24 weeks pregnant

Your baby

Your baby's body is becoming more proportionate, but important growth and organ development are still ahead. A baby born this early would need specialized medical care. The ear-of-corn illustration helps show approximate size; it is not a measure of readiness for birth or a prediction of how an individual baby would do.

Your body

Your appetite, bump size and energy may differ from someone else's at the same stage. Neither appearance nor symptoms can tell you whether you have gestational diabetes. Screening is part of prenatal care because a condition may need attention even when you feel well. Ask about changes you notice rather than trying to interpret them from an online comparison.

This week

Preparing for glucose screening

Gestational diabetes screening commonly takes place between 24 and 28 weeks, though your clinician may recommend a different plan based on your history. Ask which test you are having, whether you need to prepare or fast, how long it may take and how results will be shared. Instructions differ between tests, so do not assume a friend's preparation applies to yours. A screening result may mean another test is needed rather than confirming a diagnosis immediately. If a result is abnormal, ask what it means and what the next step will be.