How Many Weeks is Six Months Pregnant?

Whether you’re an expectant parent counting down the days until your little one arrives, or a grandparent-to-be awaiting their grandchild’s arrival with bated breath, there is no doubt that finding out how many weeks are in six months of pregnancy is something that plays a big part in the lead up to the big day. It can be tricky to remember exactly where you stand at any particular time throughout pregnancy, so it’s understandable that this question might arise. Thankfully, we have all the info right here – grab yourself a cup of tea and get comfortable as we dive into everything you need to know about how we calculate and use dates during pregnancy.

But first, how do I know all of this? Hi — I’m Hilary — The Pregnancy Nurse 👩‍⚕️. I have been a nurse since 1997 and I have 20 years of OB nursing experience, I am also the curly head behind Pulling Curls and The Online Prenatal Class for Couples. 🩺​ I have helped So many pregnant women understand why we use weeks intead of months that I’m happy to help you with it too.

BTW I would 100% recommend to have a pregnancy calendar of some sort to keep track of how things are moving along and you’re progressing towards your due date.

How many weeks pregnant am I if I am six months along?

If you’re in your six month of pregnancy you’re likely around 24-30 weeks pregnant. But, counting how “far” pregnant you are is complicated and your providers will use weeks not months. And I want you to understand that!

Why do providers use weeks instead of months?

The way that providers measure pregnancy is based on how long gestation usually takes. Gestation (the length of a pregnancy) is normally around 40 weeks long, so we use these weeks to track and measure the development of your unborn baby.

So, why don’t they just use months?

Simply put, because not all months have the same amount of weeks! For example, October has four weeks while August has five. So, if you measure a pregnancy in months you don’t always get an accurate assessment of the development and growth taking place. But, six months pregnant is probably around 24 weeks pregnant. It’s just not as accurate as the American College of Obstetricians wants us all to be.

Plus, there is SO much happening every “month” of pregnancy we need to split it into weeks to be more specific. For instance, someone in their 8th month of pregnancy can either be too early to have the baby (aka, 34 weeks) or fairly due and ready to have the baby (aka 36 weeks).

So, it’s really important for us to know how many weeks along you are.

I actually have a pregnancy calculator in this post.

How do weeks of pregnancy translate to months of pregnancy?

Heads up! 👀 There may be affiliate links in here – I might earn a smidge with your click. No cost to you, just good vibes! Check my boring stuff for deets.

Well, like we said above — most months have around 4 weeks in it (but some have closer to five).

BUT, the extra confusing part is that your first month of pregnancy was likely before you even knew you were pregnant. The 40 weeks pregnancy starts with the first day of your last menstrual period (and your due date will be 40 weeks after that date). And you were hopefully not pregnant on that day (or your dates are wrong).

So, that first month of pregnancy (that starts with the first day of your last period) you’d only be pregnant for the last 2 weeks or so…. Most people won’t have a positive pregnancy test until they are about 4 weeks (or more) pregnant. Most often, you’d ovulate 2 weeks after your last menstrual period, and then get pregnant soon after that. And then you have to wait a couple of weeks before a pregnancy test would be positive.

But, most often I just times how far along someone says they are by 4’ish. So, if they tell me they are 5 months I figure we’re 20-25 weeks pregnant, still in the 2nd trimester. And, if I’m their nurse I usually calculate how many weeks they are (in the hospital or doctor’s offices they use a wheel that tells your dates based on your last menstrual period).

I 100% wrote down my weeks of pregnancy in my calendar so I knew how far along I was as I went through. I just started at 40 weeks on my due date, and went backwards until the current date.

What if they aren’t calculating my due date by my last period?

Sometimes your healthcare provider will calculate your due date off your first ultrasound. It gives very accurate measurements as to when they think the baby is due. Because everyone ovulates at different times during their menstrual cycle, most believe that first ultrasound (if done early in your first trimester) is the most accurate to calculate a due date.

Pro tip: Ultrasounds done in the third trimester aren’t as accurate on baby’s dating as babies grow at different rates later in your pregnancy (as many of us are taller or smaller, so will babies be). I have a podcast on routine ultrasounds.

What trimester am I in if I’m six months along?

Trimesters are another way that providers often measure your pregnancy. It splits your pregnancy into 3 distinct periods. If you’re six months along you are likely in your second trimester which takes from about 13-27’ish weeks of pregnancy.

How many months pregnant am I if I’m 24 weeks along?

So many people say there are more than 9 months of pregnancy — which is possibly true, but you have to remember that we’re counting half a month where you’re not actually even pregnant. Months are just inaccurate for this type of thing. But, if you’re 24 weeks you’re probably about six months pregnant, and probably have about 3 months left of pregnancy until you are full term. Weeks and months just don’t translate. It’s annoying, but true.

Your providers will always want to know your pregnancy in weeks, even though friends may want to know pregnancy months.

What are the symptoms of being six months pregnant?

As you enter into your sixth month of pregnancy, you may start to experience some new and exciting pregnancy symptoms. At this stage of pregnancy, your baby is now about a foot long and growing quickly! You can expect to feel movements such as kicks and wiggles more frequently, as well as the occasional hiccups.

Remember how everyone is feeling their baby this far along differs a lot by baby’s placement, your abdomen and the placental position, so don’t compare your fetal movement with a friend’s.

Your body is also going through some changes as your uterus is growing more and pushing on your organs. You may feel increased heartburn, abdominal cramping, shortness of breath, swelling in your feet and ankles, and irregular sleep patterns. Your breasts may feel heavy and tender.

What to expect during the seventh month of pregnancy

By the start of your seventh month of pregnancy, you will likely have gained about 25 to 30 pounds and will start to feel a bit uncomfortable. Your baby is now around 15 inches long and weighs approximately 2 1/2 to 4 pounds.

You may start to feel a lot of pressure from your growing uterus against your bladder, causing frequent trips to the bathroom. You may also feel some pain in your lower back and legs, as well as Braxton Hicks contractions (practice contractions).

Your baby’s organs are now fully developed and he or she is now making small jerky movements. You can expect to feel more kicks and jabs from your baby as they practice for the big day.

At around 27 weeks of pregnancy you’ll want to be sure to take the glucose test as prescribed by your provider.

How to prepare for childbirth at this point in your pregnancy

At this point in your pregnancy, it’s a good idea to start thinking about preparing for childbirth. Consider taking childbirth classes and reading up on the process so that you can be mentally and physically prepared for labor.

A lot of people consider just watching people on social media enough childbirth preparation, but you’ll really want to take a class so you don’t miss any important information.

Discuss your options with your doctor or midwife about pain management techniques such as breathing exercises and massage. You should also talk to your doctor about possible complications during labor and delivery and make a plan for any potential issues. I have a list of some of my favorite childbirth and pregnancy classes for couples.

It’s also important to start planning what kind of care you want after the birth, such as whether you will use a doula or postpartum nurse, if you will have family help or hire someone to help with childcare, etc

Come join me in The Online Prenatal Class for Couples where we prepare you from bump to bassinet. Now is really the perfect time to get started!

And, if you’re not quite sure you’re ready for that whole thing, check out my free prenatal class. It’s your first step toward getting in the driver’s seat of your birth.