20 weeks pregnant mother is quite apparent and reflects that the woman is in a pregnant state. The baby now weighs 9 ounces and is around 6 inches long. There are more layers of skin developing on the baby now. There are four layers of epidermis which are inclusive of the skin under the feet, on the palms and the finger print area. The baby’s head is now in proportion to the body and not as it used to be, big and seemingly too large for the body in the earlier pregnancy stages.

The rate of growth of the baby slows down because it has to allow the remaining systems to grow like the digestive system, the lungs, and the immune system. At pregnancy week 20 the pregnancy reaches its midway. The doctor will check the fundal height of the mother from this stage onwards and ask for an ultra sound scan to be done after the completion of pregnancy week 32.

The ultrasound scan is done to determine the rate of growth of the baby. In case the fundal height is not in tune with as it should be in 20 weeks of pregnancy then a growth restriction or IUGR which is an intrauterine growth restriction, can be inferred. Some of the factors for this problem can be anemia, infections, substance abuse, medical illnesses, antiphospholipid syndrome, diabetes mellitus or chronic hypertension. Diagnosing these problems as early as in pregnancy 20 week and starting treatment can help to solve the problem and prevent damage to the fetus. A healthy lifestyle during pregnancy can assure a healthy baby.

20 weeks pregnant mother may experience sever itching of the abdomen. A diagnosis should be made by the doctor to rule out the cause of the itching. It could be a simple harmless reason, but it is always better for the doctor to see what is causing it. After coming to the middle of the pregnancy, the mother should be feeling a lot more comfortable here after.