Your pregnancy at 20 weeks

Congratulations!!! You are halfway through your pregnancy, only 20 weeks to go, or there abouts, we can never be exactly sure when baby will decide to make an appearance. Baby If you haven’t already had your anomaly scan then this is the week, how exciting you get to see your baby again. By now your baby will be covered in a white, greasy substance called vernix which helps protect their delicate skin from the amniotic fluid they are swimming in. By the time they are born, this has usually gone, although if your baby arrives a little early, they may still have some on their skin. You may have noticed your baby’s size has suddenly jumped this week to 25.6cm, they haven’t had a massive growth spurt, although they are still growing nicely, the measurements are now taken from head to heel rather than the previous head to bottom. Mum You should receive your MAT B1 form from your midwife from this week, you will need this to claim your maternity allowance and also benefits, if entitled. As bump continues to grow, you may find your ankles or feet become a little swollen, which is caused by water retention, which is often worse at the end of the day. Try and put your feet up throughout the day and wear comfortable shoes. Gradual swelling is completely normal during pregnancy but if you find your hands or feet suddenly swell then do contact your midwife as this is a symptom of pre-eclampsia – for more information take a look at our pre-eclampsia article, signs to look out for in our stay safe section.

This article has been written using the latest guidance and information from trusted sources, primarily the NHS. This information should not replace the advice from professional medical advice.