pregnancy | week by week

An eggplant

Your Baby's Size =

Week 20: Kicking and Squirming

Prepare to feel your baby move!

When you’re 20 weeks pregnant, your baby is getting used to all of its developing parts. Your baby is moving around, and you might be able to feel it. At Week 20, your baby’s development includes the following:

• Your baby probably measures about 6 inches, approximately the length of an eggplant, and weighs about half a pound.
  
• Your baby’s skin thickens and develops layers under the vernix during the 20th week of pregnancy.
• Baby’s hair and nails continue to grow.
• Your baby’s limbs are well-developed when you’re 20 weeks pregnant.
• Your baby is moving -- and you can feel it. Make a note of when you felt these movements start, and let your doctor know.

Good Prenatal Nutrition Is a Must

Why healthy eating and daily prenatal vitamins are so important.

Why worry about nutrition? Here are just some of the ways emerging science has found that prenatal nutrition affects your baby:

• Brain development
• Growth and body composition
• Metabolic programming
• Cognitive and educational performance
• Physical strength and immunity
• Reduced risk for diabetes, obesity, heart disease and high blood pressure