With odd dreams, thicker hair and occasional back pain, week 20 has a few interesting pregnancy symptoms to surprise me with. This is also the magical halfway point: the first half of my pregnancy has whizzed past in a flurry of new experiences and emotions, and I’m that little bit closer to welcoming my new baby into the world.
My body has done a truly amazing job so far, but there are still lots of wonderful work to be done:
Here’s what to expect in week 20:
My increased circulation has given my hair and nail cells a boost. Hello, good hair days! The downside is that my nails become a bit brittle and dry, so I’m using hand cream to pamper my fingers. Also, it's not just the hair on my head that's growing thicker and faster! Another weird pregnancy symptom at week 20 is vivid dreams. Nervousness, insomnia and hormones can combine to give me some interesting or scary dreams, but rest assured that this is a regular occurrence for so many expectant mums.
My baby is getting bigger and stronger in my pregnancy week by week, and now they're about the same size as a banana (but thankfully not the same shape). They still have plenty of room for gymnastics inside my womb, and some of their more energetic moves might take me by surprise! Their nerves are developing all the time, and so are their senses. Some of the amniotic fluid they're swallowing is heading to their bowels in preparation for their first ever poo!
If you didn't have your anomaly scan last week, it'll be scheduled in for this week or next. This is just to check that the baby's developing as expected, and you might even get to find out if they're a boy or a girl!
