Week 20 Pregnancy: Fruit, Belly & Symptoms

Welcome to week 20 of your pregnancy, 18 weeks from conception! You’re halfway there!!

Week 20 Pregnancy:  How big is your baby – fruit?

At this point, your baby weighs around a whopping 9-10 ounces (1)!  He’s measuring 5 2/3 to 6 1/2 inches from crown to rump.  (After week 20, your baby will be measured from crown to heel.)  That puts your little one at about the size of a small banana (4)!

Week 20 Pregnancy:  What should my belly look like?

Your uterus is growing, keeping pace with baby’s rapid growth.  Now the top of the uterus is about even with your belly button, and your provider will be measuring the growth of your abdomen using a measuring tape.  Typically it’s done from the pubic symphysis, an area near the pubic bone, up to your naval.  Right now, this measurement will likely be somewhere around 8 inches long.  Expect the distance to grow almost 1/2 inch each week!

Week 20 Pregnancy:  Baby’s development

Your baby is continuing to grow and develop, and is doing some pretty amazing things this week (3)!

• Eyebrows and eyelashes are beginning to form
• Nails are present on both fingers and toes
• Lanugo (a fine, downy hair that typically falls offer before birth) now covers your baby’s body
• Vernix ( a white, cheesy substance that acts as a skin barrier) is starting to form on your baby’s skin
• Baby’s limbs are well-formed

Week 20 Pregnancy:  Symptoms

Quickening

If you haven’t already, you’ll soon begin to feel your baby move!  This is known as quickening.  Pay attention to a gentle, fluttery feeling in your uterus.  It’s almost like a little butterfly is flapping around in there!  You may have noticed this movement as early as 16 weeks, but most moms are able to recognize baby’s movement by around week 20.

Stuffy Nose & Nosebleeds

Elevated estrogen levels during pregnancy cause an increase of blood flow to all of your mucous membranes.  This results in swollen mucosal tissue, and commonly nasal congestion. Additionally, always having to blow that annoying stuffy nose sets pregnant moms up for the occasional nosebleed.

Unfortunately, antihistamines and decongestants are typically discouraged during pregnancy.  Ask your provider about the use of a saline spray.  Running a cool-air vaporizer during the night may bring relief…or it may not.  Either way, expect the congestion to stick around until baby is born.

Enjoy this amazing 20th week of your pregnancy!  We’ll see you soon at week 21!

Kopa Birth’s online birthing classes allow you to prepare for a natural hospital birth from the comfort of your own home, 24/7. Enroll today in our free online childbirth class and start preparing for your natural birth!

References:

(1) Glade, B.C., Schuler, J.  (2011).  Your Pregnancy Week by Week, 7th edition.  First Da Capo Press.

(2) The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.  (2010).  Your Pregnancy and Childbirth Month to Month, 5th edition.

(3) Ladewig, P.A., London, M.L., Davidson, M.R.  (2006).  Contemporary Maternal-Newborn Nursing Care, 6th edition.  Pearson Prentice Hall.  Upper Saddle River, NJ.

(4) Retrieved from http://parentingpatch.com/how-big-is-your-baby-week-week-food-comparisons/