You are now 20 weeks pregnant, which means you are halfway through your pregnancy. Many other health issues will begin to manifest in your body this week. It includes things like congestion.
You may observe the bloody nose and found yourself in the condition of cold or allergies.
This week you will be getting ready for the next ultrasound. For more information about your baby and your body, read the article below.
20 weeks pregnant in months?
If you’re in 20 weeks of your pregnancy, then you’re 5th month pregnant. Only 4 months left there. Still have questions? Then here’s some more information on how weeks, months and trimesters are broken down in pregnancy.
Your Baby at 20 weeks of pregnancy
Size
How big is my baby at 20 weeks?
Your baby is now about 16.5cm in length and it will be about the size of a small cantaloupe melon. His weight is around 0.28 kg.
The baby is developing still during this week. Since, there is still plenty of growing room for baby. This permits the baby to twist and turn.
Development
From here on, your baby is growing bigger and faster. This can be observe by baby’s strong kicks and movements.
Genitals
However the genitals in both the male and female fetuses are still developing during this week. But you will be able to observe baby’s gender through the second trimester ultrasound. This normally occurs between 18 and 22 weeks. This also helps the doctor to give regular check on your pregnancy.
- If you have a baby girl, then its uterus is going to form this week completely and the vaginal canal begins its development.
- Your little fetus now has 7 million primitive eggs in her tiny ovary. But by birth, this will be down in numbers 1 to 2 million.
- If the fetus is a boy, then the testicles are starting to form.
Taste:
Baby’s taste buds are developing this week along with his growth. Your baby starts recognizing strong flavors from the food you eat such as spicy curry or dishes, garlic.
Poop:
During these 20 weeks of your pregnancy, baby’s digestive system still continues to grow. Fetus starts developing meconium. This is the result of the amniotic fluid and other cells which your baby is consuming. This all makes your baby’s first poop. Some babies pass meconium while they are in womb or before birth. But most of them, wait until after they born.
Moving and grooving:
By this week, your baby is turn to be more active. Fetus is moving and floating around here and there in your womb.
Between 18 and 25 weeks, you will most probably start feeling your baby’s moving. At first, it will feel like a light fluttering known as quickening. But soon, you will start feeling strong kicks and somersaults from your growing baby.
And if you’re pregnant with twins, you may feel two different sets of kicks and movements by this week.
Hearing
Baby is now able to hear any sound – may be your voice, heartbeat and stomach growling, with the sounds outside your body.
The baby may cover its ears with his hands, if the sound nearby you is loud.
Life of 20 weeks pregnant
Congratulations! Now you passed the halfway of your pregnancy which is big deal in itself. Here are more to know about your upcoming challenges you have to face to reach your destiny.
Top Tip:
Here after this successful half journey, you can celebrate it anyway. You can include tasty and healthy food in your celebration, as you should still careful about your habits of intake.
Massage treatment:
During this condition, it is always blissful moment to have a massage on your feet. It is kind of walking in heaven. So you can get good advantage of your free hour and can enjoy it in good manner. You can also have some other massaging on your hair and hands. Your partner can also give you feet rub if required, you deserve it.
Hair and nail development:
Now you also can observe that your nails are becoming stronger and hairs are growing rapidly than normal. Hairs are getting thicker and fuller. There is again pregnancy hormone behind this that hits your circulation that brings extra nutrients to hair and nails cells.
But don’t get attached with your current hair and nails quality, because they both will be in the same condition after delivery.
Growing appetite:
Are you feeling hungrier than ever? In the past weeks with nausea and food aversions, you could not take more advantages of your food tastes. Now it is the time to eat with great love what you want to eat.
But try to take healthy versions of every meal you would like to eat.
Other considerations
Abdomen size and shape:
You may start to observe other pregnant woman more likely or may look more closely at their belly shape. Each woman’s belly shape vary depending upon the height and weight of the woman.
Remember every woman is different in respect how she changes and responds to her pregnancy.
Maternity attire:
Most of the women are now start looking more like pregnant women and hence probably needs comfortable and loose clothes. Or may have need some special maternity clothes. You can read more about motherliness dress here>>
Natural therapy:
Art therapy is the treatment which includes art materials to create some images and sculptures to heal some emotions of stress and anxiety. It makes creative expression of feelings, thoughts and fantasy.
Some childbirth educators use art therapy to find out the problem and concerns to labor or childbirth.
Pregnancy Symptoms
This time of your pregnancy can be more enjoyable and joyful, as there is no more sickness and fatigue in your body. You could feel little uncomfortable as baby has grow larger than earlier. Here are something which may be happen with you i these upcoming weeks.
Weight gain:
Weight gain is the normal for every pregnant women in these weeks. They may put about 8 to 10 pounds these 20 weeks. And can get half to full pound per week ahead.
Swelling:
About 25% of your weight gain comes from additional fluid your body is getting. So swelling and puffing your body is normal at this stage. Especially in your ankles and feet. You can also call it edema.
You can prevent this problem by staying off your feet , by reducing your caffeine and sodium intake.
You can consult from your doctor if the swelling exceeds further, because it may be the indication of preeclampsia.
Sex drive:
Almost for everyone, sex is secure during pregnancy. But you may find that your sex drive fluctuates throughout your pregnancy. Again there is hormone responsible for that condition.
Conclusion:
For more on your pregnancy journey visit pregnancyweekmonth