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You are here: Home » Pregnancy » Pregnancy Week by Week » Week 20 Pregnancy: Fruit, Belly & Symptoms
Week 20 Pregnancy Fruit Belly & Symptoms

Week 20 Pregnancy: Fruit, Belly & Symptoms

June 8, 2017 //  by Katie Griffin

Welcome to week 20 of your pregnancy, 18 weeks from conception! You’re halfway there!! If you haven’t already, check out our Week 19 Pregnancy article to get caught up.

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Table of contents

  • Week 20 Pregnancy:  How big is your baby – fruit?
  • What should my belly look like?
  • Week 20 Pregnancy:  Baby’s development
  • Week 20 Pregnancy:  Symptoms
    • Quickening
    • Stuffy Nose & Nosebleeds

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 fruit

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 starting midway through your second trimester appointments, provider will be measuring the growth of your abdomen using a measuring tape.  This is called measuring the fundal height, and it helps your doctor check that your baby is growing as expected. 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 pregnant belly

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 lanugo vernix

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!  (Honestly, while this doesn’t sound cute, it may feel like you have gas.) 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.

week 20 pregnancy symptoms

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 natural childbirth in the comfort of your own home, 24/7. Enroll today in our free online childbirth class to learn more about preparing for natural childbirth. 

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/

Here are some other birth articles and stories we know you’ll love.

  • Second Trimester Pregnancy & Symptoms: The Ultimate Guide
  • How to Be a Supportive Partner During Pregnancy
  • Week 22 Pregnancy: Baby Movement & More
  • Week 28 Pregnancy: Baby Weight & Symptoms

Category: Pregnancy Week by WeekTag: second trimester

About Katie Griffin

Katie Griffin, Founder of Kopa Birth,® is a Registered Nurse, Lamaze certified childbirth educator, and mom of 7. Using her nursing background and 14+ years of experience teaching birthing classes, Katie has become an expert in the field of natural hospital birth. Kopabirth.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and observation, and all posts are current and evidence-based. Katie is also the instructor for the KOPA® PREPARED online childbirth course and offers online coaching for pregnancy and natural birth.

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