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PREGNANCY
WEEKLY
Pregnancy weekly will take you through this
journey
of nine months to make you aware of all the
changes taking place in you, your baby and your
life.
It is a journey full of experiences.
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1ST
TRIMESTER
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2ND
TRIMESTER
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3RD
TRIMESTER
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Pregnancy Weekly | Week 20
Fetal development - 20 weeks
pregnant/18 weeks fetus
- How is my baby developing at 20 weeks?
- What will my baby look like?
- Movements
- What will be the changes in me?
- What should I eat at this time?
- Tips for you/your partner
What is actually happening to your
baby in these weeks?
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Note: Experts say every baby grows
differently. This information gives you
a general idea about fetus
growth
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Your baby measures about 6.5 inches/ 16.5
centimetres from crown to rump and is steadily
gaining weight. And is now 260 gms.
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The baby's swallowing more this week, natures way
to strengthen the digestive system. After your baby
takes in amniotic fluid, his body absorbs the water
from the amniotic fluid and moves the rest into the
large bowel to form meconeum.
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Skin is now divided in two layers-epidermis and
dermis
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Her kidneys are passing 7-17 ml of urine/day.
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Heart beat is stronger and can be heard with a
stethoscope.
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Areas of brain are developing that are specific to
the senses of taste, smell, hearing, sight and
touch.
APPEARANCE
Your baby is thin and delicate. Her eyes look big and move
from side to side. Eyelids are still closed though. She has
more hair on her head and eyelashes and eyebrows are taking
shape.
MOVEMENTS
Your baby’s nervous system is fully developed because of
which the movements are very coordinated now and she can grasp
firmly, and can roll and turn.
MOTHER
You can feel the uterus at the belly button
now and it maybe tender to touch too. The line
between the uterus and the pubis darkens (Linea
nigra) but it will fade after delivery.
You may want to look into a childbirth
education class if you haven't done so already.
Antenatal classes can help you prepare for the
rigors of labor and delivery. It also keeps you
informed about all the stages of your pregnancy
and prepares you for the baby to come.
Your nutrition at this time should be
fortified with iron as your baby is busy making
his blood.you may also consume iron rich food
like lean red meat. Lentils , spinach etc.
If you need to go for percutaneous Umbilical
Cord Blood Sampling, it is the right time.
You might also see a longitudinal bulge in
the middle of your abdomen called abdominal
hernia or diastasis recti. It is normal but
gets any type of chronic cough or constipation
treated in time.
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You can also hear your baby’s
heart beats at 20 weeks with a stethoscope. It will be beating
at a rate of 120-160 beats per second whereas yours is only
60-80 beats /minute.
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TIP for
DADDY
Start planning for your baby’s birth.
You might need to start keeping funds aside
for later use.
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TIP
Make changes in your fitness program
according to the changes in your body.
As you grow heavier, you will need more
oxygen and your balance will keep changing.
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