I In this article you will be able to read about everything related to being pregnant in week 20. You'll find information about the baby's development, how the mother's body is changing and tips you might need along the way. At 20 weeks pregnant, the fetus is the size of a broccoli.

Baby: The fetus now weighs 300 grams

The fetus, which is about 24 cm long and weighs almost 350 grams, is looking more and more like a baby with each passing week. The arms and legs are now in the right proportions to each other compared to the rest of the body!

Development

The nervous system and nerves are becoming more developed every week and the fetus is now able to make some conscious movements and not just reflex ones. It is very individual how and when you feel fetal movements, or realize that they are fetal movements you have felt for some time.

The fetal fat that the baby has over its body has an antibacterial effect that protects the immature skin. This is one of the reasons for not washing the baby in the first few days after birth but waiting a few days: to let the fetal fat act as a protective ointment on the baby!

Mom: Pregnant in week 20

By the end of this week you will be halfway there, hurrah!

In the coming weeks, your belly will start to grow at a faster rate and now it is possible to feel your uterus with your hand if you press gently below the navel.

Fetal growth and your body

Since a couple of weeks ago, the fetus has started to gain weight by about 50 grams per week, and by the end of the second trimester, the fetus will gain almost 100 grams per week!

This means that you and your belly may start to grow at a faster rate now, which may also put additional strain on your body and especially your back. Try to be mindful of your posture during the day and to sway as little as possible - this will reduce any pain. Change your position often and try to stretch your body for a little while each day.

Glutes and exercise

During pregnancy, your glutes become less active, which affects your posture and can cause back and pelvic pain. Therefore, it's a good idea to pay extra attention to the back of your body if you are able to exercise.

If you are used to running or weight training before, it may be good to adapt your training now, for example by switching to running at slower intervals or reducing the weight of the weights. Adapting your training and adding mobility exercises or exercises for your posture is great both mentally and physically.

Pay attention to a feeling of heaviness in your lower abdomen or urine leakage when you move, as a feeling of heaviness or leakage signals that you need to be extra careful with your pelvic floor. In this case, make changes to your training and adapt so that all exercises feel good in your body. The most important thing when it comes to exercising during pregnancy is to listen to your body - that's why you're exercising during your pregnancy - so that your body feels good and can cope with this major stress.

You can read about week 19 here.

You can read about week 21 here.