Week 20: What to Expect During Your Pregnancy

Motherhood, Pregnancy

Welcome to Week 20 of pregnancy—you’re officially at the halfway point! Whether this journey has felt like it’s flying by or moving at a snail’s pace, this milestone is worth celebrating. Your baby is growing rapidly, your body is changing, and there’s so much to look forward to in the coming weeks. Here, we’ll cover what to expect for both you and your baby during this week, along with some personal insights from my own experience as I navigate my fourth pregnancy.

What's Happening with Your Baby

At 20 weeks, your baby is approximately the size of a troll doll (with or without the hair!) or a banana—whichever comparison works for you! Here’s a glimpse into your baby’s development:

Sensory Development & Taste Preferences: Your baby’s senses are fully developed now, including taste, touch, smell, and hearing. Fun fact: Research suggests that what you eat during pregnancy influences your baby’s taste preferences later in life! If you crave and frequently eat spicy food, garlic, or even Korean BBQ (like I did in a previous pregnancy), your baby may enjoy those flavors too!
Brain Growth & Meconium Formation: Your baby’s brain is rapidly expanding, continuing its complex development. Meconium, the thick, sticky, tar-like substance that will be your baby’s first poop, is forming in the intestines. Don’t worry—baby isn’t pooping yet! They’ll hold onto it until after birth.
Feeling More Movement & Baby’s Hiccups: Kicks, flips, and jabs are becoming stronger and more noticeable. Baby hiccups! You might feel rhythmic little movements in your belly—this is totally normal and a sign of a healthy developing diaphragm. I personally felt baby hiccup for the first time this week!
Anatomy Scan Time: If you haven’t had your 20-week anatomy scan, this is the most common time to schedule it! This ultrasound checks baby’s heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, growth, and position—and if you want to know the sex of your baby, this is when it’s often confirmed!

Changes You Might Experience

As your baby grows, your body continues to adjust. Here are some common experiences during Week 20:

1️⃣ Constipation & Digestion Issues

Thanks to pregnancy hormones slowing down digestion, constipation is common.
Hydration is key! Drinking water and electrolytes (like LMNT) has helped me stay regular. Plus, daily exercise helps keep things moving!

💡 Tip: If you’re struggling, try:
✔️ Drinking more water + electrolytes
✔️ Eating fiber-rich foods (fruits, veggies, whole grains)
✔️ Moving your body daily

2️⃣ Pregnancy Headaches & Blood Pressure Concerns

Headaches can be caused by hormones, dehydration, or blood pressure fluctuations.
The difference between normal headaches vs. concerning ones:
- Normal: Goes away with water, electrolytes, rest, or Tylenol.
- Concerning: Persistent, severe, or accompanied by vision changes, upper right belly pain, or swelling—these can be signs of preeclampsia and should be checked by a provider ASAP.

3️⃣ Glowing Hair, Strong Nails & Itchy Skin

Hair & Nails: Pregnancy hormones = thicker, shinier hair and stronger nails! Enjoy it while it lasts.
Itchy Skin: As your belly expands, your skin may feel tight and itchy.

💡 Tip: Using a belly balm can help! I love Primally Pure’s Body Butter—it’s moisturizing and soothing. (Use code MAMASTEFIT for 10% off!)

4️⃣ Lower Back Pain & Balance Changes

Your belly is growing, shifting your center of gravity, which can make you feel a little unstable or off-balance.
Lower back pain & pelvic girdle pain may start around now due to postural changes.

💡 Tip: Wearing a belly support band (like the lovesteady belly support band) can help ease discomfort, especially during long walks or standing for extended periods.

My Personal Experience in Week 20

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A post shared by Gina, MS, & Roxanne, RN, BSN (@mamastefit)

Navigating the 20th week of pregnancy while already being a mother to three has been a unique journey filled with its own set of challenges and joys. Here are some more personal insights from this week:

My belly officially popped this week! It no longer looks like I ate too many donuts—it’s undeniably a baby bump now!

Feeling baby move externally! I can now feel her kicks when I put my hand on my belly, which is such a special moment. My oldest daughter even felt her move!

Balance feels off. I don’t have pelvic girdle pain or back pain (yet!), but I definitely feel a little unstable when walking.

Incorporating daily movement: I’m focusing on pelvic stability exercises, gentle workouts, and walking to stay strong and prevent discomfort.

Upping my self-care! I got a cranial sacral therapy massage to release tension in my jaw and upper body (pregnancy stress is real!).

My New Routine:
✔️ Birth Prep Circuit – Daily exercises to help my pelvic alignment & mobility
✔️ Belly Butter – To soothe stretching skin
✔️ Belly Band – Extra support for walks

Conclusion

Week 20 is a huge milestone, and things are only going to get more exciting from here! Every pregnancy is unique, and Week 20 can bring its own set of experiences and challenges. It’s essential to listen to your body, take care of your mental and physical health, and prepare for the exciting changes ahead.

If you’re looking for more support during your pregnancy, consider exploring our online prenatal fitness programs and childbirth education courses. You can bundle these for additional savings!

Gina Conley, MS