Week 24 of pregnancy: Reviewing Upcoming Tests and Care

Week 24 is a useful point to look ahead at the tests and appointments on your calendar. Some depend on your medical history, while others are part of routine care. Knowing why a visit has been offered makes it easier to prepare and to ask for an explanation of the result.

Confirm whether diabetes screening is due

In NHS care, people with an increased chance of gestational diabetes are generally offered an oral glucose tolerance test between 24 and 28 weeks. Earlier testing may also be offered after gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy. Testing arrangements differ internationally, so follow the plan agreed with your own team.

Gestational diabetes often causes no noticeable symptoms. Feeling well does not replace an offered test. It involves raised blood glucose during pregnancy and, when identified, can be managed to reduce risks for you and your baby.

Our gestational diabetes screening guide explains the appointment in more detail. Ask the clinic what preparation is needed, including fasting, water and your usual medicines. Do not guess or change prescribed treatment yourself.

Make the result part of the plan

Before the test, find out who will contact you and how long results usually take. Put that information beside the appointment in your notes. If you cannot attend or complete the test, contact the team to discuss the next step rather than assuming the opportunity has passed.

An unexpected result should come with an explanation and a care plan. The guide to gestational diabetes and daily care describes the kinds of support that may follow. You do not need to work out a restrictive diet on your own while waiting for advice.

Check the next routine visit

The NHS schedule includes a 25 week appointment for a first baby. It usually includes discussion of wellbeing, movements and results, alongside blood pressure, urine and bump checks. Other pregnancies or healthcare systems may have a different timetable.

Write down any result you have not yet understood. A short question such as whether a follow up scan has been booked is easier to act on than a general note to check everything. Our appointment schedule guide can help organize the list.

Do not save movement concerns for that visit

If you have never felt your baby move by 24 weeks, tell your midwife. Reduced or stopped movements, or a concerning change in movements already felt, need an immediate call to maternity care, even overnight.

At this stage your baby still has substantial development ahead. Weekly size comparisons cannot assess wellbeing or replace your own care plan.