20 Weeks Pregnant

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Here's what's happening during Week 20 of your pregnancy:

Your Growing Baby

By week 20, your baby begins to produce vernix, a white, creamy substance that protects his skin in his watery environment. Permanent teeth are starting to form behind his baby teeth. He seems able to differentiate between morning, afternoon and evening and starts to become more active at certain times than at others.

Your Growing Belly

Around now, you should feel a psychological boost: You've made it halfway already! It's a good time to find a childbirth class to educate you about labor and calm any anxieties. Plus, you'll meet other parents-to-be and possibly create friendships for both you and your child in the years to come. Your care provider will now monitor your growth by measuring the height of your uterus with fingers or a tape measure. Your uterus is now about in line with your belly button. From now on, the top of your uterus will grow toward your rib cage at a rate of one centimeter a week.

Tips & To-Do's

Take Me To The Water

Even if you've cherished every stage of your pregnancy, there may have been a few moments when you felt a little... awkward. And chances are one or two of those moments were during exercise. It's no wonder, as your center of gravity shifts. Luckily, workouts in water work like magic—you're buoyant, plus the water is soothing and relaxing. Here are 3 simple moves you can do in the wet stuff to look and feel great right up until you deliver.

Here's how to get started now.

Things to think about this week: You're halfway there! Time to take a tour of your hospital's maternity ward.

 

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*This due date is an approximation. You should always consult your health care provider for confirmation of your exact estimated due date.

"Only about 1 in 20 women delivers on her exact due date. Your due date actually just suggests a 5-week window during which it would be healthy for your baby to be born. The week surrounding your due date is when he is most likely to be born."

Information reprinted with permission from GREAT EXPECTATIONS by Sandy Jones and Marcie Jones. Copyright ©2004, by Sandy Jones and Marcie Jones.