Week 20

At around 6.5 inches in height, when measured from head to bottom, by now your baby is the size of a banana. This measurement is made from crown to rump as the baby’s legs are all curled up during the first twenty weeks. It is only after this week that the baby can be measured from head to toe. By the 20th week of pregnancy, your baby is swallowing so much more, which in turn is helping him or her to build a healthy digestive system. By now, your baby is also secreting meconium, which is a black, sticky-by-product meant for digestion. This gooey substance is accumulating in his or her bowels, which will be released in the first soiled diaper.This is nothing but a harmless mixture, which is released in the amniotic fluid. It is meant to produce digestive secretion and dead skin cells that will from your baby’s first bowel movement. However, having said that please note that some babies tend to pass meconium in the womb itself or during the course of delivery. By now, your baby will be having fun kicking and twisting in somersaults, which is in all probability going to take you by surprise. Even though your tiny bundle of joy is growing bigger and stronger by now, there are some key developmental processes happening in this stage. The nerves in the brain that will be controlling the senses are now developing, soon that will enable them to develop their sense of touch, hear, taste and touch. Another peculiar thing in the 20th week of pregnancy is how your baby will be developing layers under the vernix. This layer is developing on his or her skin in order to prevent the amniotic fluid from pickling. This cheesy, varnish coating is a protective substance that now covers your fetus’ skin. If visually seen, it appears white, greasy and is made up of lanugo (that downy hair), dead skin cells and oil from your baby’s glands. His or her nails and development of limbs also continues to happen.