Our Baby Journey20 weeks pregnant
20 weeks pregnant is about 4½ months. It falls in the fifth month of pregnancy. You are in week 20 of 40, in the second trimester. Here is what is happening with your baby and your body this week.
Your baby is about the size of a banana.
Length: about 25.6 cm (10.1 in) from crown to heel (about 16.4 cm or 6.5 in from crown to rump) · Weight: about 300 g (10.6 oz)
Your baby at 20 weeks
You are halfway there. The baby is swallowing more and is producing meconium, its first stool.
From this week, many charts measure babies from the top of the head to the heels instead of from crown to rump, because the legs are no longer curled up so tightly against the body. That's why your baby's length seems to jump compared with last week. The actual growth is steady and gradual.
Your baby is swallowing more amniotic fluid, which gives the digestive system practice. The waste builds up in the intestines as meconium, a dark, sticky substance that will usually be passed in the first diaper or two after birth.
Hair is growing on the head, and fingernails and toenails continue to grow. Your baby has developed periods of sleep and activity, and you may notice they are more active at certain times of day, often when you are lying down to rest.
Your body at 20 weeks
The top of your uterus is about level with your belly button.
You are now halfway through your pregnancy. With the top of your uterus around the level of your belly button, your provider may begin measuring your fundal height, the distance from your pubic bone to the top of your uterus, at your visits. As your uterus pushes up, your belly button may begin to flatten or pop out, and you may feel slightly short of breath. Some people notice their first Braxton Hicks contractions, a painless tightening of the belly that comes and goes.
Your belly at week 20
In month 5 (weeks 18–22) your bump is usually clearly visible. At about 20 weeks the top of the uterus reaches your belly button. From around 20 weeks, your fundal height (the distance in centimeters from your pubic bone to the top of the uterus) roughly matches the number of weeks you are pregnant, give or take about 2 cm.
Belly size and shape vary a lot depending on your build, whether this is your first pregnancy, your baby's position and the amount of amniotic fluid. At checkups your doctor or midwife may measure your fundal height to track your baby's growth, and may arrange an ultrasound if the measurement is quite different from what they expect.
Symptoms at 20 weeks pregnant
- Clearer baby movements
- Flattening or popping belly button
- Mild shortness of breath
- Occasional painless tightening of the belly
- Heartburn
- Swelling of the feet and ankles
Checkups around week 20
The anatomy scan is often done around this week, usually between about 18 and 22 weeks. At routine visits your provider may start measuring fundal height to check your baby's growth. Some people are offered a follow-up scan if the placenta is lying low or the baby's position prevented a full view. Practices vary by country and clinic.
Tips for week 20
- The mid-pregnancy anatomy scan checks the baby's growth and organs.
- Start thinking about childbirth classes.
- Stay hydrated and keep moving.
Common symptoms in the second trimester
The second trimester runs from week 14 to week 27. Nausea often eases, energy returns, your bump starts to show, and you will begin to feel your baby move. Not everyone has every symptom, and it is normal for symptoms to come and go. Common ones include:
- A growing bump and weight gain
- First baby movements, usually felt between weeks 16 and 25
- Round ligament pain (sharp pains low in the belly or groin)
- Heartburn and indigestion
- Back ache
- A blocked nose or nosebleeds
- Leg cramps
- Skin changes such as a dark line on the belly or darker patches on the face
Read the full second trimester guide.
When to call your doctor or midwife
Contact your healthcare provider or maternity unit straight away, or get emergency care, if you have:
- Vaginal bleeding
- Severe or persistent abdominal pain or cramping
- A severe headache, blurred vision, or sudden swelling of your face, hands or feet
- A fever of 38°C (100.4°F) or higher
- Fluid leaking from your vagina
- Severe vomiting where you cannot keep fluids down
- Your baby moving less than usual or a change in their pattern of movements (later in pregnancy)
- Regular contractions before 37 weeks
- Pain or burning when you urinate
- Feeling very low, anxious, or having thoughts of harming yourself
Have a question about week 20?
Ask our AI pregnancy assistant about symptoms, nutrition, scans or anything else on your mind this week.
Frequently asked questions
How big is my baby at 20 weeks pregnant?
At 20 weeks pregnant, your baby is about the size of a banana. That is about 25.6 cm (10.1 in) from crown to heel (about 16.4 cm or 6.5 in from crown to rump), weighing about 300 g (10.6 oz).
How big is my belly at week 20 of pregnancy?
In month 5 (weeks 18–22) your bump is usually clearly visible. At about 20 weeks the top of the uterus reaches your belly button. From around 20 weeks, your fundal height (the distance in centimeters from your pubic bone to the top of the uterus) roughly matches the number of weeks you are pregnant, give or take about 2 cm. Bump size, shape and when you start to show vary a lot from person to person.
What is fundal height?
Fundal height is the distance, in centimeters, from your pubic bone to the top of your uterus. From about 24 weeks, it often roughly matches the number of weeks you are pregnant, give or take a couple of centimeters. Your provider uses it as a simple way to check your baby's growth. If the measurement is larger or smaller than expected, they may suggest an ultrasound.
Should I start counting kicks at 20 weeks?
Not yet. Movements at this stage can still be irregular, and many people, especially in a first pregnancy, are only just starting to feel them. Most guidance suggests paying attention to your baby's pattern of movements from around 24 to 28 weeks onward. If you have been feeling regular movements and they slow down or stop, contact your doctor or midwife straight away.
Are Braxton Hicks contractions normal at 20 weeks?
Yes. Braxton Hicks contractions can begin in the second trimester. They feel like a painless tightening or hardening of the belly that comes and goes irregularly and often eases if you change position, rest, or drink water. Call your doctor or midwife if the tightening becomes painful, regular, or more frequent, or if you have bleeding, fluid leaking, or pressure in your pelvis.
What trimester is 20 weeks pregnant?
Week 20 is in the second trimester, which covers weeks 14 to 27.
How many months is 20 weeks pregnant?
20 weeks pregnant is about 4½ months. It falls in the fifth month of pregnancy. The fifth month covers weeks 18 to 22. Pregnancy is about 40 weeks, or roughly 9 months, counted from the first day of your last period.
This page is general educational information and is not a substitute for advice from your doctor or midwife. Every pregnancy is different, and baby sizes are approximate averages. Last updated 2026-11-07. See our medical disclaimer.