Key facts about your baby
- From 20 weeks onwards babies are measured from the top of the head to the heel. Baby would be around 26cm tall, nearly the length of an A4 piece of paper!
- Your baby is now around the size of a banana, or about 16.5cm (6.5 inches) from head to bottom and weighs in around 300 grams (10.5oz).
- Your baby is swallowing amniotic fluid and the digestive system is producing meconium, which is the greenish-black sticky substance that results from your baby’s digestive system while in the womb. The meconium is stored in the bowels until birth.
- Your baby can now hear your heartbeat and outside noises like music
- Your baby is now formed and turning somersaults
- From 20 weeks onwards babies are measured from the top of the head to the heel
Key point: Because a baby’s legs are curled up in the fetal position, during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy measurements are taken from the top of the head to the bottom. It’s referred to as the ‘crown to rump’ measurement. This week, your baby’s crown to rump measurement is around 16½ cm (6½ inches).
In week 20, your baby is swallowing amniotic fluid and the digestive system is producing meconium, which is the greenish-black sticky substance that results from your baby’s digestive system while in the womb. The meconium is stored in the bowels until birth. At that time, the meconium will help your baby have her first bowel movement. Occasionally, a baby will pass meconium in the womb before birth or during labour. When that happens, sometimes the baby can inhale some of the meconium along with amniotic fluid which can be dangerous. This occurs in about 5 – 10 percent of all births and is more common when babies are past their due date. The danger of a baby inhaling the meconium is that there could be breathing problems including pneumonia.
During delivery, if a baby has passed meconium, it is immediately recognisable to the doctors. If meconium is present, the mouth and trachea is suctioned and in some cases, can be washed out with a saline solution. The baby will then be carefully monitored for several days. In most instances of meconium aspiration, babies fully recover with no long term damage to the lungs.
What’s happening with You
- Congratulations! you are halfway there. The top of uterus (the fundus) is now about level with your navel and you may develop a dark line down the middle of your tummy. This is normal skin pigmentation as your tummy expands and is called linea nigra. This should disappear soon after birth.
- You might start to notice sleeping difficulties now. As your belly grows, finding a comfortable position can be quite difficult. Use extra pillows and try lying on your side with your leg propped up. It may also be comforting to place a pillow behind your back.
- Make sure you are taking enough iron to move the added amount of blood in your body e.g. spinach ,meat and cereals fortified with iron
- You may want to start looking into childbirth education or antenatal classes. These classes are especially important for first time mums and dads
