Fetal development 20 weeks of pregnancy • hello healthy

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Embryo growth

How is the development of the fetus at 20 weeks of pregnancy?

At 20 weeks of pregnancy, here are some developments to note:

The size of a baby is the size of a banana

Launching from the Baby Center, at the age of 20 weeks of pregnancy, the fetus is likely the size of a banana with a length of about 25 cm from head to heel and weighing around 315 grams.

Because the fetus is getting bigger, it will take up a lot of space in the uterus. This then puts pressure on your lungs, stomach, bladder, and kidneys.

At 20 weeks of pregnancy, your baby's skin will begin to thicken and develop. The hair and nails of the baby in the womb will also continue to grow.

The gender of the baby begins to show

At 20 weeks of pregnancy, the sex of the baby also begins to show. Usually this gender begins to be clearly seen in the 18th week to the 22nd week of pregnancy. You can find out the gender of the baby through an ultrasound examination.

If your baby is a girl, she already has small ovaries. However, if you are pregnant with a boy, the testes will begin to fall even though the scrotum is not fully grown.

However, it was clear that he was a boy at this stage of pregnancy.

Changes to the Body

How are changes in the body of a pregnant woman at 20 weeks of pregnancy?

Here are various changes that may occur in the body of pregnant women:

Faster hair and nail growth

In the development of the fetus at 20 weeks of gestation, the nails and hair of pregnant women will grow faster than before. Not only that, hair feels thicker and fuller.

This condition is caused by pregnancy hormones carrying additional nutrients to the hair and nail cells.

Even so, the condition of the nails can also become dry and brittle. Drink lots of water and consume milk for pregnant women to strengthen nail conditions.

You get hungry easily

After weeks of going through bothersome nausea, in this phase your hunger will increase as if replacing the previous nausea.

Even though your appetite is high, still pay attention to nutritional and nutritional intake. Make sure your baby gets a steady supply of calories when he needs them.

You can work around this by eating little but often, rather than a lot but only briefly to help the development of the fetus 20 weeks of pregnancy.

What should I pay attention to in the development of the fetus 20 weeks of pregnancy?

At 20 weeks of pregnancy, you should not stretch as this can cause injury and interfere with fetal development.

If you are doing sports while pregnant, avoid stretching excessively. If there is any movement that makes any part of your body hurt, stop for a moment.

Avoid sitting too long for long hours during pregnancy. If you are a working mother, at least take a 10 minute break every hour.

You can take a leisurely walk in the office corridor or stretch your fingers. You can also take a deep breath while stretching your legs and arms.

Visit to Doctor / Midwife

What should I discuss with my doctor to help develop the fetus at 20 weeks of pregnancy?

Ultrasound examination in the second trimester is useful to ensure that the fetus is fine. Ultrasounds at this age are usually performed longer than before.

The reason is, the doctor will check the health status of the baby and mother as well as your pregnancy as a whole.

If you have any questions that bother you, ask your doctor for more details.

Don't keep questions or worries about your pregnancy alone as this can lead to stress.

Stress during pregnancy really needs to be avoided because it can endanger your pregnancy.

What tests should I know at 20 weeks of pregnancy fetal development?

At 20 weeks of pregnancy, you will have an amniocentesis test if your doctor has recommended it and you have approved it.

Reporting from the Kids Health page, amniocentesis is carried out for a specific reason and is not a routine test. Usually this test tends to be done on pregnant women who are at risk of giving birth to babies such as birth defects Down Syndrome example.

It is important to discuss the benefits, risks and limitations of this test with your doctor.

In an amniocentesis test, a sample of amniotic fluid is taken from a position around the baby. This sample will be tested to see if the baby has a genetic disorder or not.

Health and Safety

What do I need to know to maintain the health and safety of the fetus at 20 weeks of pregnancy?

Here are some things that need to be considered for the safety and health of your fetus:

It is advisable to eat organic food

To support the development of the fetus at 20 weeks of pregnancy, pregnant women may be a little confused in choosing the type of food that should be consumed.

Organic products are considered to be better for the health of the mother and baby in the womb. Although in fact, the nutritional content between organic food and ordinary food is not that far away. So, just adjust it to your needs.

If you choose to eat food from inorganic sources, be sure to wash, peel, or cook the food properly.

However, the most important thing is to eat 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables every day.

Avoid standing for long periods

It is advisable not to stand up much at 20 weeks of pregnancy. Standing up is not a big problem if you are doing it while walking, not just standing still.

Standing for a long time tends to lower blood pressure and cause problems in the body of the pregnant woman and the fetus.

If your blood pressure drops, you may be at risk of delirium and even fainting.

You can counteract this risk by taking just enough short walks, not to get tired.

Doing light exercise

If you are in the office and spend hours in the chair, the body will be stiff and there is pain in some parts. You can do light stretches for 10 minutes to loosen the ligaments.

Walking in the office corridor or stretching out your arms while standing at your desk can also be done occasionally.

Move your fingers and toes while taking a deep breath. Don't forget to flex your neck left and right every now and then.

So, what will the fetus be like to grow and develop in the next week?

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.