Week 20: You’re halfway there!
Image: @cactusbunnyy
Welcome to week 20 of the Happy Parents Happy Baby guide to pregnancy, birth and beyond.
This week we'll be covering:
We hope you enjoy it!
Stretch marks
You’re halfway through your pregnancy now and your baby is going to go through some big growth spurts in the coming months. You’re probably finding that you look less like you’ve had a big meal and more like a pregnant person now!
We’re sure you don’t need us to tell you what stretch marks are as they are very common in men and women. They’re caused by your skin stretching as you grow or gain weight. The hormonal changes your body goes through during pregnancy make you more susceptible to getting stretch marks. But it won’t affect everyone and will depend on how elastic your skin is.
Depending on your skin colour they can be pink, red, purple or brown and the NHS says they can affect 8 in 10 pregnant women. You might have noticed them appear on your bump, breasts and upper thighs. When they start to appear will vary from person to person.
The average woman will gain around 10-12kg (22-28lb) during their pregnancy but this will vary. If you gain more weight then you will increase your likelihood of getting stretch marks. If you are expecting multiples you can expect to put on a bit more weight than if you were only having one baby so may be more likely to get stretch marks.
While you might feel self-conscious about them, stretch marks are not harmful and will fade over time. They will probably not disappear completely. You have probably seen creams which claim to help eliminate stretch marks. However, there’s not a lot of evidence that they work or that preventative creams or oils work either.
Speak to your GP or midwife if you’re worried about your weight gain.
Linea nigra
Another change to your skin you may have noticed as your bump has grown is a dark line running down your stomach. This is called the linea nigra and is normal skin pigmentation. Not every woman will get one of these pregnancy lines but if you do, it will usually disappear a few months after your baby is born.
Your baby’s development in week 20
Size of a sweet potato
Weighs around 280g and 16.5cm long
As we outlined last week in Will’s 20 week scan section, your baby’s major organs are now all fully formed and you may or may not now know your baby’s gender.
If you’re having a girl her uterus is now formed and is starting to fill with millions of eggs. If your baby is a boy then their testicles will still be in their abdomen but will descend once the scrotum is fully formed.
Week 20 Checklist
You might like to:
Get your whooping cough jab. You can protect your baby from birth by having the whooping cough jab when you’re pregnant. The best time to have it is between weeks 16 and 32 of your pregnancy but most people are offered it after their 20 week scan.
Book a haircut. You might have noticed your hair looking more luscious than usual. Keep it looking healthy by treating yourself to a haircut.
Stretch. You’ve got a lot going on in your life. You’re growing a baby and probably still working or looking after other children. Take time out each day if you can to have a good stretch. It will help with any aches or pains and also help you relax and unwind.
Spotlight on: Indigestion
Each week we'll be delving into the common symptoms of pregnancy and bringing you top tips for managing them from our team of specialists and parent community.
Why am I reaching for the Gaviscon?
Indigestion, which is also called heartburn or acid reflux, is a common pregnancy symptom. It’s caused by hormones and, as your pregnancy progresses, your uterus pressing on your stomach.
Why?
You can experience these symptoms at any time in your pregnancy but it’s most common towards the end of your second trimester.
Indigestion may start soon after you have had something to eat or drink, but sometimes there can be a bit of a delay.
Top tips:
Don’t worry, there are lots of things you can do to try to alleviate the discomfort caused by heartburn.
Try to eat small meals more frequently and don’t eat too close to bedtime. A glass of milk can help so maybe keep a glass next to your bed to sip during the night. Keep an eye on whether there is a pattern to what’s making you feel ill. Spicy foods, chocolate or fruit juice can all be culprits.
Speak to your midwife or GP about whether there are any antacids you can take. These are medicines which neutralise the acid in your stomach. If these don’t seem to be doing the trick then speak to them again to see if there’s another option.
Birth story of the week
Katherine and Ross had a very positive vaginal birth with their daughter Kaila
“I had Braxton Hicks on the Friday night and things started to happen around 3pm on Saturday. I had a bath and used my breathing until around 5pm and then got out and started using the TENS machine while I watched my favourite films. We went into hospital at 10pm and I was 2cm. We went home and I kept listening to my favourite HPHB relaxations, I loved Chloe's muscle relaxer!! We returned to hospital at 1am and I was 4cm! I took a paracetamol and Codeine and I was in a birthing pool for about 2 hours while my husband massaged my back – he kept reminding me of the breathing exercises. I got out the bath to be monitored and the actual pushing lasted an hour…Kaila was born at 5:47am on the Sunday morning!
Welcome to the world little Kaila!
Treat of the week
The world of car seats can be confusing. You may have already started looking and been overwhelmed by options. The Joie i-spin 360 i-size grows with your baby and is suitable from birth to four years old. The one-hand, 360° seat rotation makes for an easy in, easy out motion saving your back from straining as your baby grows.
Products are based on suggestions from our specialists and community of parents. We may earn commission from shopping links.
Join our community
Happy Parents Happy Baby is here to support you through every step of your pregnancy, birth and parenting journey.
Connect with other parents-to-be and learn everything you need to know, by joining our award-winning antenatal classes.
That's all for now...
Thank you so much for joining us!
Have a great week.
Team HPHB x
Information you
can trust
Our articles are based on the latest-evidence based guidelines and scientific research and are written by our team of medical experts.
Coming up
next week
Deciding where to give birth
Spotlight on: thicker and shinier hair
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