20 weeks pregnant officially marks the halfway point to meeting your baby. That’s right – you’re halfway there! Can you believe it?
Since health care providers consider a pregnancy to be full-term anywhere between 37 and 42 weeks, you only have about 20 more weeks of pregnancy left.
Take a moment to celebrate this pregnancy milestone. This is a good time to plan a date night or treat yourself to a relaxing activity like a prenatal massage to help with those leg cramps.
This week, your baby is roughly the size of a sweet potato and is looking more like a baby than ever before. Make sure to ask for printout images at your 20-week ultrasound, also known as the anatomy scan.
20 Weeks Pregnant Symptoms
Belly Button Changes
Your baby bump isn’t the only part of your body that’s ready to “pop.” Your belly button may begin to protrude as your bump grows. This navel change is caused by your uterus rapidly expanding, which pushes your abdomen forward.
Your protruding belly button will revert in time but not always all the way. You might be left with a slightly larger belly button once you have your baby.
Want to learn about more changes to your body during pregnancy? Check out this blog post!
Heartburn and Indigestion
Are you experiencing heartburn and indigestion lately? Nearly half of expectant mothers feel the burn – heartburn, that is – during pregnancy. Things are starting to get a little crowded in there as your baby continues to grow. Your digestive system may not be working the way it did pre-pregnancy.
We mentioned heartburn back in our 13 weeks pregnant blog post, but this pesky pregnancy symptom can linger for the duration of your pregnancy.
Sugarless gum, almonds, milk, and papaya are a few pregnancy-safe options to potentially control and treat heartburn during pregnancy. Avoiding acidic and spicy foods may also help reduce heartburn and indigestion.
Hair and Nail Changes
This pregnancy symptom could be another reason to celebrate this week. Noticed your nails growing longer and thicker? Gotten a few compliments on how luscious your locks look?
Pregnancy hormones like estrogen trigger a surge in circulation bringing extra nutrients to your hair and nail cells.
Baby on Board
At week 20, your baby is about 6.5 inches long from crown to rump and weighs anywhere from 10-11 ounces. Your growing baby is as happy as a clam – twisting, turning, and wiggling in your womb.
What’s fundal height?
At this point in your pregnancy, your health care provider may begin to measure your fundal height during prenatal visits. The fundus is the distance from your pubic bone to the top of your uterus.
Measuring your fundal height can give your doctor or midwife information about your baby’s growth. At 20 weeks pregnant, your fundal height is likely between 7 and 8.5 inches or 18 to 22 centimeters. (Fun fact: Your fundal height in centimeters is roughly the same as the number of weeks you are pregnant!)
Under Construction: Sense of Taste
Remember back in Week 15 when we mentioned that your baby’s taste buds were beginning to form? By 20 weeks pregnant, your baby’s taste buds are fully developed and can now transmit taste signals to their brain. Your baby is also swallowing tiny molecules of the food you’re eating that have passed through your blood into the amniotic fluid.
While a baby's ability to truly taste in the womb is still being researched, some studies have shown that what you eat during pregnancy might influence the foods your baby prefers later.
Under Construction: Digestive System
Your baby’s digestive system has started to produce a greenish-black, sticky substance called meconium. This tar-like substance is made up of the waste your baby’s bowels have filtered out throughout your pregnancy.
While your baby might pee in the womb, they won’t have their first poop until after they're born – usually 24 to 48 hours after birth (but sometimes earlier, like right after delivery!).
Add some water-based baby wipes to your registry. Many parents swear by this type of wipe for cleaning up those first few messy newborn poops. Check out our blog post What to Bring to the Hospital When Having a Baby for more ideas on what to pack in your hospital bag.
What to Wear This Week
Try our 2-in-1 Nursing & Maternity Knit Midi Dress for your next date night or even your baby shower! This slim-fit maternity dress has a flattering neckline with wide straps and slits on each side for easy movement. Did we mention it also comes with a cropped shrug top? Perfect for layering in any season, this comfortable maternity dress also makes a great nursing dress.
If you’re planning to breastfeed, consider adding our Simply Sublime® Nursing Bra to your registry. This full-coverage maternity bra is the perfect everyday bra for new moms, and its nursing clips make for convenient feeding and skin-to-skin contact.
Has your bra size changed due to pregnancy weight gain? Reach out to our Customer Care Team! They'd love to help you find a great-fitting maternity bra that provides the comfort and support you deserve during every season of motherhood.
This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice that has been medically reviewed. Please reach out to your midwife or doctor with any questions.
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