20 week of pregnancy

At the 20th week of pregnancy, a little man under your heart will grow to about 14-16 cm, and will weigh about 0.26 kg. His thin skin differentiates into layers. Perhaps you are still waiting for the first push of your child. Now you have every chance to forget about heartburn, but many other manifestations persist.

How many months?

The twentieth week is almost five lunar months. Why lunar? So (according to the phases of the moon) it is more convenient to count. 40 weeks = 10 lunar months or 280 days.

Mid and a half

At this time, each expectant mother can be congratulated on the upcoming “equator”. Like this? It's simple - 20 obstetric weeks of pregnancy means that about half of the term you left.

Of course, this is all conditional. Some mothers give birth one to two weeks earlier than doctors expect. There are those who override their baby. Everything important and interesting about timing and calculation methods - here.

The feeling of a future mother. Does it move or not?

By medical standards, it is at 20 weeks that mothers who are waiting for their first baby should feel his tremors. Until then, do you feel any movement? There are reasons for this:

• you have a rather large figure, and this reduces your sensitivity;
• polyhydramnios;
• incorrectly calculated term;
• small size of the fetus;
• low activity of the baby.

If you regularly visit a doctor, he must listen to your baby’s heart. In addition, you were on an ultrasound. There, your child is carefully examined and checked for pathology. So do not be afraid of the absence of jolts - nothing bad happens! Just tell the doctor, he will more closely observe you and your baby.

If the baby has already pleased you with the first tremors, do not try to track how often he does it. You so far feel only the most active movements of the crumbs. Doctors will judge the condition of the fetus by the number of movements at a later date.

Other sensations

You can experience another joy. This is the disappearance of heartburn. Once again, your body adapts to changes in the position of internal organs. But in some mothers heartburn can still persist. You can mark:

• small swelling of the hands, feet and face, which pass pretty quickly;
• change in posture and gait;
• slight visual impairment (especially if it was impaired before pregnancy);
• age spots on the face;
• problems with falling asleep - even having covered with pillows, you are not immune from discomfort;
• feeling of lack of air, shortness of breath when walking or climbing stairs.
• periodic constipation.

Weight gain

Now, at half term, it is considered normal if you have added 3.5-4 kg since the beginning of pregnancy. This is average data. They may vary slightly depending on how difficult early toxicosis was (if any), on your current appetite and initial complexion.

Uterus and stomach

The little "house", your uterus, is constantly growing, after this your tummy is rounded. Have you noticed the first stretch marks? Buy a special cream or use olive oil. Now your skin may not have enough elasticity to cope with the rapid growth of the abdomen.

Are you pregnant with twins or triples? The abdomen is larger and the load on the skin is higher.

Now and until the very birth you can "get acquainted" with training fights. Imagine: your whole stomach suddenly strains for a few seconds, even as if it hardens. If this happens rarely and not for long, do not be afraid. And constant repetition is already an alarming sign, be careful. Especially if the tension of the uterus is very painful.

Photo of tummies (click to enlarge)

What hurts there?

The lower back and stomach sometimes pulls? Do you have slight pains? These internal organs "give way" to the uterus, and the ligaments gradually stretch. Not only the lower back, but the whole back can hurt.

All these sensations are unpleasant, but tolerable. But if something really hurts, call a doctor. Miscarriage and fading of pregnancy are possible at any time.

Discharge

Brown, bloody, yellow, and sharply smelling mucous smears are bad symptoms. They require urgent medical attention because they signal inflammatory processes or even a miscarriage.

If the discharge is similar to water, they noticeably moisturize your laundry, then this may be a leak of amniotic fluid. Let the antenatal doctor examine you.

Norma is a clear or white mucus without an unpleasant odor.

Placenta

This is a special organ, through it your baby receives the necessary nutrition and gets rid of decay products. The location of the placenta is very important. If this organ has formed close to the cervix, it can be dangerous. Do you have a low location or placenta previa? Do not panic, but be careful. The antenatal doctor will be watching you closely.

