Key takeaways

  • Your baby is around 30 cm crown-to-heel and roughly 600 g (about the size of a corn cob), and has reached the formal viability threshold this week.
  • The lungs are starting to make surfactant in earnest, which is why babies born from 24 weeks can survive with intensive NICU support.
  • The glucose tolerance test (GTT) for gestational diabetes is done between 24 and 28 weeks for all pregnant women in India, not just those with symptoms or family history.
  • Tdap (whooping-cough) vaccine is given a little later, at 27 to 36 weeks; Anti-D for Rh-negative mothers is given at 28 weeks.
  • Daily pelvic floor (Kegel) exercises, balanced protein-rich meals and gentle movement help you stay well through the late second trimester.
  • Call your doctor urgently for any bleeding, fluid leak, regular contractions before 37 weeks, severe headache with vision changes, or a clear drop in your baby's movements.

What Is Happening at Pregnancy Week 24: Baby and Body

Week 24 marks the formal viability threshold. Babies born at 24 weeks have a meaningful chance of survival with intensive NICU care (around 60 to 70 per cent at top global centres, lower at most Indian centres). Your baby now measures about 30 cm crown-to-heel and weighs around 600 g. The lungs are a focus this week: surfactant production is becoming substantial, and this is exactly why antenatal corticosteroids given before a preterm birth are so powerful, as they boost surfactant and prepare the lungs for breathing.

More of what is developing right now:

  • Skin and fat: skin is still wrinkled and translucent but slowly laying down fat underneath; a thick coat of vernix caseosa protects it, and fine lanugo hair covers the body.
  • Lungs: in the canalicular-to-saccular transition, with surfactant beginning in earnest.
  • Gut: meconium is accumulating in the intestines.
  • Balance and hearing: the inner-ear vestibular system is fully formed, so your baby now senses orientation and movement; hearing is sharp, and babies respond to familiar voices, music and sounds.
  • Heart: beating at 120 to 160 bpm, with clear cardiac structure on ultrasound. A fetal echocardiogram, if a heart concern was raised on the TIFFA anomaly scan, is usually done at 20 to 24 weeks.

Movements are strong and frequent now, with kicks, rolls and even hiccups, and a recognisable sleep-wake pattern. Many partners feel the baby move from outside for the first time this week.

On the maternal side, your blood volume keeps expanding (roughly 40 to 45 per cent above pre-pregnancy levels), the top of your uterus has risen above the navel, and fundal height is around 24 cm. Placental hormones have established a degree of insulin resistance, which is precisely why the glucose test is scheduled in this window.

Common Symptoms at Week 24

Week 24 symptoms largely continue the late-second-trimester pattern, with a few new arrivals. Most are normal and manageable.

  • Strong, frequent fetal movements with a well-established pattern.
  • Back pain: often progressive. Supportive shoes, a maternity support belt, prenatal massage and paracetamol if needed all help; see back pain relief in pregnancy.
  • Heartburn and acidity: usually worsening. Smaller meals, antacids and, if advised, H2 blockers or PPIs help.
  • Constipation: continues, helped by fibre, fluids and movement.
  • Leg cramps and swelling: common, especially at night, and usually eased by hydration, stretching and elevating the feet.
  • Skin changes: stretch marks may appear on the bump, hips, thighs and breasts; melasma and the linea nigra deepen; mild itching is common.
  • Braxton-Hicks contractions: brief, painless, irregular tightenings that are not labour.
  • Carpal tunnel symptoms: tingling, numbness or pain in the hands, worse at night, from fluid retention pressing on the median nerve at the wrist. A wrist splint (Rs 200 to 1,000) helps, and it usually settles after delivery.
  • More vaginal discharge: a normal increase in clear or milky-white discharge driven by oestrogen and blood flow. It is concerning only if it is foul-smelling, green or yellow, or comes with itching or burning, which can mean an infection that needs treatment.

