What are the symptoms of a woman in the 20th week of pregnancy? Should itchy skin on the stomach and breasts cause anxiety in a pregnant woman? What is the child's weight in the 20th week of pregnancy and how much, in the book, should the expectant mother gain weight during this period? How often should you feel your baby move by week 20 of your pregnancy? If you are interested in information about this stage of pregnancy, read on.
Welcome to the halfway point, which is the 20th week of pregnancy - what is the month and trimester?
A woman in the 20th week of pregnancy (19.1-20 tc) is exactly in the middle of her physiological course. It is worth remembering that the date of delivery is most often determined by a gynecologist based on the date of the last menstruation, which means that in women with irregular cycles, the birth of a child may occur a little earlier or later. The gynecologist estimates a more precise date of delivery and the actual age of pregnancy on the basis of the child's measurements taken during the first trimester ultrasound. During the second and third trimester ultrasound examinations, the age of pregnancy is still monitored and compared with the current development of the fetus.
So, 20 weeks of pregnancy - how many months are that? In the book, the woman is now in the middle of the 5th month of pregnancy, in the second trimester. Only 5% of women give birth on the date set on the basis of the last menstruation, so when asked "20th week of pregnancy, which month is this?" provided by a doctor during ultrasound of the XNUMXst and XNUMXnd trimester.
Weight in the 20th week of pregnancy - how much should the expectant mother gain weight?
Women often ask other, future mothers on forums and Internet groups: ,,I am in the 20th week of pregnancy - how much fat you have gained?”. The doctor and / or midwife will measure the pregnant woman's weight at each visit to make sure that she is not gaining too much or too little extra pounds. Extra pounds during pregnancy are not just adipose tissue, but also, among others:
- child's weight;
- uterus;
- amniotic fluid;
- or increased amount of blood in the pregnant woman's body.
By the twentieth week of pregnancy, a woman should gain 4-5 kg in the book, if her BMI before pregnancy was normal. In the case of underweight occurring before pregnancy, the pregnant woman should gain a little more, about 6-7 kg, while overweight and obese women up to 20 tc should try to gain no more than 3 kg.
At 20 weeks gestation, slightly less weight gain in women who experienced nausea, vomiting and appetite disturbances in the first trimester should not be alarming if the baby is developing normally. Slightly greater weight gain during pregnancy may, in turn, occur in women with comorbidities, including thyroid disease.
Increased appetite in pregnancy
During pregnancy, many women experience an increased appetite and lose control over the amount of calories consumed. Excess pregnancy kilograms, unfortunately, increases the risk of developing gestational diabetes, hypertension or future obesity in the child and pregnant woman. If a woman has gained too much weight in the 20th week of pregnancy and the attending physician or midwife draws her attention to it, it is good to seek advice from an experienced dietitian and - unless there are medical contraindications - to remember about daily physical activity, such as walking, yoga for pregnant women or pilates.
Well-being and ailments in the 20th week of pregnancy
The second trimester is often associated with an improvement in mood and a "bloom" of a pregnant woman who, after tiring nausea and hypersensitivity to smell in the first period of pregnancy, finally has more strength to act and a better appetite. A woman in the 20th week of pregnancy feels just beautiful and starts to emphasize the bulging, pregnant belly with joy. Of course, all pregnancy ailments and feelings about your appearance are a very individual matter, but it is worth enjoying this stage of pregnancy, remembering that it is already halfway to meeting your baby.
At 20 weeks gestation, the uterus continues to enlarge to match the growing fetus. This may be accompanied by a slight pull in the lower abdomen, pain in the groin (caused by stretching of the ligaments that support the uterus), and itchy skin on the abdomen and breast that begins to stretch. In order to avoid the appearance of pregnancy stretch marks, it is worth doing regular body scrubs or brushing and remember to hydrate and moisturize it, preferably with cosmetics dedicated to future mothers. Persistent, persistent itching of the skin should be reported to the attending physician, who may decide to conduct tests for the occurrence of pregnancy cholestasis.
Remember not to rub the skin on the abdomen and breasts (especially the nipples) hard and long from the 20th week of pregnancy, as this may stimulate the uterus to increase contractile activity. It is true that contractions predicting the so-called Braxton-Hicks contractions at this stage of pregnancy may already occur (they are often perceived as hardening of the abdomen), but they should be very rare and last up to several seconds. They are a sign that the uterus is gradually preparing for labor and should not be alarming. If in the 20th week of pregnancy your contractions are very strong and frequent, accompanied by the pregnant woman's anxiety and spotting / vaginal bleeding, you should go to the hospital as soon as possible.
The appearance and weight of the baby in the 20th week of pregnancy - how often should a woman feel her movements?
The fetus already has fully developed arms and legs, on the face during ultrasound examination (especially in 3D or 4D technique) you can see ears, a small nose, mouth and eyes, which at this stage of pregnancy are still closed. In the 20th week of a child's life, the baby tastes the amniotic fluid and actively trains its swallowing, which affects the proper functioning of its digestive system. Sometimes the baby gets hiccups, most likely related to the underdeveloped diaphragm of the fetus. In pregnancy, the baby's hiccups cause the mother's belly to vibrate rhythmically, and if not accompanied by other disturbing symptoms, there is no need to worry.
How much does the baby weigh in the 20nd week of pregnancy?
Usually its mass oscillates around 270-300 grams, and the length of the body, measured from the top of the head to the feet, is about 23-25 cm. The fetus is already starting to develop at its individual pace dictated by, among others, genetic conditions, therefore the child's weight in the 20th week of pregnancy may differ slightly from the values given above. The gynecologist, comparing the weight to the values contained in the percentile grids, will certainly inform the future parents whether the child's body weight is within the normal range.
Pregnant women often wonder how often they should feel the baby's movements in the 20th week of pregnancy?
At this stage, the fetus still has a lot of room for physical activity in the uterus, so the expectant mother may feel its kicks as irregular tickling / fluttering in the abdomen. In their first pregnancy, some women will not feel their baby moving until the next two weeks. As the child grows, his "kicks" will become more and more noticeable for the pregnant woman, especially after meals and during rest.
Health of the baby and mother-to-be - tests at 20 weeks of pregnancy
Before the control visit to the gynecologist, the pregnant woman should perform a general urinalysis and blood count. The doctor or midwife will measure the woman's body weight, blood pressure, assess the cleanliness of the vagina and conduct a general interview, assessing all risk factors that may affect the health of the fetus and expectant mother.
What other tests should be performed in the 20th week of pregnancy?
During this time, the second trimester ultrasound is most often performed in pregnant women, the so-called Half ultrasound (according to the recommendations of PTGiP, they should be performed between 18 and 22 tc), which allows to determine the anatomical development of the fetus in a very detailed way and exclude the occurrence of congenital defects, e.g. heart defects, meningeal hernia or cleft lip and palate. The examination takes about 20-30 minutes and should be performed by a gynecologist specialized in prenatal diagnosis.
In addition to the anatomy of the fetus and confirmation of the age of pregnancy, the doctor can recognize the sex of the child (if the parents so wish), also assess the condition and position of the placenta, amniotic fluid and the length of the cervix. The second trimester ultrasound is a very important test, so if it has not been performed in the 20th week of pregnancy, you should sign up for it as soon as possible, so that it can be performed in the next 2 weeks.
Consultation:
Ph.D. n. med. prof. IMID Tadeusz Issat - Head of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic at the Institute of Mother and Child;
Maria Krowicka-Wasyl - resident physician in the course of specialization in gynecology and obstetrics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Institute of Mother and Child.
