Pregnancy at 20 Weeks

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Your baby's growth starts to slow down now and she is approximately half the length of a full-term baby. Her fat is not yet laid down and she weighs about 340 g. She is about the size of a small mango. From this point on she will start to put on weight at a rate of approximately 50 g per week. If she is to arrive on her due date, she's half way there.

Development in 20th Week Pregnancy

Your baby's development is focused on the lungs and digestive and immune systems. Her kidneys are passing approximately 7-17 ml of urine every 24 hours. Areas of her brain are developing that are specific to the senses of taste, smell, hearing, sight and touch. Her heartbeat is stronger and can be heard using a stethoscope.

Appearance in 20th Week Pregnancy

Your baby is thin and looks very delicate. Her eyes seem large because her face has not yet rounded out, and her eyes can move from side to side, although her eyelids are closed. She has more hair on her head, and her eyelashes and eyebrows are taking shape. Her legs are almost in proportion with the rest of her body.

Movement in 20th Week Pregnancy

Your baby's nervous system is more developed so she can co-ordinate her movements and is very active. She can grasp firmly, and can roll and turn.

Vernix This greasy white coating is produced by oil glands in your baby's skin. It keeps her skin supple and protects it from immersion in the amniotic fluid. It is very thick around the eyebrows and is anchored in place by the lanugo. It lubricates and protects the skin during delivery. In some hospitals, it is cleaned off but it rubs off naturally after a couple of days.

Listening to your baby Get your partner to place a cardboard tube from an empty kitchen roll low down on your abdomen. If he listens through it, he may be able to hear the baby's heartbeat. It will be a very subtle sound - like a very light pulsation. However, you should not worry if he cannot hear it - it takes practice to get the technique right.