A Complete Information Guide on Pregnancy Week 20

Congratulations! On completing your half way journey of pregnancy. By Pregnancy week 20, your baby’s skin will be thickened.

To-Be Moms, you are on a way to complete your 5^th-month of pregnancy. You are now dealing with your growing bump and the changes happening in your body on a basis. Time is moving fast and you must be now habitual of pregnancy symptoms like a backache, cramps, uneasiness, etc.

As you’re moving ahead with your pregnancy, your well-wishers must be giving you a lot advice on do’s and not-to-do’s. You may have become tired of hearing many types of suggestions, along with confusions in mind. So, for coming out of the confusion, consult your doctor and do research work too.

[icon type=”icon-lamp”] Haven’t thought of your little munchkin’s name yet? Let us help you in this. Get the list of unique names of boys and girls (with meaning) according to their Zodiac sign and Rashi. Here’s the link- Indian Baby Modern Names

Fetal Development in Pregnancy Week 20:

In Pregnancy week 20:

Size of baby – 6.5 inches (16.51 cm)
Weight of baby – 10.58 ounces (300 grams)
Baby is like a size of a Banana.

The upcoming weeks are for the further development and growth. By this week, the major organs like brain, heart, kidneys, and liver have already taken their preliminary shape. The baby will be kicking you from inside and will do many more adventurous activities, like rolling.

This week if you wish to you can get clear information about your baby’s gender. However, prenatal sex determination is banned in India since 1994, under the Pre-Conception and Prenatal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act. So, you need to wait for your D-day to see whether you’re blessed with a baby girl or a baby boy.

If you’re carrying a baby girl in your womb, then your little girl must be having nearly 6 million of eggs in her ovaries. But by the time she will take birth, this number will come down to 1 million. And if it is a boy, then the testis is still in the abdomen and will drop once the scrotum is fully developed.

The dark green colored sticky substance is produced in your baby’s tummy which comprises all the materials she ingests in the uterus (by-product of digestion). This substance is known as Meconium. Due to this meconium, the first few day’s stool of your baby looks like black and sometimes even dark green.

Although the baby’s lungs have developed to breathe, they are not mature. The baby is able to swallow the amniotic fluid and secrete urine. As your baby can now hear you, therefore it is important to keep your nearby environment quiet and peaceful as loud and noisy environment disturbs the baby.

This week get ready for your anomaly scan that will check your baby’s heartbeat, baby’s bones, the head, the spine, the brain, volume of amniotic fluid and his/her abdomen’s structure. The sonographer will also check your placenta’s position. Don’t worry if he informs you that your placenta is lying low because as your uterus grows, it will also pull the placenta up and away from the cervix.

Moods & Symptoms in Pregnancy Week 20:

During this 20^th week of pregnancy, you can expect the following symptoms and changes in your body:

Weight gain – Your waistline seems to be disappearing and you are gaining weight. It is a correct time to wear maternity clothes so you can stay comfortable. Avoid wearing any tight clothes around your waist. The right weight gain during pregnancy depends upon your body build-up, so consult your doctor for reliable information on weight gain according to your BMI (Body Mass Index). However, an average weight gain should be 8 to 10 pounds.
Stretch marks – The stretch marks are normal during pregnancy. They will look to be purple to pink during their start but will change in fine white lines. You cannot get rid of these stretch marks but post-delivery if you apply good moisturizers or body creams to make them lighter in appearance.
Itchiness in the belly – This itching on belly happens due to the stretching of the belly. When your belly skin stretches, it itches.
Increased level of blood – The blood volume increases during pregnancy. It is essential during the childbirth as during the childbirth you lose your blood, therefore, to accommodate the loss, the level of blood increases.
Edema – Edema is a swelling on your hands and feet during the pregnancy due to extra retention of fluids to soften your body. It is a normal part of the pregnancy.
Vaginal discharge – There may be a white colored discharge from your vagina which is important for your pregnancy as it protects your vagina from any sort of infection like yeast infection which is quite common during pregnancy. But if you notice any discharge which is yellow, brown, pink or even greenish in color, then please contact your doctor as soon as possible as it may be a sign of infection or even a preterm labor.
Heartburn and/or Indigestion – You may also feel heartburn or acid indigestion which is often felt at the bottom of your breastbone if this is your first pregnancy. To get rid of this acidic indigestion, you should drink plenty of water (atleast 3 litres in a day), avoid spicy and acidic food.

Do’s and Don’ts in Pregnancy Week 20:

You are undergoing a lot of changes. These changes may affect your mood as well. Sometimes, you will be happy and on the other moment, you may have guilt. As these occasional emotional trials are normal during pregnancy, therefore, do not go for the guilt portion. Share your feelings with your friends and partner, do meditation, take a deep breath and relax.
Make yourself engaged in those activities wherein you find yourself relax and happy.
To avoid more swelling on feet, keep your legs elevated. Do not stand and sit for too long and keep your feet up whenever you want to relax. Avoid wearing heels. Your shoes should be comfortable enough.
Continue with your Folic Acid every day.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

What should we eat during the second trimester of pregnancy?

Ans: This can be explained well by this chart.

What to Eat?	What to Avoid?
Drink plenty of water.	Carbonated drinks.
Drink 2 glasses of milk daily.	Tropical fruits like papaya, and pineapple.
Include chicken, eggs, nuts, pulses, cereals and cottage cheese.	Alcohol, and tobacco.
Salads made up from raw vegetables like cabbage, carrots and fresh tomatoes.	Fatty foods like pizza, burgers and fries.
Ragi, rice, and corn.	Caffeine.
Green leafy vegetables like broccoli, spinach, and fenugreek.	Spicy and oily foods.

Stay happy and smiling always! Remember your child is feeling every emotion that you feel.

Happy Pregnancy!

For your reference- Pregnancy Week 20:

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