The second half of pregnancy has begun, every modern mother should be aware of all the events taking place inside her, she should control the entire process of pregnancy, know what happens to her and her future baby at a certain moment in their life. This period brings new sensations, the fetus at the 20th week of pregnancy is already beginning to move, move, this can be seen not only by ultrasound, but also by the sensation itself.
Stirring during this period of pregnancy
20 weeks is already half the gestation period, during which many changes have already passed both in the expectant mother and in the developing baby. Already now you can feel the movements of the crumbs, they look like light tremors, some are compared with the "flutter of butterflies" inside the abdomen. Women begin to feel the baby differently: someone at the 16-17th week, and someone at the 21-22th. This difference is obtained due to the woman’s body weight, fetal activity. The slender ones begin to feel movements earlier than the chubby ones. When moving, the child gives the mother the most wonderful sensations, her mood rises, and the pregnancy itself is unforgettable. Positive emotions produce the hormone of joy, because only thanks to them troubles such as low water, placenta previa, or toxicosis in the 3rd trimester depart.
20 week of pregnancy, no movement? No need to be upset, because at this time they are observed infrequently or may disappear for a while, and this is considered the norm for the course of pregnancy, this behavior of the baby should not be cause for concern. However, you need to be vigilant, with a long absence of stirring, immediately turn to your obstetrician-gynecologist, otherwise everything may end in a miscarriage. At this time, they can produce an artificial birth, if specialists discover any pathologies in the development of the fetus. This is done in order to prevent the birth of a non-viable baby and eliminate the risks to the mother's life during pregnancy and subsequent childbirth.
The expectant mother should know that within 30 minutes her baby should perform 20-60 movements. Strength, rhythm, pace of movement depend on the time of day: movements are more active at night and in the evening, and the rest period is approximately in the morning. Boys are considered more active than girls.
10 episodes (that is, you felt the baby move, and then he began to push, turn over - this is considered one series) per day is considered the norm of baby movement. The absence of 10 movements per day indicates hypoxia (oxygen deficiency), it is necessary to consult specialists for its treatment. Persistent and strong movements indicate the uncomfortable position of the mother. If the fetal movements become painful, restless, more active than before, this may indicate the initial stage of oxygen deficiency; with progressive hypoxia, movements are weakened or completely ceased.
It must be remembered that the baby can move with loud noises, with food intake, lack of fresh air, and most often at night. The child already clearly hears everything and in this way can react to factors irritating him.
The size of the fetus, its weight and the formation of the baby
At 20 weeks of gestation, the fetus is already about 25 cm in size and weighs a little over 300 g, the distance from the toe to the coccyx reaches 16 cm. Mom also begins to change significantly, her stomach begins to grow more noticeable, and this is not surprising, because half of the entire pregnancy has already passed. If pathology is observed, then the growth, weight of the child deviates significantly from the norm, the development of the fetus with impairments is noted, and if the existing pathology cannot be cured by modern medicine, artificial births are recommended for women.
At 20 weeks of pregnancy, the size of the fetus begins to increase noticeably every day, the baby has already formed internal organs and can already function independently. Marigolds appeared, you can see an individual pattern on the fingertips. Intensive weight gain and development of the baby are noted, the size of the baby increases every day of his life, the mother must eat properly to ensure the proper development of pregnancy. 20 weeks is the period by which the baby's skin thickens, but the face is still wrinkled. This can be seen during examination by ultrasound.
Low placentation during this period of bearing a baby
When the placenta (its lower edge) is located 5 cm below the internal pharynx, then we encounter such a phenomenon as low placentation. 20 weeks of pregnancy is the period at which doctors can diagnose a low placenta. However, do not worry, the placenta can migrate up to 34 weeks, you just need to control this process using ultrasound for 16 weeks, 24-26 weeks and 34-36 weeks. The placenta is a certain organ that forms during pregnancy. It has a protective function, provides the child with oxygen, and also through it the baby receives all the necessary nutrients.
Usually, the placenta during pregnancy, within normal limits, is attached to the front or back wall of the uterus, closer to its bottom. If the placenta attaches low, then this is considered a pathology - placenta previa, but low placentation is not presentation, since it is located low, but there is a gap between it and the exit from the uterus.
Causes of low placenta can be associated with uterine myoma, multiple pregnancy, uterine underdevelopment, the consequences of abortion, or the transfer of inflammatory diseases. This pathology can cause bleeding. It is impossible to make sudden movements with low placenta, physical activity is contraindicated. Low placentation can affect the fetus, as it will receive less oxygen and nutrients.
What other troubles can a woman expect during this period of gestation?
At this time, the expectant mother can be upset by the following diseases:
- Preeclampsia (i.e. late toxicosis) - may occur at 20-21 weeks of gestation, although more often appears at 36-39 weeks. Toxicosis should be given special attention, it can provoke detachment of the placenta, because of it there may be a delay in the fetal development. Toxicosis must be monitored and constantly consult with your obstetrician-gynecologist about any changes in well-being.
