Week 20 of pregnancy | Second Trimester

Congratulations! At twenty weeks, you are half way through your pregnancy already. Hasn’t it been an eventful trip of ups and downs thus far? This week we’ll look at Mom’s belly button as well as how Baby manages to live in amniotic fluid for months without any damage whatsoever.

MOM
With your baby growing so rapidly, your uterus may start pressing against your belly button. Your perfect navel, which has been that way all your life, might actually start to change. If you have had an “innie” forever, you might find that your newly developing “outee” is a little sensitive. Don’t be alarmed, things will return to normal once your baby is born.

Your internal organs might be shifting a little as the uterus takes up more and more space. You could find that breathing becomes a little more difficult, as the lungs have to share their space with a few of your other organs. If you feel shortness of breath while rushing about, stop and take a breather – it’s alright to do this!

BABY
At this stage of your baby’s development, a substance called Vernix forms all over its body to protect it from the long period of exposure to amniotic fluid. You might also be able to work out your baby’s sleep habits by this time from his or her movements inside you. Your baby is by now about 280 grams in weight and 25 centimetres in length.

The following image is courtesy of standupgirl.com

DAD
Perhaps this might be a good week for you and your partner to have an evening out. Celebrate the fact that you’re already half way through your pregnancy, and allow yourselves to unwind a little and focus on the two of you as a couple.

Congratulations once again on getting half-way though your pregnancy! If you have decided to find out Baby’s sex, next week might be the week to do it – if the little guy or girl co-operates, that is! Mom and Dad have so many decisions to make, so we’ll leave you to it. Until next week, happy contemplating..