Body Changes at Week 24 in the Indian Context

Your bump is now clearly visible to everyone, whatever your body type. Your OB measures fundal height (from the pubic bone to the top of the uterus) at each visit; in this window it roughly matches the number of weeks in centimetres. A difference of more than 2 to 3 cm either way may prompt a growth scan to check the baby's size and the amniotic fluid.

A visible bump invites comments in the Indian setting, from guesses about the baby's sex to predictions and questions about your due date. You owe no one an explanation; deflect intrusive remarks graciously. Wear what feels comfortable, whether that is fitted clothing or a kurta or saree draped over the bump. Both are fine.

Skin changes intensify. The linea nigra darkens, melasma (darker patches on the cheeks, forehead and upper lip) can be more noticeable on deeper Indian skin tones, and the nipples and areolae darken. Stretch marks (striae gravidarum) may appear pink or red and fade to silver over the months after delivery; genetics matter most here. Coconut oil, almond oil, vitamin E oil or stretch-mark creams (Rs 200 to 1,500) mainly keep skin comfortable, as evidence for preventing marks is limited. Our honest guide to stretch-mark care in pregnancy covers what does and does not work.

Comfort measures for the growing bump:

  • A well-fitted supportive bra, often a cup size or two larger than before.
  • Loose, breathable clothing such as drawstring kurtas and stretchy leggings.
  • Flat or low, supportive footwear (no new high heels).
  • A maternity support belt for back or pelvic pain (Rs 500 to 2,500).
  • Sleeping on your left side, which improves blood return; a pregnancy pillow (Rs 800 to 4,000), or a pillow between the knees and under the bump, helps you stay there.

Sex is safe for most women in the second and third trimesters unless your OB has flagged a reason to avoid it (placenta previa, threatened or prior preterm labour, ruptured membranes). Libido varies widely, and side-lying or other low-pressure positions can be more comfortable. Bleeding or significant pain afterwards is a reason to pause and get checked.

Skin-care safety: avoid retinoid products (Retin-A, isotretinoin, tretinoin) as they are unsafe in pregnancy. Daily broad-spectrum SPF 30+ helps reduce melasma; gentle moisturisers ease dryness and itch. Severe itching, especially on the palms and soles, needs liver-function tests to rule out obstetric cholestasis.

Antenatal Care at Week 24: ANC Visit, GTT, Tdap and Anti-D Timing

The standard Indian ANC schedule (per WHO and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare guidance) recommends visits at booking, then around weeks 14 to 20, 24, 28, 32, 34 to 36, and weekly after 36, totalling 8 to 12 visits. Women with high-risk features such as gestational diabetes, hypertension, anaemia, prior preterm birth, multiple pregnancy, advanced maternal age or a prior caesarean see their OB more often. See high-risk pregnancy criteria in India for what counts.

A routine week-24 visit usually includes:

  • Weight check (aim for total pregnancy weight gain of about 11 to 16 kg for a normal pre-pregnancy BMI).
  • Blood pressure, a key warning sign for Preeclampsia in Pregnancy: Diagnosis and Care in India.
  • Urine dipstick for protein, sugar and infection.
  • Fundal height (around 24 cm) and fetal heart rate (120 to 160 bpm on Doppler).
  • A review of symptoms, supplements and any test results, plus the plan for your next visit.

The glucose tolerance test (GTT) is the headline of this window. The DIPSI (Diabetes in Pregnancy Study Group India) approach is a single-step 75 g 2-hour test, with a 2-hour value of 140 mg/dL or more diagnosing gestational diabetes. Some centres use the older two-step (50 g challenge then 100 g OGTT) or the IADPSG fasting/1-hour/2-hour thresholds (92/180/153 mg/dL). All aim to catch raised blood sugar early so it can be managed before it causes problems. Cost is roughly Rs 500 to 1,500 privately, and free at government facilities. See how to prepare for the pregnancy glucose test for full details.

