Pregnancy Week 24 vs Week 28
Complete comparison of baby development, mom's symptoms, and changes between these weeks
📊
Time Difference
4 weeks apart
🔄
Trimester
Crossing from 2nd to 3rd trimester
Baby Size Comparison
Growth Progress
Week 24Cantaloupe
Week 28Eggplant
Your baby is approximately 65% through pregnancy
Week 24
📏
Length
11.8 inches
⚖️
Weight
1.3 pounds
🍎
Size Comparison
Cantaloupe
Week 28
📏
Length
14.8 inches
⚖️
Weight
2.2 pounds
🍎
Size Comparison
Eggplant
What Changes Between Week 24 and 28?
👶New Baby Developments
- ✓Welcome to the third trimester - the final stretch!
- ✓Eyes can open and close fully and baby blinks regularly
- ✓Baby can blink in response to light
- ✓Lungs are capable of breathing air with medical support if born now
- ✓Brain is developing billions of neurons with rapid growth in cerebral cortex
🤰New or Changing Symptoms
- ✓Shortness of breath as uterus pushes up on diaphragm
- ✓Trouble sleeping due to size, discomfort, and frequent bathroom trips
- ✓Possible sciatic pain shooting down legs and buttocks
- ✓Frequent urination returns as baby drops lower into pelvis
- ✓More frequent and intense Braxton Hicks contractions
📈Key Changes Summary
Baby Growth: Your baby continues to grow rapidly, with organs developing and maturing each day.
Your Body: Your body adapts to support your growing baby with various physical and hormonal changes.
Baby Development Milestones
Week 24 Development
- •Baby reaches viability - could potentially survive with intensive medical care if born now
- •Lungs are producing surfactant, a substance that prevents air sacs from collapsing
- •Taste buds are maturing and baby can distinguish sweet from bitter
- •Footprints and fingerprints are completely formed and permanent
- •Brain is growing rapidly with distinct sections developing
- •Skin is becoming less transparent as fat accumulates underneath
Week 28 Development
- •Welcome to the third trimester - the final stretch!
- •Eyes can open and close fully and baby blinks regularly
- •Baby can blink in response to light
- •Lungs are capable of breathing air with medical support if born now
- •Brain is developing billions of neurons with rapid growth in cerebral cortex
- •Baby is adding fat layers making skin less translucent
Common Symptoms
Week 24 Symptoms
- •Glucose screening test (1-hour glucose challenge) typically done this week
- •Rapidly growing belly that may cause balance issues
- •Possible carpal tunnel syndrome from fluid retention compressing nerves
- •Significantly increased appetite requiring 300-500 extra calories daily
- •Possible vision changes from fluid retention affecting eye shape
- •More frequent and noticeable baby movements
Week 28 Symptoms
- •Shortness of breath as uterus pushes up on diaphragm
- •Trouble sleeping due to size, discomfort, and frequent bathroom trips
- •Possible sciatic pain shooting down legs and buttocks
- •Frequent urination returns as baby drops lower into pelvis
- •More frequent and intense Braxton Hicks contractions
- •Swelling in feet, ankles, and hands
Nutrition Tips
Week 24 Nutrition
- •Monitor sugar and carbohydrate intake before glucose screening test
- •Eat complex carbohydrates like whole grains, oats, and quinoa instead of simple sugars
- •Include 75-100g of lean protein daily from varied sources
- •Stay hydrated with water throughout the day
- •Eat balanced meals with protein, complex carbs, and healthy fats
- •Include foods rich in vitamin B6 for carpal tunnel relief
Week 28 Nutrition
- •Eat iron-rich foods (27mg daily) for increasing red blood cell production and baby's iron stores
- •Include 1000-1300mg of calcium daily for baby's rapidly hardening bones
- •Stay hydrated with 10-12 glasses of water despite frequent urination
- •Eat 75-100g of protein at every meal for fetal growth
- •Include vitamin D (600 IU daily) for calcium absorption
- •Eat small frequent meals to avoid heartburn and breathlessness
⚕️When to Contact Your Healthcare Provider
During weeks 24 to 28, contact your healthcare provider if you experience:
- •Severe abdominal pain or cramping
- •Heavy bleeding or passing clots
- •Severe headache with vision changes
- •Persistent fever over 100.4°F (38°C)
- •Sudden swelling of hands, face, or feet
- •Decreased fetal movement