Lahalak Medical PlatformDifferentiate Care
Fetal movement and growth increase as you approach the end of the second trimester. In the Saudi pathway, the 24-week visit includes follow-up testing such as glucose tolerance screening.
Approximately weeks 22-26
Medical note: Pregnancy months are approximate, while clinical follow-up relies on gestational weeks. This content is educational and does not provide diagnosis or an individualized treatment plan. Concerning symptoms or high-risk pregnancy require clinical review.
Month 6 covers approximately weeks 22 through 26. Fetal movement often becomes easier to recognise, while the baby continues gaining weight and the brain, lungs, hearing and nervous system continue developing.
This month also contains an important prenatal milestone: gestational diabetes screening between weeks 24 and 28. Saudi prenatal-care guidance also includes a follow-up visit at approximately week 24.
This information is educational and does not provide diagnosis or an individual treatment plan. Bleeding, fluid leakage, regular contractions, severe pain, fever, severe headache with vision changes, severe shortness of breath or a concerning reduction in fetal movement requires medical assessment.
Month 6 includes weeks 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26. Gestational weeks remain more precise for medical care because screening and follow-up are linked to specific week ranges.
Explore week 22, week 23, week 24, week 25 and week 26.
The fetus continues gaining weight, while movement becomes stronger and better coordinated.
Brain and nervous-system development continue, and hearing becomes increasingly developed.
Lung development also progresses, although the lungs remain immature and require considerable further development before birth.
Body fat gradually increases, and the baby's overall appearance becomes fuller.
Many women can clearly recognise fetal movement by this stage. Movement may include kicks, rolling, taps and stronger shifts.
The fetus still has periods of activity and rest, and movement patterns vary according to fetal position, placental position and maternal activity.
Begin becoming familiar with your baby's usual pattern without comparing movement counts with another pregnancy.
Movement is becoming clearer, but formal movement-counting methods are generally used later according to the care team's instructions.
If movement has become established and then changes or decreases in a way that concerns you, contact your maternity care team.
Saudi Ministry of Health guidance recommends blood-glucose screening between weeks 24 and 28 for early detection of gestational diabetes.
Gestational diabetes often causes no obvious symptoms, which is why routine screening is important.
Your care team may arrange gestational diabetes screening or an oral glucose tolerance test OGTT according to the local protocol.
The testing method varies between healthcare protocols. It may involve drinking a glucose solution followed by blood-glucose measurements at defined times.
Follow the laboratory instructions regarding fasting, medicines, timing and food before the test.
Many women with gestational diabetes have no specific symptoms. Increased thirst or urination cannot diagnose the condition, because urinary frequency is also common in normal pregnancy.
Diagnosis depends on glucose-test results interpreted according to the clinical protocol.
Gestational diabetes can often be managed successfully with structured follow-up.
Management may include:
Saudi prenatal-care guidance includes a visit at approximately week 24.
Assessment may include:
Blood-volume expansion during pregnancy can make anemia or iron deficiency more noticeable.
CBC or ferritin may be reviewed when appropriate. Fatigue alone does not confirm iron deficiency, and high-dose iron should not be started without assessment.
Blood group and Rh status are usually known from early pregnancy testing.
If the mother is Rh negative, the care team may review the appropriate plan as later pregnancy approaches. Management depends on individual results and clinical protocol.
Not every uncomplicated pregnancy requires another routine ultrasound during weeks 22 to 26 if the anatomy scan has been completed normally.
A fetal-growth ultrasound may be requested if anatomy views were incomplete, a finding needs follow-up, the pregnancy is multiple, or maternal or fetal risk factors are present.
Pressure on the bladder can cause small amounts of urine leakage, particularly with coughing or sneezing.
Persistent watery leakage that cannot be controlled may require assessment to exclude amniotic-fluid leakage.
Seek assessment if wetness continues or is accompanied by bleeding, contractions or pain.
Birth before 37 weeks is considered preterm. Symptoms that may require assessment include:
In selected situations, clinicians may use a fetal fibronectin fFN test as part of assessment. It is not a routine test for every pregnancy.
Some women notice occasional uterine tightening during this stage or later. These are often referred to as Braxton Hicks contractions.
They are generally irregular and do not progressively increase like true labor contractions.
Regular, increasingly painful contractions, particularly with pelvic pressure, fluid leakage or bleeding, require assessment for preterm labor.
Heartburn may increase as the uterus grows and pregnancy hormones affect digestion.
Smaller meals, avoiding lying down immediately after eating and identifying personal food triggers may help.
Mild itching can occur as the skin stretches.
Severe or widespread itching, particularly involving the palms or soles or disturbing sleep, should be discussed with a clinician.
Mild ankle or foot swelling can occur, especially later in the day.
Sudden or severe swelling, especially involving the face or hands with severe headache or visual symptoms, requires prompt medical assessment.
A growing abdomen can make sleep more difficult. Pillows between the knees or supporting the abdomen and back may improve comfort.
Severe or persistent back pain, especially with contractions, bleeding or fluid leakage, requires assessment.
Continue balanced meals with suitable protein, vegetables, fruit, whole grains, calcium-containing foods, iron sources and adequate fluids.
Do not follow a restrictive diet simply to influence your gestational-diabetes test result.
There is still time before birth, but month 6 can be a reasonable point to begin learning about labor, breastfeeding and newborn care.
Use the pregnancy week-by-week guide for more precise timing.
Month 7 begins at approximately week 27. Fetal weight gain and brain and lung development continue, while prenatal follow-up becomes increasingly important as pregnancy advances.
Continue to month 7 of pregnancy or go directly to week 27.
Choose a week for more precise information about this stage of pregnancy.
Explore library content by the stage most relevant to you.
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