When you are 20 weeks pregnant, half of your pregnancy is already over. You are now in the fifth month or in the second trimester. Your baby bump is getting rounder and rounder and your baby's development continues to progress. Above all, growth and weight gain are in focus.
In our pregnancy calendar, we summarize for you how your baby develops in week 20 of pregnancy and how it changes. You will also find out how the size and weight increase in this week of pregnancy. We also show you how you are doing, which symptoms are typical and what to expect at the second major check-up.
In doing so, we will also explain why the automatic baby hammock from swing2sleep is a proven sleep aid and how your baby can also benefit from it.
This is how your baby develops in the 20th week of pregnancy
Surely you have noticed how your belly has grown in recent weeks. You are now exactly in the middle of your pregnancy and are now carrying a real baby inside you. It is growing diligently and continues to develop from week to week. Perhaps you are now also feeling the first fetal movements in your belly, which feel like a little fluttering or tickling at the beginning.
This is how your baby develops in week 20 of pregnancy:
Your baby is moving a lot
In this phase of your pregnancy, your baby is very active. It moves a lot, turns around and does somersaults. It still has enough space for this and strengthens its muscles through the movements.
The eyebrows are developing
In week 20 of pregnancy, your baby develops its eyebrows. Your baby's eyes are currently still closed. However, it is already moving its eyes behind the lids.
Your baby can remember
From the 20th week of pregnancy, your baby can store memories. This includes above all sounds that it already perceives now. Your baby can therefore recognize your voice or certain music after birth.
The scalp hair is growing
In addition to the eyebrows, your baby is now also developing its scalp hair. How pronounced this is at birth varies from baby to baby.
In week 20 of pregnancy, there is a lot going on in your belly and your baby is going through further developmental steps. The brain has also developed further in recent weeks, so that your baby can now perceive sounds, heat and light.
Let the expectant father talk to your belly: your baby will hear him and recognize his voice after birth. This also applies to siblings who want to greet the baby in your belly already now.
To ensure you are ideally prepared for your baby's arrival, you should take a look at the automatic baby hammock from swing2sleep now. It offers your baby a cozy and secure place to sleep, which makes falling asleep and staying asleep easier.
Size & weight: This is how much your baby has grown in week 20 of pregnancy
Your baby gains weight from week to week and continues to grow into a little human being. It is now 20 to 22 centimeters tall and thus has the size of a bell pepper or eggplant. Many expectant mothers wonder how the quite large baby has space in their still small belly. Your baby's weight in week 20 of pregnancy is 250 to 290 grams.
Your baby currently still has plenty of space in your uterus and is protected by the amniotic fluid. This freedom of movement is very important for your baby. It learns to move and even trains its sense of balance in the process. Even at birth, your baby knows its center of gravity.
This is how you are doing in this phase of pregnancy
In the 20th week of your pregnancy, you are probably doing quite well and can hardly believe that you have already reached the halfway point. Many women are full of anticipation and drive in week 20 of pregnancy. They want to set up the nursery, buy baby clothes and run other errands.
Make sure to allow yourself enough breaks. Even if you feel fit, your body is doing heavy work. It has to supply you and your baby, which is associated with great effort. Therefore, do not overdo it and allow yourself rest.
Your body will continue to change in the 20th week of pregnancy. Your baby bump grows from week to week and is now also visible to others. In many shops you will find pretty maternity fashion in which you feel really comfortable. Enjoy this special time and savor it to the full.
Nutrition also plays an important role when you are 20 weeks pregnant. Your body has an increased nutrient requirement that must be met. If you often have cravings for certain foods, you should follow these preferences.
These symptoms are very common in week 20
Although your waist circumference continues to grow, it does not yet restrict you too much in this phase of your pregnancy. However, you may experience some other symptoms and complaints that are typical for week 20 of pregnancy:
Fatigue
Most women experience fatigue throughout their pregnancy. Even in week 20 of pregnancy, you probably feel tired and exhausted. A baby is growing in your body – that takes a lot out of your body. You should also have your iron levels checked, as a deficiency can also lead to fatigue.
Itching
In the 20th week of pregnancy, you may experience itching on your belly and breasts. The tissue is expanding. This can be accompanied by strong itching. In this case, it might help you to use body oils for pregnant women. These relieve the itching and at the same time prevent stretch marks.
Back pain
Your baby is getting bigger and bigger, which leads to a heavy strain on your muscles. It is not unusual for you to suffer from back pain during your pregnancy. The stretching of your ligaments, tendons and skin can also lead to slight pain in the back and tailbone. Walks and warmth can help you with this.
Stuffy nose
Perhaps you already had to struggle with a stuffy nose at the beginning of your pregnancy. Every fourth woman has this symptom when she is pregnant. Estrogen ensures that the nasal mucosa is better supplied with blood and swells. For you, this feels like a stuffy nose.
Pregnant women experience different symptoms in the individual phases of their pregnancy. They come and go and are more pronounced in some women than in others. So it is completely normal if you only suffer from some symptoms and you do not experience any itching, for example.
You have now completed half of the pregnancy and will be able to hold your baby in your arms in a few months. To ensure it can sleep particularly well, you should take a look at the automatic baby hammock from swing2sleep. It rocks your baby to sleep with gentle up and down movements and supports it in staying asleep. This is even recommended by midwives and osteopaths.
Second major check-up: This is what you can expect
Between week 19 and 22 of pregnancy, your second major ultrasound examination is due. Your gynecologist will check you and your baby thoroughly. You can actually take that literally: you and your baby will be checked out exactly during this medical examination.
Various factors are checked in the process:
Size and weight of your baby
As part of the ultrasound, your doctor looks at the size and weight of your baby. He checks whether it is developed according to its age. The organs are also closely examined in the ultrasound and checked for possible malformations.
Your baby's heart sounds
Your doctor will also measure your baby's heart sounds. The little heart beats strongly in week 20 of pregnancy and faster than your own. During the examination, it is checked whether the heart sounds correspond to the norm. Possible heart defects could already be identified now.
Position of the placenta
The placenta does not have the same position in every woman. Your doctor looks closely at the placenta and checks its position. Some pregnant women have an anterior placenta, for example, others have a posterior placenta. Its position is noted in your maternity records.
Amount of amniotic fluid
During the check-up, a look is also taken at your amount of amniotic fluid. For your baby to grow healthily, the right amount of amniotic fluid is very important. If you have too little or too much amniotic fluid, this can lead to complications. Therefore, your doctor checks the amount of amniotic fluid.
Your weight gain
The examination does not only focus on your baby. You will also be examined. Your doctor weighs you, measures your blood pressure, takes blood and performs a urine test. This ensures that mother and baby are doing well.
The second major check-up is very exciting for many expectant parents. You will find out if your baby is doing well and if it is developing normally.
You will see your baby on the ultrasound and perhaps already see its movements. If you didn't know the gender yet, you will probably find out now. If you don't want to know if you're having a boy or a girl, you should definitely tell the doctor before the examination.
