20 Weeks Pregnant: What To Expect

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EP 90:

HALFWAY THERE, MAMA! 🎉

This week on the show, we’re talking all about what to expect at 20 weeks pregnant. Whether this is your first baby or you’re adding to your crew, week 20 comes with big changes — physically, emotionally, and yep… even with that growing belly!

Inside this episode:

• What’s going on with your baby at 20 weeks
• Weird but normal symptoms this week
• The #1 thing I tell all my moms to start NOW to prep for breastfeeding
• How to feel calm, ready, and confident for birth & baby

✨ P.S.  Don’t leave your birth to chance!  Get fully prepared with the Bump to Bundle Blueprint!  Join the waitlist now so you’re ready to walk into labor confident, informed, and in control.
Sign up here  https://www.birthprepacademy.com/waitlist  
 

#20 weeks pregnant

#week 20 pregnancy symptoms

#how big is baby at 20 weeks

#preparing for breastfeeding while pregnant

#pregnancy week-by-week guide

#pregnancy tips first time mom

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Boom.
You are officially 20 weekspregnant, halfway there.
But let's be real.
Did pregnancy just get weird foryou?
Maybe your belly poppedovernight or you just realize
you can't roll over in bedwithout grunting like a
90-year-old grandma.
And what's up with those randombaby kicks?

(00:21):
That feel like gas bubbles?
Huh?
Well buckle up, mama, becausethis week is a big deal.
Your baby is doing things youwon't believe, like drinking
their own pee.
Mm-hmm.
We are going there and your bodyis changing in wild ways too.

(00:43):
So stick around because I'm alsospill the number one thing most
moms forget to do at 20 weeksthat can make breastfeeding.
So much easier after birth.
So you know what I'm gonna say.
Grab your snack, your blankie,your favorite drink,
non-alcoholic.
Of course.
Meet me on the couch, pronto.

(01:06):
Let's get this going.
All right.
Your baby is now the size of asweet potato and just like a
sweet potato, they're startingto fill out a little more,
getting longer and strongerevery day.
But here's where it gets evencooler.
Here's what's happening insideyour belly.

(01:26):
They're swallowing amnioticfluid, AKA, we call it baby
soup, full of nutrients.
I know it's a lot, but wait forit.
They also pee it out and drinkit again.
A little gross, but hey, it'spractice for digestion Also,
they can hear you well.
Now, we've talked about this inprevious weeks, including last

(01:50):
week, but I want to reiterate itbecause it's important.
So if you've been ranting aboutyour cravings to your partner,
your baby may be listening like,alright mom, chill on the
pickles because they can hearyou.
Also, your baby actually hashair now.
Some babies even have a fullmane already.

(02:14):
So can we say hello to thatheartburn?
All right.
Another thing is that they arestarting to move like crazy, but
here's the catch.
If this is your first baby,those early kicks might just
feel like tiny popcorn pops or agoldfish swimming or just gas,

(02:36):
but a little fancier.
So here's a question I have foryou.
Have you felt your baby moveyet?
Comment below.
I wanna know what did it feellike for you?
All right, let's talk about you.
We've talked about the baby.
Now it's your turn.
Your body is doing the mostright now.
Let's start with that roundligament pain.

(02:59):
You may be wondering why does itfeel like your belly is
stretching apart?
Well, you may have been gettingsharp sudden and pains on the
side of your belly, and I'mgonna say.
Congratulations, your uterus isexpanding like a balloon.
That means your baby is growingwell and your body is starting
to accommodate that growth.

(03:20):
So here's some things that canhelp this week.
I want you to move slowlywhenever you're changing
positions instead of abruptmovements, which can really
cause some sharp pain.
S also, you might considerwearing belly bands.
They are real game changers,especially at this point of your

(03:41):
pregnancy and moving forward.
And the last thing I wannarecommend in regards to that
round ligament pain isstretching and warm baths.
I talked about doing somepregnancy stretches last week.
Did you do your homework?
Have you been stretching?
If so, I want you to continuethose this week as well as some

(04:04):
warm baths.
You deserve it and it willdefinitely help with that
abdominal stretching.
All right.
Let's talk about the baby kicks.
You thought your baby kicks willbe cute little thumps, but
instead it may feel like a fishflopping around inside of you, a

(04:24):
cell phone vibrating in yourstomach, or maybe some gas.
Well do not stress my friend.
Those tiny flutters will turninto big ninja kick soon, so
just brace yourself.
All right.
Now I want to pivot a bit andtalk about some dizziness and

(04:45):
lightheadedness because you maystart to feel a little faint at
times and I wanna explain what'sgoing on here.
And here's the deal.
Your blood volume has increasedby 50%.
Your heart is working overtime.
You know, I've mentioned this inprevious.
Videos.
So something that I want you toconsider is, well, what can we

(05:10):
do about that dizziness?
First of all, I talked aboutmoving slowly in regards to
those round ligament pains, butthose slow movements is also
gonna help you as you aregetting up, moving from, being
seated to standing.
That will help your body toadjust if you do it slowly and
it will allow you to get yourbearing.