Tdap vaccine (tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis) is recommended by the IAP and FOGSI between 27 and 36 weeks, ideally 28 to 32 weeks, as a single dose. Maternal antibodies cross the placenta and protect the newborn from whooping cough until the baby's own vaccines start at 6 weeks. It is safe in pregnancy, costs about Rs 500 to 1,200 privately, and is free at government facilities. The older two-dose tetanus toxoid (TT) schedule is still used at many government centres; see our full pregnancy vaccines guide (TT, Tdap, flu, COVID).

Anti-D immunoglobulin for Rh-negative mothers is given routinely at 28 weeks, and again within 72 hours after delivery if the baby is Rh-positive. Rh-negative blood is around 5 to 7 per cent in the Indian population. It is also needed after any bleeding, trauma or procedure. Cost is about Rs 2,500 to 5,000 privately and free at government tertiary facilities and under PMJAY; confirm availability in advance. See Rh incompatibility and Anti-D in India.

Other tests often scheduled now include a repeat CBC for anaemia, urine culture if indicated, and a growth scan if there is any size-dates mismatch. From 28 weeks, high-risk pregnancies move to NST and BPP monitoring.

Government pathway: ANC is free under JSSK at all government facilities, and PMSMA on the 9th of every month offers free specialist OB consultation, valuable for high-risk monitoring. Your Mother and Child Protection (MCP) card tracks everything through the pregnancy.

Food and Nutrition at Week 24: Protein, Iron and Supplements

Late-second-trimester nutrition should deliver enough calories, protein and micronutrients for a fast-growing baby. You need only about 340 extra kcal a day now (around 450 in the third trimester), not double your intake. Quality matters as much as quantity.

Protein needs rise to around 71 g a day in India (about 1.1 g per kg of pre-pregnancy weight). Good vegetarian sources: dal (15 to 18 g per cooked cup), sprouts, paneer (18 to 20 g per 100 g), curd, milk, soya chunks (very high), and nuts and seeds. Combinations like dal-rice, rajma-rice, idli-sambar, dhokla and paneer-paratha give complete protein. Non-vegetarians can add eggs (fully cooked), chicken, and small fish like sardines and mackerel for omega-3s, while avoiding large predatory fish for mercury.

Iron needs climb in the third trimester, and with 52 per cent of pregnant Indian women anaemic (NFHS-5), most need supplements: 60 mg elemental iron daily routinely, more if anaemic. Take it with a vitamin C source and away from tea, coffee or calcium. Pair this with iron-rich Indian foods.

Calcium needs are 1,000 mg a day; ragi, sesame, dairy, almonds and moringa leaves are rich sources, with supplements (Shelcal, Calcimax) filling gaps. Vitamin D deficiency is common even in sunny India, so supplementation is usual. Folic acid continues, and your OB will confirm the right combination of supplements for you.

Before the GTT, follow your OB's instructions: it is usually done after an 8 to 12 hour overnight fast (water is fine). Do not cut carbohydrates in the preceding days, as that can falsely raise readings.

Well-suited Indian foods this stage: khichdi, idli or dosa with sambar, rajma-chawal, dal-chawal-sabzi, sprouted moong salad, ragi porridge, jowar and bajra rotis, paneer dishes, curd with meals, and 2 to 3 servings of fruit a day (ripe papaya, banana, orange, pomegranate, melon). Buttermilk and coconut water keep you hydrated.

Foods to limit or avoid: raw or undercooked meat, fish and eggs; unpasteurised dairy and soft cheeses; high-mercury fish; raw sprouts; street-vendor cut fruit and reheated leftovers; caffeine over 200 mg a day; and alcohol entirely. Ripe papaya and a normal serving of pineapple are fine; the blanket fear of all papaya is overcautious.

On traditional practices: ghee, dates and almonds are nutritious in moderation; jaggery is a modest iron source but still sugar; and herbal or Ayurvedic preparations should only be taken after checking with your OB, since purity and safety vary widely. Aim for 2.5 to 3.5 litres of fluid daily, more in summer.

