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 her 20th week of pregnancy (19.1-20 weeks) is exactly halfway through her physiological pregnancy. It's important to remember that the due date is most often determined by a gynecologist based on the date of the last menstrual period, meaning that in women with irregular cycles, the baby may be born slightly earlier or later. A more accurate due date and actual gestational age are estimated by the gynecologist based on the baby's measurements taken during the first trimester ultrasound. During second and third trimester ultrasounds, the gestational age is still monitored and compared with the current fetal development.
So, 20 weeks of pregnancy – how many months is that? By convention, a woman is now halfway through the fifth month of pregnancy, in the second trimester. Only 5% of women give birth on their due date based on the date of their last period, so the question, "20 weeks of pregnancy, which month is that?" should be answered truthfully as fifth. However, it's important to consider all the information about the actual gestational age provided by the doctor during the first and second trimester ultrasounds.
Weight in the 20th week of pregnancy - how much should the expectant mother gain weight?
Women often ask other expectant mothers on forums and online groups: " I'm 20 weeks pregnant – how much weight have you gained ?" During each visit, the doctor and/or midwife will measure the pregnant woman's weight to ensure she's not gaining too much or too little. Extra weight during pregnancy isn't just fat tissue, but also factors such as:
- 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 their calorie intake. Excess pregnancy weight unfortunately increases the risk of developing gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, and future obesity in both the mother and the child. If a woman has gained too much weight in the 20th week of pregnancy and her doctor or midwife alerts her to this, it's a good idea to consult an experienced dietitian and—unless there are medical contraindications—include daily physical activity, such as walking, prenatal yoga, 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 of pregnancy, the uterus continues to expand to accommodate the growing fetus. This may be accompanied by a slight pulling sensation in the lower abdomen, groin pain (caused by stretching of the ligaments supporting the uterus), and itchy skin on the abdomen and breasts, which is beginning to stretch. To avoid pregnancy stretch marks, it's worth regularly exfoliating or brushing your body and remembering to hydrate and moisturize, preferably with products designed for expectant mothers. Persistent, persistent itching should be reported to your doctor, who may decide to perform tests for obstetric 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 has fully developed arms and legs, and on the face, ultrasound (especially in 3D or 4D) reveals ears, a small nose, mouth, and eyes, which remain closed at this stage of pregnancy . By 20 weeks, the baby can already taste amniotic fluid and actively practice swallowing it, which contributes to the proper functioning of its digestive system. Sometimes the baby hiccups, which are most likely related to the fetus's underdeveloped diaphragm. During pregnancy, hiccups cause rhythmic twitching of the mother-to-be's abdomen, and unless accompanied by other alarming symptoms, there's no cause for concern.
How much does the baby weigh in the 20nd week of pregnancy?
Typically, its weight ranges between 270 and 300 grams, and its length, measured from head to toe, is approximately 23 to 25 cm. The fetus is already beginning to develop at its own pace, dictated by factors including genetics, so the baby's weight at 20 weeks of pregnancy may differ slightly from the values given above. By comparing the weight to the percentile charts, a gynecologist will certainly inform expectant parents whether the baby's 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 plenty of room in the uterus to move, so the expectant mother may feel its kicks as irregular tickling/fluttering sensations in her belly. In first-time pregnancies, some women won't begin to feel the baby's movements until the next two weeks. As the baby grows, the "kicks" will become increasingly noticeable to 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, a second-trimester ultrasound, also known as a mid-term ultrasound, is most often performed on pregnant women (according to the Polish Gynecological Society (PTGiP) recommendations, it should be performed between 18 and 22 weeks of pregnancy). This allows for a detailed assessment of the fetus's anatomical development and the exclusion of congenital defects, including heart defects, myelomeningocele, or cleft lip and palate. The examination takes approximately 20-30 minutes and should be performed by a gynecologist specializing 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 during specialization in gynecology and obstetrics, Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Institute of Mother and Child.
