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You’re 20 weeks pregnant—halfway there. You got this, Mom! Here’s what happening with your body and your baby at the mid-way mark.
How Big is Baby?
Growing every week, that little one has tacked on at least another half-inch. Baby is measuring about 6 ½ inches long at this halfway point, and still has a lot of growing to do.
What’s New with Baby?
Your little one is moving around a lot in there (can you feel it, Mom?) and that’s helping their little muscles grow bigger and stronger. Baby is also developing a sleep-wake cycle at this stage—spending regular periods of time awake or sleeping. If only it could align with yours!
What’s New with Mom?
You’re likely sporting a more obvious bump now as your baby—and belly—continues to grow. You might also be enjoying thicker hair and longer nails by this stage, a couple things you can actually thank those hormones for. Feeling hungrier these days? That’s par for the course. Expect to gain about a pound a week for the rest of your pregnancy.
Fun Fact
You might have known that while in the womb baby swallows amniotic fluid. But did you know the smell and taste of this can be affected by your diet?
What to Know About Your Growing Bump
Your back, your feet, your breasts—the aches and pains in pregnancy seem to pop up everywhere. By this point in pregnancy, you’ve probably noticed some pain in your abdomen too. This is likely round ligament pain and while it’s normal, it can be bothersome. Here’s what causes it and how to find relief.
You have two round ligaments in your pelvis; rope-like bands of tissue that support either side of the uterus. As your uterus grows, these round ligaments stretch and thicken to support it. And at times, this can be painful. “The pain is a sharp shooting pain and by the time the person realizes it, it usually has stopped,” says Dr. Joanna Forbes, an Ob/Gyn at UT Southwestern Medical Center. “The pain usually isn’t rhythmic or associated with vaginal bleeding or leakage of fluid.”
Joanna Forbes, M.D., is an assistant professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at UT Southwestern Medical Center. She specializes in all aspects of general Ob/Gyn, including well-woman exams and minimally invasive Ob/Gyn surgery.
You might feel this short, sharp pain when you change positions (rolling over in bed, for instance), or when you cough or sneeze. Typically, it starts in the groin area and moves upward and outward towards your hips.
Uncomfortable? Yes. Harmful? No. Round ligament pain—which can begin as early as the first trimester—is not a sign that anything is wrong. The pain should go away just by simply repositioning. If it doesn’t, or if you have abdominal pain along with vaginal bleeding or leaking, call your doctor.
Other issues that might come up as that belly continues to get bigger? Bumping the bump. It’s hard to avoid all abdominal contact—whether that’s due to rambunctious toddlers or just household chores.
But thankfully, bumping your belly is usually nothing to worry about. “The uterus is a very safe place for the baby to be growing,” Forbes assures. “If you accidentally bump into something, no need to worry.”
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This blog is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute the provision of medical advice or professional services. This blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
The above article was written by DFWChild editor Amanda Collins Bernier with information provided by UT Southwestern Medical Center as part of their sponsored content.
