It’s time: with the 20th week, you’ve already reached the halfway point of your pregnancy! Can you imagine that it won’t be long before you hold your baby in your arms? Why it’s worth starting to think about the birth now—and what is changing for you and your baby this week—you can read here.

How big is your baby in the 20th week of pregnancy?

Your baby is about 16 centimeters long this week, comparable to a banana. The crown-to-heel length is approximately 25 centimeters.

20th week of pregnancy: What is changing for you

During pregnancy, your uterus continues to stretch upward. At 20 weeks of pregnancy, its upper edge ( Fundus position ) is already at navel height, which you can also feel from the outside. From now on, it grows about one centimeter upward each week until it is located below the sternum in the 36th week of pregnancy. This growth gradually reduces the space in your abdomen for the surrounding organs. Your lungs may also no longer expand as fully as usual, so you might occasionally experience shortness of breath during exertion. Be sure not to overexert yourself physically, and take breaks from time to time.

The place of birth: hospital, birth center, or home birth?

Clinic, Birth Center, or Home Birth

20th week of pregnancy: Development of your baby

Your baby’s nervous system is developing rapidly: currently, per minute, it forms
200,000 brain cells. No wonder their sensory perception is improving day by day. Your baby now reacts more to external sounds than just a few weeks ago and will even recognize your voice and other familiar voices after birth. Their sense of taste is also developing, and from this week, your baby can taste through the amniotic fluid what you eat. So you can already influence
their taste preferences. If your menu mainly consists of savory dishes, your child will probably enjoy such foods as well. If you particularly like fruit, chocolate, and cake, there is a high chance that your child will also love sweets.

So far, your baby still has enough space to move in the womb and changes position frequently. The lanugo hair and vernix caseosa, which surround their body and protect it from the amniotic fluid, are fully developed by the 20th week of pregnancy. Their eyelids are still closed, but your baby already responds to external light this week. If there is a bright light source in front of your belly, they will move toward it—or away from it if they want to sleep at that moment.

This is now important

• Exercise is still allowed and good for you and your baby. However, from around the 20th week of pregnancy, you should avoid training your straight abdominal muscles in order to prevent diastasis recti . Your straight abdominal muscles gradually shift to the side to make room for the growing baby bump. Training the abdominal muscles would reinforce this development, so the gap may not fully close again after birth.

• Do you notice that you are increasingly exhausted and tired? The reason for this could be an
  iron deficiency, which many pregnant women are experiencing now. It is best to contact your midwife or your doctor.

• If your belly has already grown significantly and is causing you back pain, a belly belt can provide relief. The reinforced material supports your belly and lower back. You can find such a belly belt, for example, at a medical supply store or a baby specialty store.

With our pregnancy calendar, we want to accompany you through this exciting time and provide you with relevant information, which is also created in exchange with our
LILLYDOO experts. Nevertheless, the information listed here can
never replace personal consultation with your doctor or midwife. Always contact your healthcare professional with questions and for professional care.