Pregnant: What happens in week 20

The development of your baby in the 20th week of pregnancy

Nerve cells are completing:

Your little one's nervous system develops rapidly in the 20th week of pregnancy.Around 200,000 brain cells are produced per minute.By birth there will be 100 billion. At the same time, further maturation processes of the brain are underway, which are, among other things, responsible for the development of thesensory perceptionsare responsible.

Sensory impressions are being stored:

Your child's sense of smell and taste, vision, hearing and touch have continued to differentiate in recent weeks. In week 20 your baby has10 times more taste buds in the mouth than after its birth. It now also reacts to changes in light in the uterus through the closed eyelids. The voice of its mother or simple songsit consciously perceives them and stores them as memories.

Climbing exercises:

Besides the sucking and swallowing reflex, around the 20th week of pregnancy the fetus develops another vital reflex: it begins to really stretch and pull up its legs and move its arms vigorously.Climbing exercises and the lively urge to moveare now also clearly noticeable to you. Aslight fluttering in the bellycan even occasionally be seen from the outside – much to the delight of your partner.

The 2nd ultrasound scan is coming up

Expectant parents are probably already eagerly awaiting this appointment: In the second major ultrasound scan of the second trimester, which is usually performed between the19. and 22. week of pregnancy is performed, your baby is alreadymuch more can be seen than in the 1st trimester.By now it is approximately24 to 25 cm (from crown to heels) long.This is roughly the size of a bell pepper. Its weight is usually between210 to 240 grams– that's almost as much as a package of butter.

You can admire the impressive development on the ultrasound image. And perhapsyour child is currently sucking its thumb or holding the umbilical cord?Sometimes it even seems to wave to the parents on the ultrasound image, or it simply turns its back to you. In addition to the new images, your gynecologist records thedevelopmental stage of the fetusand documents it. This is, of course, entered in your maternity record.

Physical changes – what happens to the mother in week 20 of pregnancy?

In the 20th week of pregnancy everything is still about growth – only this time thephysical changes in the mother are more visible and noticeable.In addition to the visible bulge of your belly,pregnancy symptomssuch as shortness of breath and feelings of fatigue occur.

Uterus growth:

The uterus continues to grow upward. Its upper edge, the so-called fundus, can now befelt at the level of the navel. This is merely a stopover, because in the coming weeks and months the uterus will move up to the height of the sternum.

First practice contractions:

You may have just felt a small nudge from your baby and suddenly the whole belly becomes hard and 'tightens' from one moment to the next. It may well be that thefirst practice contractions occur.They usually occur only occasionally and are not a cause for concern. Only if the practice contractions are very painful or occur frequently is it important that you speak with your doctor.

Shortness of breath:

The uterus keeps growing and presses on the internal organs. Many women now feelshort of breath and need to go to the toilet more often than usual.Even though occasional cravings still occur, many women notice that they can no longer eat large portions. The uterus also compresses the stomach.

Fatigue:

Most expectant mothers feel throughout the pregnancyfatigue and exhaustion.Your body uses your energy for two. Butiron deficiencycan be the cause of your fatigue. It's best to clarify this with your gynecologist.

Baby movements become more distinct:

Perhaps in recent weeks you have already felt a gentle flutter in the lower abdomen and wondered whether that was already a baby movement. With week 20 thethe fetus's gentle kicks become increasingly pronouncedand soon you will also see the movement from the outside on the belly. If you yourself still do not feel movements, this is not yet a reason to worry. Depending on the position of the uterus, it may take another one to two weeks.

Skin changes:

Chances are your skin has changed during pregnancy. While many women have aradiant, rosy complexionothers experienceblemished or dry and flaky skin.Almost every expectant mother reports that her skin is more sensitive during pregnancy. It's best to use nowpH-neutral and fragrance-free products, which you should continue to use in the early period after the birth: Strongly perfumed creams and shower gels are less recommended, as they can 'distort' the mother's scent and thus irritate your baby.

20th week of pregnancy: This is important now

Half of your pregnancy is over and many parents are already devoting themselves to intensive preparation for their offspring: from baby essentials to finding a name or taking the last vacation to recharge – here you will find out what you can tackle in week 20.

Baby essentials

Clothing, furniture and individual accessories: TheBaby essentialspose the question to many parents as to which items they really already need for the birth and what can perhaps be purchased afterwards. To get afirst senseand to get an overview, it's worthwhile if you note down theessential items for the starter kit. You can then work through this starter-kit checklist step by step so that you are well prepared for your little miracle and it lacks nothing.

How do we agree on a name for our baby?

The name-finding process usually begins early in pregnancy. Often mother and father each have their favorites, or theysearch together for beautiful or unusual names.Here are a few basic tips for name selection:

For unmarried couples, a decision must be made as to which last name the child should carry. The civil registry decision cannot be reversed later.
More important than the most unique name possible is the fact that your child can live well with that name later.
Whether an unusual desired name is accepted by the registrar depends on the individual case and is sometimes simply a matter of luck.
Sometimes middle names are a good compromise. If in doubt, your child can later decide for themselves which name they prefer.
If you and your partner cannot agree on a name at all, just let the name selection rest for a while.

Flying during pregnancy

Some expectant parents use the 20th week of pregnancy for a last vacation before birth. The period proves to be extremely convenient, as you can usually still move very well and flying up to the28th week of pregnancygenerallyusually causes no problems.The metal detectors and full-body scanners at security checks do not pose problems for your child. To make the flight as comfortable as possible and to prevent physical complaints such as thrombosis, it is recommended that youwear support stockings or compression stockingswear. Also anaisle seatis ideal for pregnant women, as you can more easily go to the toilet, stretch your legs, and walk up and down.

To the 21st week of pregnancy