My 24 Weeks Pregnant Belly Picture
Starting Weight: 123lbs
Current Weight: 130lbs
Total Weight Gain: 7lbs
Now let’s go over how my week went and what to expect…
Energy Level: My energy level was average this week. I have not experienced any excessive fatigue, thankfully, but I did get short of breath climbing the stairs more than usual.
Pregnancy symptoms: I still have some morning nasal congestion which gets better after I get up and walk around. I’m also noticing some abdominal tightening every day with occasional pain (especially on my right side). I attribute all of this to Braxton Hicks contractions and round ligament pain.
Other Physical Changes: I haven’t noticed any other significant changes yet. My linea nigra has not come out yet (the dark line that appears on your belly), and I don’t notice any stretch marks.
Diet: No new changes to my diet this week. I am trying my best to eat a balanced diet with all the essential nutrients. I still follow a plant-based diet with appropriate supplementation.
Diet Modifications: No dietary modifications as of yet. I feel very well overall and I attribute it to staying well hydrated and eating a healthy diet.
Food Aversions: I am noticing an aversion to some of my typical snacks like my banana smash (banana, chia seeds, flax seeds, peanut butter, and blueberries). I also don’t like salads as much as I used to.
Food Cravings: I crave pizza all the time :).
Workouts: This week was good for me in the workout department! I completed four 30 minute strength workouts which consist of one power lift like squat, bench, deadlift, or overhead press, and two accessory exercises. My accessory exercises usually include something for my core and something for my back muscles to try and avoid mom posture. I also did one Prenatal HIIT Peloton Ride.
You can see examples of my entire pregnancy workout in my Prenatal Fitness Prescription.
Modifications to my workout: I continue to listen to my body as much as I can and avoid anything that causes pain. I am still using a barbell and dumbbells and will continue for as long as it feels comfortable. During the Peloton rides, I maintain a rate of perceived exertion of 7-8 and always make sure I am able to carry out a basic conversation. Additionally, I make sure I engage in diaphragmatic breathing and pelvic floor exercises.
Here is a video of me overhead pressing at 24 weeks.
*Be sure to speak with your healthcare provider to learn if exercise is safe for you.* As always start with gentle exercises and listen to your body.
Other Related Questions
Should I be showing at 24 weeks pregnant?
Most pregnant women will be showing at 24 weeks pregnant.
How much you show depends on a few things such as:
- if this is your first baby
- your BMI
- total weight gain
- activity level prior to and during pregnancy
- genetics
- how many babies you are carrying
Here is a photo of my bump at 24 weeks.
Where is the top of my uterus at 24 weeks?
The top of your uterus, aka the fundus, is located ~4 cm above your belly button at 24 weeks.
This measurement is known as your fundal height and is helpful in determining if your baby is growing properly without needing to do an ultrasound.
What should your bump measure at 24 weeks?
Your baby bump should measure between 22 and 26 cm above your pubic bone on fundal height measurements.
The growing uterus grows by about 1 cm per week!
How big is the baby at 24 weeks?
At 24 weeks, the baby is approximately12 inches or more and about 1.25 pounds!
He or she is about the size of an ear of corn.
How does a baby look at 24 weeks in the womb?
At 24 weeks, a baby will look and appear just like you’d imagine a baby to look, just a lot smaller.
You may even notice eyelashes, eyebrows, and even tiny hairs on the scalp.
All of the extremities and internal organs have been developed at this point and will continue to grow and mature until the baby has reached full term.
During week 24, some cool things are happening to your baby.
- Your baby’s lungs are producing surfactant which is a substance that keeps the tiny air sacs open to help your baby breathe when it transitions to the outside world
- Your baby’s hearing is improved and can likely hear you when you speak
- Your baby’s taste buds are also developing!
Can babies change position at 24 weeks?
Babies will change their position often at 24 weeks! It is normal for your baby not to be head down at this time.
Your baby could be in the breech, transverse, or cephalic position during this time.
Breech position describes a baby whose head is in the upper abdomen, and the breach or buttocks is the presenting part in the lower pelvis.
A transverse position describes a baby who is lying sideways inside the uterus.
Lastly, the cephalic position is the one we want for a vaginal delivery. This describes a baby whose head is down in the pelvis.
How often should a baby kick at 24 weeks?
In general, you want to feel approximately 10 kicks in 2 hours if you have already been feeling regular fetal movement.
With that said, if you have not started to feel your baby kick or move yet, do not be alarmed- this can be normal.
Most women will typically feel their baby move in the mid-second trimester but there are many factors that may allow for you to experience earlier fetal movements versus later fetal movements.
For example, women who have an anterior placenta, may not feel their baby kick as early as those with a fundal or posterior placenta.
Additionally, women who’ve had a baby before may feel baby movement earlier than someone who has never been pregnant.
How long do babies sleep in the womb at 24 weeks?
It isn’t uncommon for a 24 week fetus to sleep upwards of 10 hours a day!
They have a lot of growing and developing to do!
How can I wake up my baby in the womb?
There are several things that may wake your baby up and cause movement. These include:
- Eating a snack
- Drinking something sweet
- Exercising
- Talking to the baby
What can you expect at a 24 weeks pregnant ultrasound?
At 24 weeks we typically will not perform an ultrasound unless there is a medical reason to do so.
Ideally, you should have had your anatomy scan at 18-22 weeks. If there was anything concerning at that time, a follow-up ultrasound may be warranted.
If you do happen to get an ultrasound at this time, you should be able to see a good amount of amniotic fluid, and a lot of body parts and organs more clearly.
What are common 24 weeks pregnant symptoms?
Hopefully, you are still enjoying those second-trimester vibes and feeling like your best self growing another human being inside of you.
If you are having some pregnancy symptoms, here is a list of what you may be experiencing:
- Practice contractions (which can feel like tightness in your lower abdomen)
- Lower back pain
- Urinary frequency
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Pain in your round ligaments (caused by your pregnancy hormones)
- SI joint pain
- Neck pain
- Full breasts
- Leg cramps
- Heartburn
- Nasal congestion and nose bleeds (due to an increase in blood vessels in your nasal area)
You may also notice your belly button changing from an innie to an outie
How many months is 24 weeks?
24 weeks is the end of 6 months!
Congratulations on making it to this stage of pregnancy! Two more weeks and you are in the third trimester!
Is your stomach hard at 24 weeks pregnant?
Your abdomen may occasionally feel hard at 24 weeks which is a result of Braxton Hicks Contractions. With that said, it should not cause significant pain for any prolonged period of time.
This is what distinguishes a practice contraction from labor contractions.
If you do experience a hard, tense abdomen that is causing you pain, speak with your OBGYN or health care provider right away to ensure you are not in preterm labor.
Final Words on 24 Weeks of Pregnancy
Are you 24 weeks pregnant?
How did your week go?
Are you looking forward to the end of the second trimester?
Also, this is a good time to schedule your gestational diabetes screening. For more information on the glucose screening test and the glucose tolerance test, click here.
Comment below and let me know.
And check back in next week for my 25 week update!
My Other Weekly Updates!
- My pregnancy bump at 21 weeks of gestation
- My pregnancy bump at 22 weeks of gestation
- My pregnancy bump at 23 weeks of gestation
Get Four Free Workouts To Help Strengthen Your Pelvic Floor & Heal Your Mommy Tummy!
Brittany Robles, MD, MPH, CPT
Brittany Robles is a full-time OBGYN physician, a NASM certified trainer, and a prenatal and postnatal fitness specialist. She holds a Master of Public Health degree in maternal health with a special interest in exercise and nutrition. She is also the co-author of The White Coat Trainer. Learn more about her here.
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