20 weeks pregnant

You are midway through your pregnancy!

Congrats, you are halfway there. Starting around 20 weeks pregnant, your doctor will measure fundal height at each prenatal visit. Fundal height is the distance from the pubic bone to the top of your uterus. In centimetres, the fundal height should match your week of pregnancy, give or take two centimetres.

A higher or lower fundal height could be the sign of a pregnancy condition such as gestational diabetes, a growth issue, or a breech baby, so if it doesn’t appear to be average, further testing may be necessary.

Your baby is now the size of a...

Banana!

You may not believe it but you are now at the midway point in your pregnancy and your baby has grown considerably since those first cells. As he continues to grow you will start to feel an increasing amount of movement as he makes the most of the space around him extending his limbs and doing some acrobatics. He will also be doing lots of swallowing now, he is also producing waste through his digestive system to give it a good work out prior to delivery.

If you have decided to find out the sex of your baby now is a good time. If you are having a girl her ovaries are now fully developed and holding millions of eggs. If you are having a boy his testicles will be obvious on a scan now that they have descended.

Pregnancy symptoms at 20 weeks

Vaginal discharge, leg cramps, heartburn, indigestion, increased energy and swollen hands/feet.

Tips and advice for pregnancy at 20 weeks

food cravings and aversions are by now a regular occurrence perhaps, you may be gagging at the smell of what used to be your favourite food — or have a craving for meat even though you were practically a vegetarian? The good news is that these weird food preferences may lessen by your third trimester. It is very important that you try to maintain good eating habits, and maintain a healthy diet.

A little of what you fancy may do you no harm, however, be sure to eat a balanced diet. Your body isn’t producing enough blood to fill your expanding circulatory system, which can lead to dizziness and fainting. Stave off light-headedness by keeping your blood sugar stable with regular, small meals throughout the day — and by keeping a stash of healthy snacks nearby at all times.