20weeks
pregnant

Highlights this week

A white fatty substance called vernix caseosa begins to coat your baby.

Discover what happens at your anomaly scan.

Try these healthy foods for your second trimester.

Baby development at 20 weeks

Your baby measures about 16.5 centimetres from the top of their head to their bottom. They're putting on weight now and have turned into a slippery little thing. A greasy white substance called vernix caseosa coats their entire body. This coating protects their skin during its long submersion in amniotic fluid. Some babies are still covered with this whitish goo when they're born.

Your baby's swallowing more this week, good practice for the digestive system. After your baby takes in amniotic fluid, their body absorbs the water in the liquid and moves the rest into the large bowel.

Read more about your baby's development this week.

Your baby may suck their fingers
Meconium – a waste product – is forming in your baby's intestines
In girl babies, the uterus has formed
Your baby's kicking up a storm, and you can probably feel it

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Your baby is the length of a banana

length

16.4

head to toe

weight

300

How your life's changing

Out of breath? You may start to feel a bit puffed out after going up just a short flight of stairs. Some breathlessness is normal and may become more pronounced over the rest of your pregnancy as your expanding uterus (womb) pushes up against your lungs. Tell your doctor or midwife if you find yourself getting very short of breath. Now's the time to make sure you're getting enough iron. Your baby needs it to make red blood cells, among other things. As with most vitamins and minerals, food is the best source of iron. Iron-rich foods include lean red meat, poultry, fish, lentils, leafy green vegetables and iron-fortified cereals. Don't take supplements though, unless they're prescribed by your doctor or midwife. They'll only prescribe iron tablets if they're concerned you may be anaemic.

As you're about halfway through your pregnancy, you may want to think in more detail about the kind of birth you'd like. For example, do you like the idea of labouring and giving birth in a pool?

Many mums-to-be find being in warm water helps them to stay more relaxed through contractions. As long as your pregnancy is going well, having a water birth is perfectly safe. You can even have some forms of pain relief and monitoring while you're in the water. Your partner may also like to join you in the pool. Take a look at photos of beautiful water births from other BabyCenter mums.

Compare your baby belly and see the variety of shapes from BabyCenter mums at 19 to 21 weeks of pregnancy.

baby in womb at 20 weeks, top of uterus level with navel

The top of your uterus is about level with your belly button
Your growing uterus might be straining your back

What you need to know

Your maternity notes tell the story about how your pregnancy is going. But what do all those letters and figures mean? Read our article on understanding your maternity notes to find out.
Going overseas for a mid-pregnancy holiday? Find out if it’s safe to fly.

Pregnancy tip: Ginger tea

"I’m back on the ginger tea that helped with morning sickness in my first trimester. If I stick to small meals and drink ginger tea instead of coffee I feel heaps better." -- Jane

Megan Rive

Megan Rive is a communication, content strategy and project delivery specialist. She was Babycenter editor for six years.

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