Pregnancy at 20 Weeks

Yes! You are halfway through your pregnancy this week…and…

• You have gained about 10 pounds.
• You can feel the top of your uterus at the level of your belly button.
• Be careful to get enough nourishment which includes foods with iron.
• Iron helps your body keep up with your increased blood volume.
• Foods with iron…red meat, dark meat poultry, legumes, soy based foods, spinach, prune juice, raisins and iron fortified cereals.
• Time to start looking for childbirth classes-ask your friends or take recommendations from your practitioner.

What about your baby…he is growing, growing and …

Baby at 20 Weeks

• He is approximately the size of a banana.
• He is 10 1/2 ounces in weight.
• He is 6 1/2 from head to butt or 10 inches head to toe.
• He is swallowing and also producing meconium ( a black, gooey product of digestion).
• Meconium will be his first stool, some babies pass meconium in utero or during delivery.

“I found it so much easier to sleep on my side when I hugged a pillow and wrapped my legs around it. In fact, two years after the birth of my child, it’s still my favorite way to fall asleep.”
– Clara

Your pregnancy: 20 weeks | BabyCenter.

 

“Oh But For a Good Night’s Sleep”

You might start snoring for the first time which is due to more estrogen and the swelling of the mucous membranes in your nose.

• Remedy  suggestion for snoring: Sleep on your side and elevate your head slightly.

Heartburn and indigestion may become an annoyance and make it uncomfortable to lie down.

• Remedy: Avoid foods that bother you, eat two to three hours before going to bed and sleep slightly elevated with some extra pillows.

Leg cramps can literally be a pain which comes out of no where when you are sleeping.

• Remedy suggestion: get out of bed and stand up or walk around a bit.

Just plain uncomfortable in bed these days…no comfortable position?

• Remedy suggestion: Use some extra pillows between your legs or supporting your belly while sleeping on your side…you might even try a maternity contour pillow.

Feeling hot and sweaty during the night is not uncommon due to a shift in your metabolism, hormones and weight. Waking up soaking wet is one of my most vivid memories of pregnancy. My husband slept with a blanket and I slept with a fan blowing on me.

• Remedy for hot and sweaty nights: Your bedroom should be cool and wearing sleepwear that is natural and made with breathable fiber, cotton is great but synthetics are not.

My friend and well-known blogger, Jessica Shyba at Momma’s Gone City, writes about some great, comfy sleepwear and other great things from one of her mom favorites Belabumbum. Jessica has four kids and a lot of great posts about family and fashion among other topics. Right now, if you click over to Mommas Gone City you will get a savings code for Belabumbum until Mother’s Day!

Pregnancy is a very special time that I am happy to be sharing with my younger daughter. She will be writing a post here next week…