And another complication is toxicosis.

If you had early toxicosis, you probably already forgot it. But there is also late toxicosis, it is also gestosis. About him read hereso as not to miss possible complications.

Fetal development

Inside you, a real man grows up. It has proportions almost like that of a newborn. Growth is 14-16 cm, and weight is about 260 g. The fetus spends almost all day at rest, and moves only a few hours every day. The tiny brain sends signals, and your baby "tries the forces":

• moves the arms and legs;
• turns with the whole body;
• moves his head;
• opens and closes a mouth;
• sucks fingers (usually "comes across" big);
• sometimes grabs the umbilical cord;
• slightly inflates the chest, as if breathing.

The small heart stably pumps blood. A small amount of liquid constantly enters the baby’s stomach. It is processed into urine and excreted into the fetal bladder. Amniotic fluid is regularly updated, so the baby is not in a toxic environment.

But the intestines do not yet work at full strength. The particles that remain in it are collected in meconium, the original feces. It will be bred when the baby is born.

Another important process. The thin skin of the baby begins to divide into layers.

Visits to doctors

If you have not previously been tested for hCG, AFP and free estriol hormones (to identify possible pathologies), your doctor will prescribe them this week. The same goes for ultrasound.On an ultrasound scan, in addition to the basic parameters of your baby, you can find out the gender of the future baby.

An ultrasound specialist will conduct a very thorough examination of the fetus. It will determine the overall dimensions, as well as the circumference of the head and the length of the arms and legs. The doctor will definitely compare them. In addition, all internal organs, the condition of the heart and major vessels, plus the location of the placenta, will be checked.

The position of the baby in the uterus is not yet important. Before childbirth, he may more than once roll over.

Ultrasound photo (clickable)

Tips & Tricks

[sc: rsa]

1. Eat correctly: cereals, fruits and vegetables, meat, fish, plus milk in different forms. Want something "harmful"? You can afford it, but only rarely and in minimal quantities. And, of course, in no case do not stoop to alcohol or cigarettes!
2. If you notice that you are suddenly feeling hungry, always carry something to eat with you. Just don’t go to cafes, canteens and various “eateries”, you don’t need food poisoning!
3. Buy simple scales if you don’t have them, and control changes in body weight.
4. If the doctor has prescribed vitamins, follow the recommendations.
5. Be careful in public transport, especially during rush hours.
6. On the subway, bus, and so on, do not hesitate to ask for your place.
7. Avoid sudden movements, jolts, slides, and falls.
8. Sexual life - at your request and for mutual pleasure. But there are limitations: a small amount of amniotic fluid, pregnancy by more than one baby, the threat of miscarriage, low placenta.
9. Sign up for a young mom’s courses (you can join your dad if he’s not against).
10. Take care of your legs. In the evenings, pour them to the knees with alternately warm and cool water. This will strengthen blood vessels and increase the tone of small muscles.
11. Talk with your baby.
12. Relatives and friends strive to touch your tummy, want to feel the tremors of the baby? Allow if it pleases you. Otherwise, refuse, only calmly.
13. Avoid all strong emotions. Now you can not only be upset, but also violently rejoice. It can tire you very much, cause a breakdown. Be cheerful and happy, without bursts of different feelings.
14. If age spots appear on the face, cosmetics cannot hide them. Just make a distracting detail in your image - put on an interesting brooch, a blouse with a patterned yoke, a pendant or beads. On weekdays - only if allowed by your employer's dress code.
15. Do your favorite things. Let it be needlework, reading, playing a musical instrument. Just don't overdo it.
16. If it turns out, always sleep during the day.
17. Forget that there are high heels and platforms in the world.
18. Take a walk every day, but don't walk too much.

All future mothers are a miracle of nature, and you are no exception. Remember this every day.

← 19 week       21 weeks →

Video guide: 20th week of pregnancy what happens, fetal size, abdominal sensations, sleep patterns, driving

[sc: ads]