Week 24: A milestone week for your baby
Image: @maryamejjbair
Welcome to week 24 of the Happy Parents Happy Baby guide to pregnancy, birth and beyond.
This week we'll be covering:
We hope you enjoy it!
Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) for gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes is high blood sugar which can develop in some women when they’re pregnant but it usually disappears once your baby is born. It can happen anytime in your pregnancy but is most common in the second and third trimesters. It can cause problems for you and your baby such as large birth weight, pre-eclampsia or premature birth. However, gestational diabetes can be managed if it’s detected early and treated properly.
Your midwife or GP will decide if you are at risk of gestational diabetes at your booking appointment. Risk factors include:
A BMI over 30
A baby which weighed 4.5kg or more at birth
You’ve previously had gestational diabetes
Your relatives have diabetes
You are of you are of south Asian, Black, African-Caribbean or Middle Eastern origin
If you have one or more of the risk factors above you’ll be offered a screening test at around the 24-28 week mark. This is called the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). It involves having a blood test in the morning, when you have had no food or drink for 8-10 hours. You then have to drink a glucose drink. After resting for two hours another blood test is done to see how your body has coped with the glucose.
If you’ve had gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy you will be offered an OGTT test earlier and then another at 24-28 weeks if the first result is normal.
If you do have gestational diabetes there are a number of things you can do to manage it. You may be offered a testing kit to keep an eye on your blood sugar levels. You may be able to lower your levels through a change in your diet and increase in exercise. Some women may need to take medicine which could be tablets or insulin injections. Whatever happens, you will be closely monitored throughout the rest of your pregnancy.
You may be advised to give birth before 41 weeks with an induction or c section recommended if labour hasn’t started naturally by that point.
After your baby is born you’ll be offered a blood test to check for diabetes when your baby is around 6 - 13 weeks. It’s really important that you go for this test, even if you feel fine.
Some women will go on to develop type 2 diabetes and others will be more likely to develop gestational diabetes in subsequent pregnancies. Your GP will be able to offer you advice on how to manage this.
Your baby’s development in week 24
Size of an ear of corn
Weighs approximately 590g and is around 29cm long
Week 24 is a milestone in any pregnancy because by this time your baby has a chance of survival if they are born early. Their lungs and vital organs will be developed enough for them to live outside the womb. However, they will need neonatal care and there is an increased risk of disability.
Your baby’s muscles, bones and organs will all be growing well, as well as their auditory system so keep talking to them and playing them your favourite music.
Week 24 Checklist
You might like to:
Think about where you want to give birth. Your hospital might have a midwife led unit or you might be considering a home birth. Speak to your midwife who will be able to give you all of the information you need.
Research a doula. A doula is a trained companion who can support you in pregnancy, childbirth and the immediate weeks after your baby is born. They can be present during your labour and may offer assistance with breathing techniques or massage. More information about the role of a doula can be found here
Start buying baby clothes. They’re pretty irresistible so we won’t blame you if you’ve already picked up some cute items for your baby. It’s easy to get carried away and you know we love a list, so why not make a list of everything you need from vests to sleepsuits and hats and mittens?
Spotlight on: Belly button changes
Each week we'll be delving into the common symptoms of pregnancy and bringing you top tips for managing them from our team of specialists and parent community.
What’s going on with my belly button?
If you used to have an innie, it's now quite likely that you have an outie!
This is because your growing uterus is putting pressure on everything around it, causing your belly button to pop out.
Things should return to normal after your baby is born, so for now, it's just time to embrace the outie.
Birth story of the week
Adam and Mayam’s baby was nearly born in the taxi when it took the wrong route to the hospital
“During my last few days of work I had lots of deep pain, which almost felt like my pelvis was shifting and stretching. I had a sweep the day after my due date, Katy said the baby would be here in 2-3 days. A few days later I felt a little strange, more lower back pain than usual, so I suggested to Adam that he worked from home that day. At 11am the contractions started. We got the timer going and I paced about the house - our plan was to get Katy to come to us to triage me and so we texted to keep her posted. The contractions were coming quicker. I had so many examples from friends in my head, that first time labour is hours and hours, so I assumed that I had time!
“Just two hours later I very much felt the urge to push, Katy phones and said get a taxi or ambulance NOW!!! She later told me she heard my mooing contractions!
“Adam called an Uber and the driver is very nonchalant about the whole thing! Adam realises quickly that we’re going the wrong way and are heading to the post office deport, rather than the hospital! We arrived to the most wonderful sight I had ever seen – Katy was waiting there for us; we were both so relieved.
“I clambered up onto a bed and Katy just had time to pull some gloves on…three pushes later he was out! Jack was born at 2.20pm, 5 minutes after arriving at hospital. There was no time for pain relief and I probably could have done with an episiotomy as he came out so fast with his hand by his ear. I was in utter shock that it had all happened. But sheer amazement at the whole marvel that is pregnancy and birth. As he was literally born, Katy said, there’s your baby, you can pick him up and I just couldn’t believe the rawness of it all, I was shaking as I just didn’t want to drop his slippery body! It is the most incredible feeling seeing their face for the first time.”
Phew! We’re so glad they got to the hospital in time!
Treat of the week
Have you already started dreaming of bathtimes with your baby? Take away the worry of how to hold them with the Angelcare bath support. It’s designed to keep them safe and support them from birth to six months.
Products are based on suggestions from our specialists and community of parents. We may earn commission from shopping links.
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That's all for now...
Thank you so much for joining us!
Have a great week.
Team HPHB x
Information you
can trust
Our articles are based on the latest-evidence based guidelines and scientific research and are written by our team of medical experts.
Coming up
next week
Have you started thinking about baby names yet?
Spotlight on: swollen hands and feet
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