(05:32):
The second thing I want you totry this week is to keep light
snacks handy and to snack often.
You know, it really helps whenyou can stabilize your blood
sugar and not have these spikesof going too long in between
eating and so it dips low andthen spikes up.
And so having a steady bloodsugar is important.

(05:55):
And the way we can do that, atleast by um.
Our diet is having healthysnacks at the ready.
So keep that in mind.
And the last thing, y'all, Ihave said it so much.
You probably feel like I'm abroken record, but I have to
because it's absolutelyimportant.
Do you know what I'm gonna say?

(06:16):
Yes, my friend, hydrate,hydrate.
Like it is your job because itis at least for the next 20
weeks or so, In fact, here is afun fact for you.
Did you know that dehydrationcan make Braxton Hicks
contractions start early?
Yeah, so I've said it before.

(06:38):
I'm gonna say it again.
Drink up my friend.
All right, so 20 weeks isn'tjust about growing your baby,
it's also about getting ready,and here's your checklist for
this week.
First up, I want you to scheduleyour 20 week anatomy scan if
you've not already had it, sothat you have it in the next.

(06:59):
Upcoming days or the next fewweeks.
This is the big ultrasound.
It's where they can check yourbaby's heart and brain, spine
and the organs.
And also if you wanna know thegender, this is your moment.
All right, step two of thatchecklist.
I want you to start thinkingabout birth and breastfeeding.

(07:22):
Now, wait.
Don't roll your eyes with, ohno.
Here she goes again.
Listen, now is the best time tostart prepping.
You wouldn't run a marathonwithout training first.
Right?
Well, birth and breastfeedingwork the same way, so start
doing what you can to startpreparing now.

(07:43):
All right.
The third thing I want you to dois to get a pregnancy pillow.
Y'all trust me, it is worth theinvestment.
You'll thank me later.
Sleeping on your side is now thesafest option.
And a pregnancy pillow makes ita thousand times more
comfortable, so it's definitelyworth the investment.

(08:05):
Alright.
I've already mentioned hydrationbefore, Water is.
Super important when we talkabout keeping your amniotic
fluid healthy, and we've alreadytalked about what your baby does
with it.
So keeping it healthy isimperative, and the way to do
that is to drink water.
It also prevents headaches andeven constipation.

(08:27):
So water is going to be yourbest friend now and in the
coming weeks.
Okay, so now let's have somereal talk.
Moms usually wait until afterbirth to figure out how to
breastfeed.
You know, I talked about thisbefore and I'm gonna keep
pounding it in on you because Iwant you to be ready.

(08:49):
I want you to have an empoweredand confident birth, and part of
that is doing the prep workupfront.
Instead of waiting until afterbirth to hop into breastfeeding
and all of the things, right,that's when you will likely be
exhausted, right from notsleeping well with a new baby on

(09:11):
a newborn schedule as we like tosay.
Um, you may be in pain dependingon the type of birth that you
have and above everything else.
Moms are often overwhelmed rightafter the baby is born.
There's so much going on.
It's definitely not the besttime to start learning.

(09:31):
I'm just being real.
So here is what most peopledon't tell you.
They don't tell you thatbreastfeeding is a skill.
It's not an instinct.
So the more you practice it, thebetter you'll be.
Most newborns need help latchingcorrectly'cause they need
training too.
Also, learning now means thatyou can start strong instead of

(09:52):
struggling later.
That's why I created Teach MeHow to Breastfeed Inside, you're
gonna learn how to get a deepand pain-free latch.
How to boost your milk supplyfrom day one, and how to avoid
common breastfeeding mistakes.
So if you haven't already,please check the link below.

(10:14):
I wanna help you get started.
All right.
You are halfway there, mama.
Baby is growing, your body isworking hard, and you're doing
an amazing job.
Let me say that again.
We're gonna save some spaceright here for you'cause you're
the real MVP.
You're doing an amazing job.

(10:34):
If this video has helped you,please like it so that other new
moms can find it as well.
Be sure to hit the subscribebutton because next step is 21
weeks pregnant.
What's changing and what youneed to know, so don't miss it.
And don't forget, check the linkbelow for a bunch of resources

(10:56):
to help you start preparing foryour birth and breastfeeding
journey today.
All right, I'll see you in thenext video.