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20 Weeks Pregnant
 The Baby Your baby is now half of his birth length, 10 inches (25 centimeters) that is. He is nowhere near halfway when it comes to his weight, though: he just weighs 11 ounces (320 grams) compared to the average full term birth weight of 7 1/2 pounds His growth will speed up from this point on, especially if you take it easy.It's normal that you don't feel movement every day. Sometimes you feel him a few times a day and sometimes you feel nothing for several days. You can also feel him in different places in your abdomen. He still has enough room to swim to all of the different sides. And, your baby has to sleep, also... He often stays quiet when you're busy and when you come home tired from work and plop down on the couch at night, your little one wakes up.Healthy, normal, everyday stress can't hurt the baby. However, some studies have shown than chronic and serious stress may lead to lower than average birthweight. When the mother is experiencing long term stress - whether from conflicts at work or home, job loss, death in the family, etc, the mother is constantly flooded with the stress hormone cortisol. It appears that the placenta can't metabolize this abundant cortisol and the result is slightly reduced birth weight for the fetus. If you are facing serious stress, seek out ways to reduce it. If you can find counseling, share the work load, cut back your expenses, or exercise more, it may help to reduce your stress. Your health care provider may be able to help you by writing you actual orders to reduce the activity that causes you stress, (if that is applicable).
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If you can, try to live in a more relaxed manner. Don't worry about what people say, your child comes first. |
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Talk a lot about your feelings with your partner. Take time to do it while it is still just the two of you. Consider that it is relatively quiet now; once the baby is born it's going to be really busy. Keep seeing the humor in things, being pregnant is only temporary. |
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 MotherIn the period between the 14th and 26th week, you'll have more
energy to do all kinds of things. The increased amount of energy is supported by good and healthy eating, more emotional stability, letting things go and sufficient (night) rest. Because everything is working out well and you feel fitter, you are also happy about the life that grows within you. Newspapers and magazines may seem less interesting, your belly and what is taking place in there is much more important. There are also pregnant women, however, who from time to time still get a bit sick and more emotional than usual, who cry about almost everything on television and who find pregnancy a very difficult phase in their lives. What will the future bring? Can I handle the birth? But on the other hand, they are just as curious about the lovely creature that is growing and they are already daydreaming about cuddling their child.If you're pregnant, you live differently than normal anyway and that includes not only healthy food and drink but living healthily especially. This means: going outside a lot to take in fresh air, good exercise and resting well afterwards.  The fluctuating movement in your belly when you walk or ride your bike is a good feeling for your little one. Moreover, exercise will help your lazy bowels get moving. Swimming, vigorous walking, and biking (if you still feel well-balanced) all help improve the blood circulation in your legs, which helps to reduce weakening of the vessel walls. Discomfort such as a headache and that cloudy-headed feeling disappear as soon as you get on the bicycle and surround yourself with nature.Many pregnant women have a problem with constipation as their gut normally slows down. As soon as you have it, you realize how nice it was when you could still go to the bathroom normally. Now you have to really put in an effort sometimes to get rid of a few hard poops. Pushing and straining hurts and may cause hemmorrhoids. Blood loss, tingling and pain will follow.Hemmorrhoids are a problem experienced by many pregnant women. These are varicose veins-blood vessels that have become unusually swollen - and that are unfortunately located in your rectum. They are usually as small as a raisin up to the size of a grape. They can be itchy or painful and sometimes bleed. If the enlarged veins stick out of your bottom, you'll feel a soft, swollen mass. Lovely! (The pushing stage of birth can also cause these unwanted visitors. Fortunately, they go away on their own, and are easy to treat). Later on in the pregnancy the baby's head and your heavy uterus exert even more pressure on the large veins of your legs and pelvis, so it's advisable to prevent constipation and treat your hemmorrhoids at an early stage.
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Helps with constipation and hemmorrhoids:
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Drink plenty of water per day - don't let yourself get thirsty; |
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Include high-fiber foods in your diet every day, including raw veggies, fruit, whole-grain cereal and bread; |
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Drink a glass of water with 1 or 2 teaspoons of honey in the evening; |
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Try eating dried fruits - many women find that a few apricots or prunes eaten at a regular time each morning or evening not only adds vitamins to their diet but also improves their pooping; |
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Go to the bathroom as soon as you feel the urge to go, take your time and don't push too hard. Use special soft toilet wipes if need be. |
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Flaxseed, which can be found as a supplement, an oil, or in food, can also help a lot with constipation. |
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As always, talk to your health care provider if you have questions or concerns. She may recommend a cream for your poor sore bottom to help it feel better. |
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