- 20th week of pregnancy - what happens in week 20
- How your baby develops in the 20th week of pregnancy
- How you feel in the 20th week of pregnancy
- 20th week of pregnancy - symptoms and complaints
- What can be seen on the ultrasound in week 20?
- What you should look out for in week 20 of pregnancy
20th week of pregnancy - what happens in week 20
Half term! This is reached at the end of the 20th week of pregnancy. It is now only around 20 weeks until you will be holding your baby in your arms. It's unbelievable how quickly time flies, isn't it? Hopefully you are doing really well in this last week of the fifth month and you can marvel at your growing belly and enjoy your baby's movements. In part 20 of our pregnancy calendar, we'll tell you how your little miracle is developing during these days, what symptoms may occur and why now is a good time to go on holiday.
How your baby develops in the 20th week of pregnancy
With a length of around 16 centimetres from crown to rump, your baby is as big as a banana in this week of pregnancy. It weighs around 300 grams and its little feet are now 3.3 centimetres long. Its body is covered with a soft down of lanugo hair, which will recede again from the 8th month.
A perfectly functioning cardiovascular system
Your baby's heart beats about twice as fast as your own. It is now fully developed and consists of two ventricles and two atria. However, these are not yet completely separated from each other. The circulation is running at full speed and the heart pumps around 28 litres of nutrient- and oxygen-rich blood through the little body every day. Nutrients and oxygen reach your baby via the placenta. Your baby's lungs are therefore well supplied with blood, but only for their development. They do not yet have to work during pregnancy. The placenta takes over the function of the lungs.
Clever mind
Your baby's nervous system continues to develop rapidly in the 20th week of pregnancy. Around 200,000 new brain cells are created every single minute. By the day of birth, there will be around 100 billion neurones. Their number does not increase further in the course of life. What does increase significantly after birth, however, is the number of synapses, i.e. the connections between the cells. This increases to up to 200 trillion in the first decade of life and is reduced by around half again by the time the baby reaches adulthood. Your baby uses the time of pregnancy to learn all the things it will need after birth. In addition to sucking, tasting and sucking, this also includes recognising voices.
Your baby's senses continue to develop
With so many nerve cells, it is no wonder that the foetus's senses are maturing more and more. Its sense of sight is already well developed. Although the eyelids are still closed, your baby's eyes already react to light. Shining a torch on your belly can stimulate your baby to move. Midwives like to use this trick at the end of pregnancy to encourage babies in a breech position to turn. The aim is to lure them into the perfect position for the birth. However, you don't need to worry about this just yet. The little miracle in your belly will change its position many times.
Your baby's sense of taste will also become more refined and it will be able to taste the nuances of what you eat in the amniotic fluid. It will store these taste sensations in its memory. Your diet during pregnancy therefore has an impact on your child's later food preferences.
How you feel in the 20th week of pregnancy
Oops, we're already halfway through the pregnancy! Some women can't wait until the baby arrives and are already busy planning the nursery. Others feel a little queasy at the thought of the approaching birth. Don't worry, you still have plenty of time to prepare. prepare physically and mentally for the birth and the baby period. If you are unsure, please contact your midwife, she will be able to support you with her experience. Also in our online workshop "2nd trimester" you will find lots of tips and advice for this middle phase of pregnancy.
The upper edge of your uterus is approximately four transverse fingers below your belly button in this week of pregnancy. A bulge in your belly can also be clearly recognised in the 20th week of pregnancy. Your abdominal girth will now increase by around one centimetre every week.
Your breasts have also grown a lot and it is quite possible that your old bras no longer fit. This is a good time to look for a maternity bra that not only supports the connective tissue of your breasts, but also relieves pressure on your back. A nursing bustier grows with you. You can continue to use it wonderfully after the birth.
Did you notice the baby moving in the 20th week of pregnancy? If not, it certainly won't be long now. With a bit of luck, your partner will now also be able to make contact with your unborn baby. If he puts his ear on your belly, he may hear gurgling noises. These are caused by the foetus moving in the amniotic fluid.
20th week of pregnancy - symptoms and complaints
Contractions in week 20 - a cause for concern?
Is your abdomen suddenly getting hard? Do you feel tight? And does it perhaps feel like you have a coconut in your belly? From the middle of pregnancy, many women experience these contractions, which are usually painless. These are not yet real labour contractions, but so-called Braxton-Hicks contractions. These have no effect on the cervix and do not induce labour. Your uterus begins to train for the upcoming labour. The contractions are irregular and occur sporadically. You may feel three of these contractions per hour.
