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24 Weeks Pregnant: The Glucose Test Window Opens

Medically reviewed by

Sarah Riffle, RN Jul 30, 2026

Line illustration of an ear of corn on the cob: at 24 weeks pregnant your baby is about the size of a corn cob, roughly 21cm crown to rump

Line drawing of a 24-week foetus with thin limbs and wrinkled, see-through skin

Line drawing of a woman's torso at 24 weeks pregnant, showing the enlarged uterus and a rounded bump

Your baby is the size of a

Corn on the cob

~630 grams

~21 cm / ~8.3 in

Key Takeaways

At 24 weeks pregnant, your baby is about 21 centimetres (210mm) from crown to rump and weighs more than 630 grams, according to Mayo Clinic. The skin is wrinkled and see-through, with a pink or red tint from blood moving through the vessels.

This is the week the gestational diabetes screening window opens. The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) says all pregnant women should be offered blood glucose screening between 24 and 28 weeks.

Movement should be settling into a pattern. SOGC notes that by 24 weeks almost all women feel their baby's movements in a predictable way, and calls your perception of those movements one of the strongest indicators of wellbeing.

Your Baby at 24 Weeks: Development & Growth

At 24 weeks pregnant, your baby is about 210 millimetres (roughly 21cm) long from crown to rump and weighs more than 630 grams, according to Mayo Clinic. This week the skin is wrinkled and see-through, with a pink or red tint due to blood moving through the blood vessels.

Your baby measures about 21cm this week — roughly the length of a corn cob, and well over half a kilogram in weight. Mayo Clinic gives it as "about 8 1/4 inches (210 millimeters) long from crown to rump" and a weight of "more than 1 1/3 pounds (630 grams)." Length is still measured crown to rump at this stage.

The headline change is the skin. Mayo Clinic explains that at 24 weeks "your baby's skin is wrinkled and see-through," and that "the skin tends to have a pink or red tint due to blood moving through the blood vessels." You are, in effect, watching the circulatory system through a thin, translucent layer.

That wrinkled look is temporary. The fat that will smooth it out is only just beginning to build, and it fills in over the weeks ahead. For now, the skin is doing its early, unfinished work.

Just before now, your baby was laying other groundwork. Mayo Clinic notes that around week 23 "the lungs are starting to make a substance called surfactant," which "allows the air sacs in the lungs to inflate and keeps the lungs from collapsing." Quiet preparation for a first breath, still months away.

Your Body at 24 Weeks: Symptoms & Changes

At 24 weeks pregnant, many mothers are in the steadier late stretch of the second trimester, though the common discomforts of pregnancy can still come and go. SOGC lists tender breasts, constipation, backaches, headaches, mood swings and leg cramps among them. This is also the week the glucose screening window opens, and when movements usually settle into a pattern. Every pregnancy is different.

The main new event this week is the gestational diabetes screen. SOGC explains that gestational diabetes "is a type of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy," which "happens when your body is not able to produce enough insulin to keep the amount of glucose (sugar) in your blood at proper levels." It is common — SOGC notes it affects "about 7% of women."

The timing is deliberate. SOGC states that "all pregnant women should be offered blood glucose screening for GD between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy," adding that "if you have risk factors for GD, you will be tested earlier in your pregnancy." Week 24 is the front edge of that window.

Movement is the other theme, and by now it is usually steadier. SOGC notes that "by 24 weeks, almost all women will feel their baby's movements in a predictable way," while adding that "a very small percentage of women do not feel their baby's movements." A pattern is what you are looking for.

Symptoms haven't necessarily disappeared. SOGC lists tender or swollen breasts, constipation, gas and bloating, backaches, headaches, mood swings and leg cramps among the common discomforts of pregnancy. Any of these can still be part of your week.

Your shape is shifting to carry all of this. SOGC explains that weight gain "isn't just the baby" — "your placenta, increased blood volume, larger breasts, and fat stores to support breastfeeding, also contribute." A rounding middle is your body doing exactly what it should.

What to Do at 24 Weeks Pregnant

NUTRITION AT 24 WEEKS PREGNANT

Keep the second-trimester increase modest. SOGC states: "In the second trimester you need about 340 extra calories per day," noting this "generally equates to 2 or 3 additionally servings from any of Canada’s Food Guide’s food groups" — for example a piece of toast and a cup of milk. Quality matters more than quantity, and steady eating helps keep blood sugar even ahead of your glucose test.
Stay on top of iron. SOGC advises increasing "your daily iron intake to 27mg daily during the final six+ months of pregnancy to support an increase in red blood cells and fetal tissues" — and notes that, "like most women, you may need a good supplement to meet this need."
Mind your choline. SOGC notes that "choline intake above 450mg a day is linked to improved fetal stress responses and a reduced risk of neural tube defects," and adds that "this vitamin may not be found in your prenatal daily vitamin" — so it is worth checking your label.

