24 WEEKS PREGNANT
The lungs begin producing surfactant
Baby this week: about 30 cm — head to heel · about 600 g
≈ 30 cm — about the size of an ear of corn
Illustration enlarged for clarity — the amber marker shows true relative size
Your baby this week
- The lungs start producing surfactant, a substance needed for the air sacs to expand after birth
- Facial features are fully formed, though the fetus will keep filling out
- This week is often described as a threshold of viability, meaning survival outside the womb becomes possible with intensive medical care, though outcomes vary a great deal at this stage
- Taste buds are functioning, and the fetus may respond to different flavors in amniotic fluid
Your body this week
- The top of the uterus (fundus) is now roughly at the level of the belly button
- A glucose screening test for gestational diabetes is often scheduled around this time
This week's tip: If your provider recommends a glucose screening test, ask about the preparation involved so you know what to expect.
Want the bigger picture — organ development, nutrition, scans and warning signs for this stage? See month 6: Settling into the bump.
Sizes and milestones are typical ranges — every pregnancy runs on its own clock. Educational content; your prenatal care team's guidance always comes first.