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…