Exercise and Movement Safety at Week 24

Exercise is strongly recommended at week 24 for women without specific contraindications. WHO, FOGSI, ACOG and RCOG all endorse moderate activity because it helps control weight gain, lowers gestational diabetes risk (around 25 to 30 per cent in pooled trials), supports blood pressure, eases back and pelvic pain, improves mood and sleep, and can make labour and recovery smoother.

Aim for at least 150 minutes a week of moderate activity (30 minutes on most days), light strength work two or three times a week, and daily pelvic floor exercises. Use the talk test: at moderate intensity you can talk but not sing.

Good options now:

  • Brisk walking, the most accessible exercise in India: 30 to 45 minutes most days.
  • Swimming or aqua-aerobics, wonderfully joint-friendly as the water supports your bump and eases swelling.
  • Stationary or recumbent cycling (avoid outdoor cycling later for fall and traffic risk).
  • Prenatal yoga, with Iyengar and prop-supported styles especially suitable; avoid hot yoga.
  • Light strength training, with attention to form and breathing (no breath-holding or heavy overhead lifts).

Pelvic floor (Kegel) exercises matter most now, as the growing uterus loads the pelvic floor. Tighten the muscles for 5 to 10 seconds, release, and repeat 10 to 15 times, three times a day; you can do them sitting, standing or lying down. Building this daily habit lowers your later risk of urinary incontinence and prolapse, as covered in our Kegel and pelvic floor guide.

Modify for the bump: avoid lying flat on your back for long after about 16 to 20 weeks (use a wedge or side-lying), watch your shifting balance, respect relaxin-loosened joints, and ease off on hot days.

Avoid contact sports, anything with a fall risk, scuba diving, high altitude without acclimatisation, hot yoga, saunas and very hot baths, exercise to exhaustion, and full sit-ups or unmodified planks.

Stop and call your OB for vaginal bleeding, persistent contractions (more than 4 to 6 an hour before 37 weeks), leaking fluid, dizziness or fainting, chest pain, calf pain or swelling, or a clear drop in fetal movements.

For Indian conditions: exercise in the cooler parts of the day in summer and hydrate hard; on high-pollution days (AQI over 200) in northern cities, move your workout indoors. Push back gently on the myth that pregnancy means complete bed rest, which is wrong for the vast majority of women. The late second trimester is often the most comfortable window to build a routine you can carry into the third trimester.

Red Flags at Week 24: When to Call Your Doctor or 102/108

Some symptoms need urgent contact with your OB or a trip to the nearest hospital with maternity services. Trust your instincts; it is always better to be checked.

Call urgently or go in for:

  • Any vaginal bleeding in the second or third trimester, which is never normal and can signal a placental problem or preterm labour.
  • A gush or trickle of fluid from the vagina, which may mean your waters have broken.
  • Regular painful contractions before 37 weeks (more than 4 to 6 an hour with cramping or back pain), a possible sign of preterm labour, where corticosteroids and other treatment can help.
  • Severe abdominal pain, especially with bleeding or contractions.
  • Signs of heavy blood loss such as dizziness, fainting, a racing heart or pale, clammy skin.

Preeclampsia warning signs, which become a real risk from week 20 onwards: a severe or persistent headache, vision changes (blurring, spots or flashes), severe upper-abdominal pain, sudden swelling of the face and hands, or rapid weight gain over 1 kg in a week. Get your blood pressure checked urgently and see preeclampsia management.

Fever above 38 degrees Celsius suggests infection. A urinary tract infection is common in pregnancy and can lead to a kidney infection or preterm labour if untreated, so burning or pain on passing urine with fever and back pain needs a urine test and the right antibiotic. Never self-medicate with random antibiotics.

Other concerning symptoms: one-sided calf pain or swelling (possible deep vein thrombosis), chest pain or severe breathlessness, severe itching of the palms and soles (possible obstetric cholestasis), the sudden worst headache of your life, or persistent severe vomiting.

