My 20 Week Pregnant Belly: Bump Update (With Pictures)

My 20 Weeks Pregnant Belly Picture

20-week-bump-update

Starting Weight: 123lbs

Current Weight: 128lbs

Total Weight Gain: 5lbs

Now let’s go over how my week went and what to expect…



Energy Level: My energy level was great this week! I had my anatomy scan and it was Thanksgiving week!

Symptoms: No new symptoms this week.

Other Physical Changes: My baby bump is definitely growing, although it still isn’t super obvious through my scrubs.

I am continuing to use my skincare products by Tracie Martyn on my belly to try and prevent stretch marks. (Be sure to speak with your doctor if creams are okay for you to use).

The Tracie Martyn products aren’t cheap – but they are one of the cleanest, all-natural products I have found and you will notice the quality immediately.

Diet: My diet continues to consist of well-balanced nutrients including whole grains, vegetables, fruits, legumes, protein smoothies, and lots of water. For Thanksgiving, we had a lot of different plant-based foods that were amazing :).

Diet Modifications: No modifications as of yet.

Food Aversions: No food aversions.

Food Cravings: No real food cravings this week.

Workouts: This week I continued to focus on strength and abdominal training. This is actually the first time in my pregnancy where I have been able to consistently lift 3-4x per week and I am really proud of myself. Here are some safe ways to strengthen your abdominal muscles in pregnancy.

You can see examples of my entire pregnancy workout in my Prenatal Fitness Prescription.

Modifications to my workout:  I continue to listen to my body and take things one day at a time. I am taking the appropriate time to rest in between sets and avoiding anything that causes discomfort. I started strength training again with the empty barbell since I wasn’t able to lift consistently in the first trimester (due to nausea and low energy). I am also incorporating kegel exercises every day on my commute to and from work to train my pelvic floor muscles.

Here is a video of me performing goblet squats at 20 weeks

*Be sure to speak with your healthcare provider to learn if exercise is safe for you.*

Other Related Questions

How much should you be showing at 20 weeks?

By 20 weeks of pregnancy, most women will have a noticeable bump.

However, every woman’s bump is unique and will show differently at this gestational age.

How quickly you show will depend on several factors such as:

  • your BMI prior to pregnancy,
  • your current weight gain in pregnancy,
  • singleton vs multifetal gestation (i.e., if you are carrying twins or more)
  • your gravidy (the number of times you have been pregnant),
  • and your genetics.

Here is a photo of me at 20 weeks.

brittany holding up sign at 20 weeks pregnant from side

How big is your baby at 20 weeks pregnant?

At 20 weeks pregnant, your baby is about 6.5 inches long and approximately 10 ounces in weight.

This is about the size of a banana.

Remember this is just an estimate, your baby could be measuring more or less than 10 ounces at this time.

Is the baby fully developed at 20 weeks?

All of your baby’s organs and extremities are formed at 20 weeks.

This is why the anatomy ultrasound scan is performed at this time. It is the perfect time to visualize and ensure that all of the organs are growing and developing properly.

Interestingly, this week your baby’s:

  • taste buds are developed
  • he or she may start to experience dreams, and
  • if you are having a boy, his testes are descending from his abdomen

The baby’s skin is also covered in vernix- a creamy substance that covers the baby in utero.

Where is my baby at 20 weeks in my stomach?

Your baby is still located below your belly button at 20 weeks.

Don’t forget, the top of the uterus (aka the fundus) is at the level of your belly button at 20 weeks.

From this point forward your doctor may begin to measure your “fundal height” at each prenatal visit to ensure your baby is growing properly.

Your fundal height is the distance between your pubic bone (symphysis) and the top of your uterus. This number should equal the number of weeks pregnant you are.

For example, at 30 weeks pregnant, your fundal height should be ~30 cm or ~10 cm above your umbilicus.

What is the position of the baby in 20 weeks?

Your baby is constantly moving around and so it is difficult to know the exact position of your baby at this time. He or she may be head down (vertex) or feet down (breech).

Can you feel your baby through your stomach at 20 weeks?

Unfortunately, you will not be able to feel your baby through your stomach at 20 weeks as he or she is still quite small.

You can however feel your uterus and possibly your fetal movement in your lower abdomen.

How do baby kicks feel at 20 weeks?

Your baby kicks can feel like little movements/bubbles/butterflies on the lower part of your abdomen or full-blown kicks.

They will be variable throughout the day and you will get to know and understand when your baby is most active.

The location of your placenta also plays a role.

Pregnant women with a fundal or posterior placenta may feel the kicks more strongly than a woman with an anterior placenta.

What are signs of having a boy or a girl at 20 weeks?

Unfortunately, there are no proven signs or symptoms at 20 weeks that will indicate if you are having a boy or girl.

With that said, your anatomy scan will be able to see your baby’s genitals to determine the sex of the baby.

How much does a 20 week fetus sleep?

At 20 weeks your baby is now able to have REM sleep and will start to have dreams.

REM sleep is short for “rapid eye movements.”

This sleep is known as a deep sleep where you experience bodily movements, an increase in your heart and respiratory rate, and dreaming.

Isn’t it fascinating that your baby is already experiencing this?

With that said it is hard to know exactly how many hours your baby is actually sleeping.

Just because you don’t feel movements doesn’t mean your baby is sleeping.

20 weeks pregnant in months

At 20 weeks pregnant you are 5 months!

Congratulations, you have officially made it to the halfway mark!

What should I be feeling at 20 weeks pregnant? (Common symptoms)

At 20 weeks pregnant you may or may not be feeling the following pregnancy symptoms:

This is a good time to really pay attention to what you are eating. It is usually towards the end of the second trimester and third trimester where women will gain a lot of extra weight!

The 20 weeks pregnant ultrasound

At ~20 weeks you will have your anatomy ultrasound.

This is a detailed ultrasound that is performed at around 18-22 weeks and can last 30 to 60 minutes depending on how your baby cooperates.

You will be able to see the entire anatomy and all major organs!

This includes:

  • The important areas of the brain
  • The 4 chambers of the heart
  • The major blood vessels
  • Kidneys
  • Genitalia
  • Limbs, feet and fingers
  • Umbilical cord
  • Placenta,
  • Amniotic fluid, and
  • Nose, lips, and face!

Sometimes you may even see your baby sucking his or her thumb and practicing their sucking reflex!

Final Words on The 20th week of pregnancy

20 weeks marks the halfway point of your pregnancy!

Can you believe how fast time is going? The third trimester will be here soon.

Now I want to hear from you.

Did you have your anatomy scan performed? How did your week go?

Comment below and tell me the favorite part of your ultrasound.

And don’t forget to check back in next week for my 21 week pregnancy update!

My Other Weekly Updates!


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brittany-robles

Brittany Robles, MD, MPH, CPT

Brittany Robles is a full-time OBGYN physician, a NASM certified trainer, and a prenatal and postnatal fitness specialist. She holds a Master of Public Health degree in maternal health with a special interest in exercise and nutrition. She is also the co-author of The White Coat Trainer. Learn more about her here.



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