Day 168 of 280, second trimester
You are 24 weeks exactly
You're well settled into your pregnancy, but keep up all the healthy habits you've built.
112 days until your due date
You've been pregnant for almost six months and are hopefully feeling great, but don't get complacent. Your baby is well developed, but it's still important to maximize her health and yours by eating well and looking after yourself. Changes like not smoking or drinking are probably second nature by now. If you haven't managed to make healthy changes yet, it's never too late, and any changes you make now will benefit you both.
You'll need to adapt any exercise routine in these later stages, but keep active and ideally do something physical every day, even just a 20-minute walk. Keep up your daily Kegel exercises too; you'll be glad you did once the baby is born.
Focus on
Dads: Hello, it's Daddy
Don't be shy about talking to your baby. At first she'll recognize lower-pitched sounds, like deep male voices, better than higher ones like your partner's, so you have plenty of time for her to get to know your voice before she's born. After birth, your voice will calm her when she's upset. Tell her about your day and even read to her; it helps build a bond.
Good to know
How to wear a seat belt
Wearing a seat belt may feel awkward, but it's essential and a legal requirement, and you can buckle up comfortably:
- Fasten the belt over your shoulder as normal, running between your breasts.
- Position the lap belt below your belly, flat across your hips.
If you have to stop suddenly, your baby is safely cushioned by the amniotic fluid and your strong uterine muscles.
As a matter of fact
Seat belts save babies
Wearing a seat belt correctly reduces the risk of injury to an unborn baby by 70 percent.
Recent research found that over half of pregnant women wore their seat belts incorrectly, placing the lap belt too high across the belly or tucking the shoulder strap behind them.
Appointments and key dates around now
- Whooping cough vaccineUsually around 20 weeks, best before 32 weeks
Read the full 24 weeks pregnant guide
This is general information based on NHS guidance, not medical advice, and every pregnancy is different. Talk to your midwife or GP about anything that worries you. If your baby's movements slow down or change, or you have bleeding, severe pain or leaking fluid, call your maternity unit straight away. In an emergency, call 999.