Changes in fetal movement: if your baby's movements drop clearly below their usual pattern, or you feel nothing for several hours during their usual active time, call your OB. From week 28, formal kick counting becomes a routine self-check, covered alongside NST and BPP monitoring.

Mental-health emergencies: for hopelessness, thoughts of self-harm or severe anxiety, call iCall (9152987821), Vandrevala Foundation (1860-2662-345), AASRA (9820466726) or NIMHANS Telemanas (14416), and reach your nearest hospital.

Getting help fast: 102 Janani Express is the free maternal ambulance for pregnant women and infants across India; 108 is the general emergency ambulance. Government district hospitals provide 24-hour emergency maternity care free under JSSK. Keep your OB's number, your hospital's emergency line, your blood group and family contacts saved and ready.

Emotional and Mental Health at Week 24

Your emotional health deserves the same attention as the physical changes. In the late second trimester it is common to feel anticipation about meeting your baby alongside anxiety about labour, the baby's health, finances, work and family dynamics. Nesting urges, mood swings from hormones and disrupted sleep, and, for women with past losses, ongoing worry even past viability are all valid. The expectation that pregnant women must be uniformly joyful simply does not match reality.

Antenatal depression affects around 15 to 20 per cent of pregnancies in India (ICMR data), with anxiety similarly common, and untreated maternal mental illness is linked to poorer outcomes such as preterm birth and low birth weight. Do not dismiss persistent low mood as just hormones, and do not assume it will pass after delivery, as antenatal depression strongly predicts postnatal depression and is best treated when identified.

Help that works:

  • Therapy: cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is highly effective for depression and anxiety in pregnancy without medication considerations. Tele-therapy through Indian platforms typically costs Rs 500 to 3,000 a session.
  • Medication when needed: among antidepressants, sertraline is the most studied and usually first-line in pregnancy. For most people, treated depression is safer than untreated depression. Discuss any change with an OB and a perinatal psychiatrist rather than stopping medication on your own.
  • Crisis lines: iCall (9152987821), Vandrevala Foundation (1860-2662-345), AASRA (9820466726) and NIMHANS Telemanas (14416).

The GTT itself can stir anxiety, both the unpleasant glucose drink and the worry of a positive result. Reaching the viability milestone, meanwhile, is genuinely reassuring even amid fresh concerns.

In the Indian setting, cultural expectations of joy and gratitude, and sometimes a focus on the baby (or on gender) over the mother, can make it hard to share difficult feelings. Your emotional health matters as much as your baby's, and seeking proper care is your right. Bonding often deepens now through strong fetal movements, talking or singing to your baby, and your partner feeling those kicks from outside for the first time. There is no single right way to bond, and it can grow gradually or arrive after birth.

Partner and Family Support, Labour Classes and Godh Bharai

Partner involvement makes a real difference now. Supportive partners ask how she is feeling, without pressure to be cheerful; share decisions about vaccines, hospital choice and the birth plan; attend ANC visits where possible; take on more of the household load; and help manage well-meaning but conflicting family advice.

Partners have their own mix of joy and anxiety in the third trimester, about supporting her well, the coming labour, finances and parenthood. Talking to other expectant parents and attending childbirth classes together helps both of you. Many partners feel more connected after feeling the baby move from outside, which often starts around weeks 24 to 28.

The Indian joint family brings genuine help (cooking, company, care for older children) and real friction (advice that conflicts with medical guidance, gender-preference pressure, opinions about diet and rest). What helps: agree that medical decisions rest with the pregnant woman in consultation with her OB, with the partner as advocate; use "my OB said" as a gentle shield; set boundaries on intrusive comments; and accept the genuine help while declining the unhelpful pressure.

This week and the coming weeks: feel the baby's kicks from outside, attend the GTT visit for moral support during the long wait, start choosing a paediatrician (usually a 28 to 32 week consultation), and enrol in childbirth classes, which typically run across weeks 28 to 36.

