Pregnancy week 20
8 Jan. 2026
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Pregnant in week 20? In this article, you can read all about your baby’s development, the changes in your body, and get useful tips for this stage.
The arms and legs are now in the correct proportions to each other compared to the rest of the body!
Nerves and the nervous system get more and more developed every week and the foetus can now make some conscious movements and not just reflexive ones. It is very individual how and when you will feel foetal movements, or realise that you have been feeling foetal movements for some time.
The vernix that the baby has over its body has an antibacterial effect that protects the immature skin. That’s one of the reasons why you don’t wash the baby in the first days after birth, but wait a couple of days: to let the vernix act as a protective salve on the baby! The vernixon their skin also helps them to recognise the scent of their mother.
In the coming weeks, your abdomen will start to grow at a faster rate and now it is possible to feel your uterus with your hand if you press gently below the navel.
A few weeks ago, the foetus started to gain weight at a rate of about 50 grams per week, and towards the end of the second trimester, the foetus will gain almost 100 grams per week!
This means that you and your stomach can start to grow at a faster rate now, which may also entail additional strain on your body and especially your back. Try to think about your posture during the day and to slouch as little as possible – this will reduce any pain. Change positions regularly and try to stretch your body a little bit every day.
During pregnancy, the gluteal muscles become less active, which affects your posture and can cause back and pelvic pain. That is why it is good to give a little extra love to the back of your body if you feel up to exercising. We have short strength exercises that you can do for the back of your body at home without any equipment!
If you ran or did strength training before, it may be good to adapt your exercise now, for example by switching to running at slower intervals or reducing your weights. Adapting your exercise and adding mobility exercises or exercises for your posture is great both mentally and physically.
Pay attention to a feeling of heaviness in your abdomen or urine leakage when you move, as a feeling of heaviness or a leakage signals that you need to take a little bit more care of your pelvic floor. In any case, make changes to your exercise habits and adjust so that all exercise feels good for your body. The most important thing when it comes to exercise during pregnancy is to listen to your body – that is why you are exercising during pregnancy – so that your body feels good and has the strength to get through this major strain and of course labour.
Your partner’s belly is growing and her body is getting bigger. You can very likely see stretch marks on her skin or other changes to the skin as the baby grows and the body changes. This is completely normal because of the major changes her body is going through.
If you want to do something nice together, we suggest that you offer to massage your partner with an emollient cream or oil. You cannot reduce stretch marks but it can be incredibly nice for the pregnant woman to get a massage.
If you want, offer to massage parts of your partner’s body that are particularly sensitive at the moment, such as their back or feet. Massages also help you get in touch with your feelings, so why not take a moment and talk about what’s on your mind just now?