It is not uncommon for pregnant women to be unsettled by these contractions and fear a premature birth. It is best to consult your gynaecologist or midwife. By palpating your cervix, they will be able to tell that the contractions you feel are not causing any changes there. Then you know that everything is fine. If the contractions occur very regularly and more than 10 times a day, you should definitely have your doctor or midwife examine you to rule out the possibility that it is premature labour.
Heartburn in SSW 20
Many women suffer from heartburn during pregnancy. This discomfort mainly occurs in the 3rd trimester, when the baby takes up a lot of space in the abdomen. However, it is not uncommon for heartburn to occur around the 20th week of pregnancy. The pregnancy hormones loosen the stomach sphincter, which prevents gastric juice from flowing into the oesophagus. The growing uterus pushes the organs above it upwards. The stomach is compressed and the weaker sphincter cannot hold back the stomach acid and chyme well. This results in belching and a dull feeling of pressure behind the breastbone.
What helps? Eat small meals more often and avoid fatty and strongly flavoured foods. You should also avoid coffee and fizzy drinks. Also make sure to elevate your upper body when sleeping. It is best to consult your midwife. They will certainly have some tips and home remedies for you to alleviate the discomfort. Drinking fennel tea, milk, nibbling on almonds and taking homeopathic remedies such as magnesium phosporicum are all helpful. There are also pregnancy-compatible medicines that neutralise stomach acid. For heartburn, try eating 1-3 tablespoons of dry, small oat flakes. You will see how well the oatmeal can bind the stomach acid.
Your lungs are also affected by the hormonal loosening and the pressing organs, which is why shortness of breath is also a typical symptom during pregnancy. Light endurance training and the breathing techniques that you will also need for the birth can help counteract this. It is therefore not only worth practising the breathing techniques from the Online birth preparation course but also during pregnancy. They support the stressed lungs in their major task of supplying two people - you and your baby - with sufficient oxygen.
What can be seen on the ultrasound in week 20?
Many pregnant women have a gynaecologist's appointment this week, because the second big Ultrasound examination as part of your prenatal care is scheduled between the 19th and 22nd week of pregnancy. Your baby will be measured extensively from head to toe. If your little miracle is awake, it will certainly be moving around a lot. By the way, it doesn't matter whether it is currently lying head up or down. It will change its position several times before birth.
What you should look out for in week 20 of pregnancy
Sign up for a birth preparation course
Have you already looked at the Birth preparation course got it? If not, then it's high time you did. Now you can benefit from the many tips and tricks from the antenatal course for pregnancy. You also have plenty of time to practise your breathing techniques for the birth so that you can master them perfectly during labour. In the Online birth preparation course by midwife Katharina, you will learn everything about birth planning, the stages of labour, breathing and relaxation exercises, birth positions, dealing with pain and the first time with your baby in 34 lessons. This will prepare you perfectly so that you can make informed decisions and gain confidence in yourself and your child.
A good time for travelling
A baby will turn your life upside down and usher in a new phase in your relationship. Many couples want to enjoy harmonious togetherness during pregnancy before embarking on the adventure of having a baby. The ideal time for travelling during pregnancy is the second trimester, especially the 5th and 6th month. The nausea of the first few weeks is over, the critical initial period is over. At the same time, there are still a few weeks to go until the birth, the belly is manageable and the mum-to-be is fit and mobile. Would you rather go on a city trip or relax on the beach? That's up to you. However, there are a few things you should bear in mind when travelling during pregnancy:
- The climate: To avoid putting unnecessary strain on your circulation, holiday destinations with hot and humid climates and extreme temperature fluctuations are less advisable. You should also avoid high mountain regions due to the thinner air.
- The risk of infection: The risk of infection is increased when holidaying in countries with poor hygiene conditions. Regions where malaria, dengue, Zika or other mosquito-borne diseases occur are also not a good choice when travelling with a baby. Also bear in mind that during pregnancy you have certain Travel vaccinations are not allowed to do.
- The journey: Many pregnant women prefer destinations that can be reached quickly. In principle, you can travel by car, train or plane. When travelling by car, it is advisable to take regular breaks and stretch your legs. Try to move around a lot on the plane and train too. An aisle seat is therefore preferable. As the risk of thrombosis is increased during pregnancy, compression stockings are particularly useful on long-haul flights and you should make sure you drink enough fluids. Always enquire about the airline's pregnancy regulations before booking. For example, some airlines require a medical certificate from the 28th week of pregnancy and from the 36th week of pregnancy pregnant women are often no longer accepted on board.
Wherever you go, make sure you take your Maternity passport and, if necessary, take out international health insurance. Well prepared, nothing stands in the way of a relaxing holiday with a baby bump.