Godh bharai, seemantham, valaikappu or shaad (the traditional baby shower) usually happens in the seventh or eighth month, around weeks 28 to 32, once preterm risk has eased. Variations span communities: godh bharai across north and west India, seemantham and srimantham in the south, valaikappu (the bangle ceremony) in Tamil Nadu, shaad in Bengal, and dohale jevan in Maharashtra. Most involve blessings, gifts and the mother's favourite foods. Take part in what is meaningful to you, but do not let it become a stress in a tiring trimester.

Planning ahead: the Maternity Benefit Act provides 26 weeks of paid leave for the first two children at establishments with 10 or more employees, with leave often starting around weeks 34 to 36. Plan your work handover, line up household and postpartum help (a japa maid typically costs Rs 10,000 to 25,000 a month), and discuss the birth plan together.

A note on the law: the PC-PNDT Act makes sex selection and any disclosure of the baby's sex a criminal offence. If you face coercion, financial pressure or abuse, support is available through 181 (women's helpline), 1091 (women's safety), the NCW helpline (7827-170-170) and Vandrevala Foundation (1860-2662-345). Your healthcare team should know about anything seriously affecting your wellbeing, as it is part of your care.

Costs and Access to Antenatal Care This Week

Week-24 costs cover the routine visit plus any tests and vaccines due in this window. A private ANC visit runs about Rs 500 to 2,500; the same care is free under JSSK at government facilities, including tests, ultrasounds, delivery and the 102 ambulance.

Typical private-sector test costs in this trimester:

  • Glucose tolerance test (OGTT): Rs 500 to 1,500
  • CBC for anaemia recheck: Rs 200 to 600
  • Urine routine and culture: Rs 100 to 500
  • Growth scan or fetal Doppler: Rs 1,500 to 3,500
  • Biophysical profile (BPP): Rs 2,000 to 4,500
  • Non-stress test (NST): Rs 500 to 1,500 per session

All are free under JSSK at government tertiary facilities.

Vaccines and Anti-D: Tdap costs about Rs 500 to 1,200 privately (free at government facilities); Anti-D for Rh-negative mothers about Rs 2,500 to 5,000 per dose privately, and free at government tertiary centres and under PMJAY.

Ongoing supplements (iron, calcium, vitamin D, folic acid, sometimes a prenatal multivitamin) typically total Rs 500 to 2,500 a month.

Government schemes worth using: PMSMA offers free specialist OB consultation on the 9th of every month; JSSK provides free comprehensive maternity care; PMMVY gives a Rs 5,000 conditional cash transfer for the first live birth; and JSY supports institutional delivery for eligible women. Several states run their own schemes, such as Tamil Nadu's Dr Muthulakshmi Reddy Maternity Benefit Scheme.

Private packages: comprehensive ANC packages at private chains often run Rs 25,000 to 80,000, covering visits, routine tests, scans and vaccines, with delivery charged separately (roughly Rs 60,000 to 3,00,000 for a vaginal birth and Rs 1,00,000 to 4,50,000 for a caesarean, depending on city and hospital).

Check your insurance: maternity cover usually has a waiting period and per-claim sub-limits, and pregnancy that exists at the policy start is typically excluded. Ayushman Bharat PMJAY covers eligible families comprehensively, and CGHS, ESI and various state schemes cover others.

Costs people forget: transport to visits, childbirth classes (Rs 3,000 to 15,000), a breast pump (Rs 2,000 to 15,000), maternity clothing, baby and nursery setup, and postpartum help. Budget early, since the JSSK and PMMVY pathway can sharply reduce out-of-pocket costs for those who use it.

Indian Myths About Week 24 of Pregnancy, Corrected

Myth: I do not need the glucose test if I have no diabetes in the family or symptoms

  • False. Gestational diabetes (GDM) is common in India (roughly 10 to 25 per cent depending on region), largely because of a strong genetic tendency to insulin resistance. Most women with GDM have no family history and no symptoms, so it is found only by screening.
  • Undetected GDM raises the risk of a large baby and difficult delivery, caesarean, excess fluid, preeclampsia, preterm birth, newborn low blood sugar, and later type 2 diabetes for both mother and child. This is exactly why FOGSI, DIPSI, ADA, ACOG and RCOG all recommend universal screening at 24 to 28 weeks. The brief inconvenience of the test is far outweighed by the value of the result.

