognise it and feel calm hearing it after birth. If you like singing, singing to your baby now seems like a wonderful idea.
Your baby still has white eyelashes, and so are the eyebrows and hair; none of them have pigment yet.
Your baby's face is taking proper shape. Who will your baby look like? Dad or Mum? We surely have no choice but to "let the baby decide"! Hopefully your baby won't play favourites too much! Otherwise Dad or Mum might sulk!
Your body
From week 24 your uterus starts practising more for labour and birth. Braxton - Hicks contractions appear more often.
Other pregnancy signs such as stretch marks, constipation, dizziness, swollen legs and heartburn may still be there, or even get worse. This is also an important time for gestational diabetes screening. This screening is done from week 24 to week 28, an extremely important screening that you should not skip.
Advice for you
Get ready for gestational diabetes screening. You can set up your antenatal appointments in Momby so you don't forget or mix them up. If you have any unusual signs such as tummy pain or vaginal bleeding, see a doctor straight away.
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Signs that need a doctor now
If you notice any of the signs below, please go to the nearest health facility to be checked by a doctor.
Vaginal bleeding in pregnancy
This sign needs to be checked by a doctor. Please go to the nearest health facility now. If the bleeding is heavy or comes with severe pain or faintness, call the emergency number 115.
Source: Bệnh viện Đa khoa Tâm Anh – Các dấu hiệu nguy hiểm trong thai kỳ
Convulsions (fits)
A convulsion in pregnancy is an emergency. Family members should call 115 at once, lay the mother on her side in a safe place and get her to the nearest hospital.
Source: Bệnh viện Đa khoa Tâm Anh – Các dấu hiệu nguy hiểm trong thai kỳ
Fever in pregnancy
A temperature above 38°C counts as a fever. Please go to a health facility so a doctor can find the cause and advise on safe ways to bring it down; do not take medicine on your own.
Source: Bệnh viện Đa khoa Tâm Anh – Các dấu hiệu nguy hiểm trong thai kỳ
Leaking fluid or waters breaking
Fluid leaking from the vagina may mean the waters are leaking or have broken and needs to be checked by a doctor. Please go to a health facility soon, lying with your head low while travelling.
Source: Bệnh viện Đa khoa Tâm Anh – Các dấu hiệu nguy hiểm trong thai kỳ
Severe headache, blurred vision, sudden swelling
Headache with blurred vision, or sudden swelling of the face, hands or eyelids, can be a sign of high blood pressure in pregnancy or pre-eclampsia. This sign needs to be checked by a doctor. Please go to the nearest health facility now.
Source: Bệnh viện Đa khoa Tâm Anh – Các dấu hiệu nguy hiểm trong thai kỳ
Reduced or no fetal movement
A clear drop in the baby's movements, or no movement, needs to be checked by a doctor. Please go to the nearest health facility now rather than waiting until tomorrow.
Source: Bệnh viện Đa khoa Tâm Anh – Các dấu hiệu nguy hiểm trong thai kỳ
Severe or worsening abdominal pain
Abdominal pain that keeps getting worse, does not ease, or is severe needs to be checked by a doctor. Please go to the nearest health facility now. If the pain is severe with sweating, faintness or bleeding, call 115.
Source: Bệnh viện Đa khoa Tâm Anh – Các dấu hiệu nguy hiểm trong thai kỳ
Sources
Content advised by our doctors.
- NHS (accessed 22 Oct 2026)
- Vinmec (accessed 22 Oct 2026)
- ACOG (accessed 22 Oct 2026)
- Source for fetal size: Vinmec – Bảng cân nặng và chiều dài thai nhi theo tiêu chuẩn của WHO
- Source for the signs that need a doctor: Bệnh viện Đa khoa Tâm Anh – Các dấu hiệu nguy hiểm trong thai kỳ
This article helps you understand and prepare. It does not replace a check-up. For an answer about your own situation, please ask the doctor who is caring for you.