- Placenta previa. With placenta previa, a miscarriage may occur. The period of 20 weeks of pregnancy may be accompanied by bleeding and pain due to this pathology. At this stage of pregnancy, the ultrasound can show the presentation, but it can go by itself, and at 24 weeks you can repeat the ultrasound.
- Low water can cause mental and physical development retardation. A feeling of low water may occur when the fetus is moving.
Belly and well-being of the future mother
20th week of pregnancy: what happens to a woman’s body? She also begins to change rapidly outwardly, now by the end of 20 weeks, up to 3 kg, or even 4.5 kg, is added to her mother’s weight. The belly is already becoming more noticeable, but it is also located just below the belly button, the old clothes do not fit, the tummy begins to constrain. During this period of pregnancy, a change in posture occurs due to a shift in the center of gravity, there is also a large load on the spine and on the sacral-femoral section. A child at the 20th week of pregnancy grows rapidly, a woman begins to notice stretch marks on her body. Today you can find a lot of cosmetics against this defect, they will not only help reduce scars, but also completely prevent their appearance.
Already 20 weeks of pregnancy - no movement? It is necessary to do an ultrasound, it will be calmer, because you can already hear the baby’s heartbeat, and you can also establish who you are waiting for - a boy or a girl.
Reasons and methods for artificial childbirth
Artificial birth is a challenge to labor at 20, sometimes at 21 weeks, as well as in late pregnancy. 20 week of pregnancy, no movement? This may be the reason for the artificial birth. The cause of their conduct may also be premature discharge of water, the development of the fetus with pathologies, the threat to life for the mother. They can be caused by piercing the amniotic membranes, the introduction of prostaglandins.
Ultrasound during pregnancy
20 weeks of pregnancy, what happens by ultrasound? Today, this study can tell a lot about low water, the causes of toxicosis, placenta previa, its location and condition, as well as such a deviation from the norm as low placentation. 20 weeks of pregnancy is a period in which it is already possible to establish the sex of the baby, as well as its weight, size and location.
Today, thanks to the examination, they look at the correspondence of the size of the child to the pregnancy, pay attention to the development of internal organs such as the stomach, kidneys, intestines, liver, lungs, urinary and gall bladder. Particular attention is paid to heart examinations, since it is possible to see such a pathology as heart disease at this time, this deviation is considered the most common.
Sex
If pregnancy proceeds without complications, then sex is not contraindicated. It is necessary to avoid poses that put pressure on the stomach, so there should be no discomfort, everything should go away without any pain, no discharge, otherwise you need to stop sexual intercourse and consult your obstetrician-gynecologist.
Frozen pregnancy
The 20th week of pregnancy has already come, there is no stirring for a long time, the stomach has stopped growing - all this can indicate a fetal freezing. It is more often observed before 20 weeks, but also after which it can also be diagnosed. Ultrasound can confirm fading in the absence of a heartbeat, if this fact is confirmed, it is necessary to remove the fetus to prevent the development of infection. Next, doctors conduct a medical examination to find out the cause of the fading of pregnancy. After a year and a half, you can plan a second pregnancy.
Essential tests at 20 weeks gestation
After 20 weeks, you need to visit a doctor already 2 times a month. For pregnancy to occur within normal limits, a urine, blood test and planned ultrasound scan are necessary. A urinalysis is necessary to identify inflammatory diseases, blood - to control hemoglobin and sugar levels, ultrasound will more accurately show fetal disorders at a certain stage of development. If necessary, a biochemical blood test is carried out, which assesses the level of alpha-fetoprotein, hCG hormones, in order to timely determine abnormalities in the development of the child.
20 weeks gestation
20 weeks of pregnancy ... The baby feels the most favorable emotions, but there are less pleasant moments, because it is during this period of pregnancy that the discharge becomes more plentiful than before, this is due to an increase in the hormone estrogen. They have a milky or grayish tint, without an unpleasant odor, uniform in consistency. If so, then do not worry. Discharge can be reduced if you use a decoction of chamomile with boiled water for washing.
However, if there are discharge of green or yellow, with an unpleasant odor, foamy, curd, then you should immediately contact your doctor. The appearance of bloody, brown spots, as well as any discharge that is accompanied by pain in the lower abdomen, is the reason for calling an ambulance. Such symptoms can be triggered by presentation or detachment of the placenta. In cases where the discharge is bloody, but not accompanied by pain, but may appear after sexual intercourse, we can talk about the presence of cervical erosion. Also, various infections can be suspected with a sensation of itching in the vagina. In any cases, you do not need to self-medicate, but immediately consult a doctor who will prescribe the appropriate treatment, and pregnancy will proceed without complications.