Fact: Steroid injections before a preterm birth save lives

  • True. Antenatal corticosteroids (betamethasone or dexamethasone) given to the mother 24 to 48 hours before an anticipated preterm birth between 24 and 34 weeks substantially reduce newborn death, respiratory distress syndrome, brain bleeds and bowel injury. It is one of the most evidence-based interventions in obstetrics, recommended by ACOG, RCOG, FOGSI and WHO.
  • If you develop preterm labour, ruptured membranes or severe preeclampsia, your OB will give these injections, ideally before delivery; even a single dose helps if birth is imminent. Cost is about Rs 200 to 600 privately and free at government facilities, with only minor side effects. Do not refuse it if it is recommended.

Myth: Eating sugar gives you gestational diabetes

  • Partly false. GDM is driven mainly by the insulin resistance of pregnancy combined with your underlying capacity to make insulin. Genetics, South Asian ethnicity, PCOS, a pre-pregnancy BMI over 25 and older age raise the risk far more than diet alone. A woman who eats little sugar can still develop GDM, and one who eats moderate sugar may not.
  • What does help: balanced meals built on complex carbohydrates (whole grains, millets, pulses, vegetables) rather than refined sugar and white flour, adequate protein, regular meal timing, and physical activity, which lowers GDM risk by 25 to 30 per cent. If GDM is diagnosed, diet is first-line, with insulin added if targets are not met, and most women go on to have healthy pregnancies. Our gestational diabetes diet and OGTT guide covers Indian meal planning in detail.

Fact: The glucose drink can make you feel sick

  • True for many women. The 75 g glucose drink is concentrated and sweet, and some women feel nauseous or vomit. It helps to do the test in the morning, arrive well-hydrated, drink it within five minutes as instructed (drinking slowly affects accuracy), and take deep breaths between sips. If you vomit before 30 minutes, the test usually has to be repeated on another day.
  • If you truly cannot tolerate the drink despite trying, alternatives such as fasting and post-meal glucose readings or HbA1c can be discussed with your OB. The discomfort is brief, and the information guides important decisions if GDM is present.

Frequently asked questions

How big is my baby at 24 weeks?

Your baby is about 30 cm crown-to-heel and weighs around 600 g, roughly the size of a corn cob. The lungs are starting to make surfactant, which is why 24 weeks is considered the threshold of viability.

Why is the glucose test done at 24 to 28 weeks?

By this stage, placental hormones have created enough insulin resistance to reveal gestational diabetes. Screening every pregnant woman in this window catches raised blood sugar early so it can be managed before it affects mother or baby. In India the DIPSI 75 g 2-hour test is widely used, with a 2-hour value of 140 mg/dL or more being diagnostic.

Is it normal to have more vaginal discharge at 24 weeks?

Yes. A normal increase in clear or milky-white discharge (leukorrhea), driven by oestrogen and increased blood flow, is expected in pregnancy. See your doctor if it becomes foul-smelling, green or yellow, or comes with itching or burning, which can signal an infection, or if you have a sudden watery gush that could be amniotic fluid.

When do I get the Tdap vaccine and Anti-D injection?

Tdap (whooping-cough) vaccine is given at 27 to 36 weeks, ideally 28 to 32 weeks, not at 24 weeks. Anti-D for Rh-negative mothers is given routinely at 28 weeks, and again within 72 hours of delivery if the baby is Rh-positive.

What movements should I feel at 24 weeks?

By now movements are strong and frequent, with a recognisable pattern of kicks, rolls and even hiccups, and your partner may feel them from outside. Formal kick counting starts from week 28, but at any stage a clear drop from your baby's usual pattern is a reason to call your doctor.

Sources