WHAT SUPPLEMENTS TO TAKE AT 24 WEEKS PREGNANT

Keep taking 400mcg of folic acid daily. The Public Health Agency of Canada states that "a daily multivitamin with 400 mcg (0.4 mg) of folic acid is recommended for anyone who could become pregnant," and advises: "Continue taking folic acid throughout your pregnancy and while breastfeeding."
Don’t raise your folic acid dose on your own. The Public Health Agency of Canada advises: "You should not increase your dose of folic acid beyond 1 mg per day without talking to your health care provider." A higher dose is a conversation, not a decision for the supplement aisle.
Use a prenatal that covers iron. SOGC notes that, like most women, "you may need a good supplement" to reach 27mg of iron a day — the second and third trimesters are when this matters most.

LIFESTYLE TIPS AT 24 WEEKS PREGNANT

Keep moving — aim for at least 150 minutes a week. SOGC advises that "pregnant women should accumulate at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity each week," spread across "at least 3 days a week, and up to 7 days a week." SOGC lists "reducing the likelihood of getting gestational diabetes" among the benefits — a fitting one for this week.
Build in pelvic floor exercises. SOGC notes that "pelvic floor muscle training (e.g., Kegel exercises) can be performed every day to reduce the risk of urinary incontinence." Easy to fold into a daily routine.
Keep caffeine to 300mg a day. Health Canada recommends a maximum daily caffeine intake of 300 mg for people who are pregnant. For reference, Health Canada puts one 8oz (237ml) cup of brewed coffee at about 135mg — so roughly two cups is the ceiling, and that total includes tea, cola and chocolate.
Get to know your baby’s pattern. SOGC notes that "your perception of your baby’s movements is one of the strongest indicators of your baby’s wellbeing." By 24 weeks a rhythm is usually there — start noticing when your baby tends to be active, so a change stands out.

When to Contact Your Doctor or Midwife

Most of week 24 is milestones, not alarms. But some symptoms should always be checked. Contact your doctor, midwife or other health care provider if you experience:

Any vaginal bleeding. SOGC advises: "It's important for you to take any vaginal bleeding seriously. Contact your health care provider as soon as you notice any bleeding." Signs of a pregnancy loss, SOGC notes, include vaginal bleeding, the passage of clots and tissue, and cramping or pain in the lower pelvis or back.
Signs of infection, or heavy bleeding. SOGC advises that if you have "signs of infection like fever or heavy bleeding, you should see your care provider right away." If bleeding is heavy or you feel very unwell, seek emergency medical care immediately.
Any change in your baby's movements. SOGC advises that "if you ever have concerns regarding your baby's movement pattern, you should have the baby assessed as soon as possible," and that mothers should always trust their intuition. If you think your baby is moving less, SOGC says you can do a kick count: count movements over two hours, and if you don't feel 6 movements in 2 hours, contact your health care provider as soon as possible.
Persistent low mood or disruptive mood swings. SOGC advises that "depression or disruptive mood swings are not normal and it is important to seek help for these more serious concerns."
Severe abdominal pain, a severe or persistent headache, or any symptom that frightens you. Sudden, severe pain warrants urgent assessment — seek emergency medical care immediately if it is intense or you feel faint. For anything that simply worries you, your health care provider is there for exactly that.

Frequently Asked Questions

How big is my baby at 24 weeks pregnant?

At 24 weeks pregnant, your baby is about 210 millimetres — roughly 21cm — from crown to rump and weighs more than 630 grams, according to Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic describes it as "about 8 1/4 inches (210 millimeters) long from crown to rump" weighing "more than 1 1/3 pounds (630 grams)." The skin at this stage is "wrinkled and see-through."

When is the gestational diabetes test in Canada?

The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) states that "all pregnant women should be offered blood glucose screening for GD between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy." SOGC adds that "if you have risk factors for GD, you will be tested earlier in your pregnancy" — risk factors it lists include being older than 35, a family history of diabetes, or a previous pregnancy with gestational diabetes.

What does the glucose screening test involve?

SOGC explains that the screening test "is called a ’glucose challenge’, which aims to see how your body is handling sugars." The measurement "is taken 1 hour after you consume a glucose drink," and "this test can be conducted at any time of day as it is not a fasting test." SOGC adds: "If your blood sugar is normal after the challenge, you will not require any more testing. If it is high, you will have a second test" — a longer, fasting test done in the morning.

Should I feel my baby move at 24 weeks pregnant?

Yes — by now, movement is usually a pattern. SOGC notes that "by 24 weeks, almost all women will feel their baby’s movements in a predictable way," though "a very small percentage of women do not feel their baby’s movements." SOGC advises that "if you ever have concerns regarding your baby’s movement pattern, you should have the baby assessed as soon as possible."

How much caffeine is safe at 24 weeks pregnant?

Health Canada recommends a maximum daily caffeine intake of 300 mg for people who are pregnant. Health Canada puts one 8oz (237ml) cup of brewed coffee at about 135mg, so roughly two cups a day is the ceiling — and that total should include tea, cola and chocolate, which also contain caffeine.

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