you're 20 weeks pregnant.
last revised · baby is about 16.4 cm (6.5") · 300 g (10.6 oz)
At 20 weeks pregnant, your baby is about 16.4 cm and 300 g — Halfway there.
about the size of a…
Halfway there. Many people are offered an anatomy ultrasound this week to check on your baby's growth and organs.
this week's highlights
- Halfway point
- Anatomy scan week
- Hair growth picks up
- Movements feel stronger
how your baby looks
Looks like a tiny baby. Head still slightly larger than typical, but proportions are filling in, and fingernails and toenails are visible.
body in focus
- head
- Hair on head and eyelashes are growing.
- body
- Halfway-point milestone reached.
- hands
- Fingernails are fully formed.
- feet
- Kicks are strong and rhythmic.
what's happening in your body
Your uterus is at the level of your belly button. Distinct kicks are usually felt by now. Some experience hip pain or sciatica from pressure.
symptoms at 20 weeks
- Regular, unmistakable kicks
- By the halfway mark, most people feel definite daily movement, often strongest in the evening when you finally lie still. Patterns are still forming — formal daily tracking begins around 24 to 28 weeks.
- Shortness of breath on exertion
- Progesterone changes your breathing drive and the uterus is starting to crowd upward, so stairs may leave you puffing sooner. Mild breathlessness with activity is normal; breathlessness at rest or with chest pain needs urgent review.
- Feet growing or widening
- The hormone relaxin loosens foot ligaments and fluid adds volume — many people go up half a shoe size, sometimes permanently. Comfortable, supportive shoes stop being optional around now.
- Belly button changes
- As the uterus reaches navel height, an innie may flatten or begin to pop outward. It is harmless and typically reverts after birth.
- Increased appetite and heartburn together
- Hunger is up but stomach space is shrinking, a combination that fuels reflux. Little and often remains the winning strategy for the rest of pregnancy.
- Pelvic girdle pain
- Pain around the pubic bone, groin or one hip when walking or climbing stairs affects a significant minority from mid-pregnancy. It is treatable — ask your midwife for a referral to physiotherapy early rather than pushing through.
gentle tips
- Plan time off around the anatomy scan — savor seeing your baby.
- Sleep on the left side with a pregnancy pillow if helpful.
- Eat magnesium-rich foods (nuts, seeds, dark chocolate) for muscle calm.
- Discuss any sciatica or pelvic pain with your provider.
- Start a small daily walk routine if you haven't.
your week 20 checklist
- Complete the anomaly scan and ask about placenta position and growth measurements
- Celebrate the halfway point — photograph the bump and write the baby a short note if that appeals
- Order the big-ticket items now: pram, car seat, cot — delivery times can run to weeks
- Book your whooping cough (pertussis) vaccination, offered from 16 to 32 weeks
- Start planning maternity leave handover notes at work while energy is good
what to expect next
From here on, the baby will mostly focus on growing larger and maturing the brain, lungs, and senses.
common questions at week 20
How big is the baby at 20 weeks?
At 20 weeks, the baby measures about 16.4 cm and weighs approximately 300 g (16.4 cm (6.5") · 300 g (10.6 oz)).
What is developing at 20 weeks?
Looks like a tiny baby. Hair on head and eyelashes are growing. Key milestones this week include: Halfway point; Anatomy scan week; Hair growth picks up; Movements feel stronger.
What symptoms are common at 20 weeks pregnant?
Your uterus is at the level of your belly button. Distinct kicks are usually felt by now. Some experience hip pain or sciatica from pressure.
What should I do at 20 weeks pregnant?
From here on, the baby will mostly focus on growing larger and maturing the brain, lungs, and senses. Plan time off around the anatomy scan — savor seeing your baby. Sleep on the left side with a pregnancy pillow if helpful. Eat magnesium-rich foods (nuts, seeds, dark chocolate) for muscle calm.
Is 20 weeks really the halfway point of pregnancy?
Yes, by convention — a full-term pregnancy is counted as 40 weeks from your last period, making week 20 the midpoint. In practice, only about four percent of babies arrive on their due date, and anywhere from 37 to 42 weeks is considered term. So you are halfway through the count, give or take the few weeks of natural variation at the end.
What should my baby's movements feel like at 20 weeks?
By now most people feel definite kicks, pokes, rolls and flutters every day, typically strongest when you are lying quietly in the evening. There is no set number of kicks to count at this stage — what matters later is learning your baby's own pattern, which becomes established between 24 and 28 weeks. From then on, any noticeable reduction in movements means calling your midwife straight away, at any hour.
Can the anomaly scan tell if my baby is healthy?
It is a thorough check of the structures that can be seen — brain, heart, spine, kidneys, limbs — and it detects many significant conditions, but no scan can rule out every problem. Detection rates vary by condition: some are found in nearly all cases, others in only around half. A normal scan is genuinely reassuring; your team will explain clearly if anything needs a closer look.
helpful tools
- Belly Timeline
Document your bump week by week with photos.
- Kick Counter
Track fetal movement — kicks usually begin around week 18–22.
- Milestones
Week-by-week milestones tied to your due date.
Medically aligned with guidance from WHO, NHS and ACOG. How we write.