Pregnancy Week 20

  How big is your baby? Your babys crown to rump measurement is now at 6.46 inches (16.4 cm) and your babyis now weighing approximately 10.58 ounces (300g).     How big are you? Your uterus should now be about in line with your bellybutton this week. Your uterus will be measured on a regular basis by your healthcare provider in orderto keep track of your baby’s development and growth. He may either use your bellybuttonor the pubic symphysis as a point of reference. From the 20th week of your pregnancy your uterus should grow about 1cm (0.39″)every week. If your growth is not regular or not in line with where it should befor your corresponding week then your healthcare provider may want to do an ultrasoundto check that your due date is correct and to check that there are no intrauterine-growth restrictions. How is your baby developing and growing The skin which is covering your baby’s body now begins growing from twolayers, the epidermis (surface layer) and the dermis (a deeper layer). The vernix, which is a slimy sort of film which covers the baby’s entire body toprotect it’s skin from the amniotic fluid, is still being produced. There is a goodchance that you will see this white slimy substance when your baby is born. Your babys movements should now be becoming stronger and stronger, as ossificationcontinues and soft cartilage is turned into bone. As your babys arms and legs becomeharder and stronger the strength of your babys kicks will be more noticeable, butstill not a solid contact. Pregnancy and Sex Pregnancy is an important time of growing closer to your partner. As your pregnancyprogresses and your stomach gets larger, sexual relationsmay become more and more difficult, however, with some imagination sex can stillbe possible. There are positions which allow for intercourse without your partnerlying on top of you, or without you lying on your back.

  One thing is for sure, both you and your partner need to be comfortable continuingsexual relations. No one partner should place emotional pressure on the other tocontinue sexual relations during pregnancy. There are few times when it is advisedagainst having sex whilepregnant, but your healthcare provider should express specific conditionswhen this is the case. Did you know that in week 20 your placenta weighs more than your developing baby?