2nd trimester: Week 20

© The Anatomical Travelogue

Your Baby

Your baby weighs in between a half to one pound this week and is 10 inches long from crown to rump. A creamy, protective coating called vernix caseosa, which is secreted by her glands, coats her skin, protecting it from the amniotic fluid. She's practicing for her first breath outside the womb, moving her chest up and down as if she were breathing through the nose. Her genitals are fully formed.

Hot Topics:

• Fit for Delivery
• Gestational Diabetes and Childhood Obesity

Your Body

Congratulations--you're halfway there! At this stage, your oval-shaped uterus is nearly level with your belly button and grows a centimeter each week. If you're scheduled for a checkup, your doctor or midwife may no longer need to use a Doppler to hear your baby's heartbeat; the sound is loud enough that a regular stethoscope can easily do the job.

Your Pregnant Body:

• Changes in Foot Size
• Prenatal Yoga May Ease Tension

Do's and Don'ts

Do splurge on the occasional salon manicure when you feel the need for pampering. Pregnancy can cause your nails to grow faster, making it a hassle to keep up with constant retouching. Choose lighter, more natural hues that won't show chipping or opt for low-maintenance nails, shaping them with a file and polishing them with a buffer. 

Health

Lactose intolerant? Instead of foregoing milk altogether, try calcium- and vitamin D- enriched rice or soy milk. Cheese is also a good source of calcium, which your baby needs to form strong teeth and bones; it doesn't have as much lactose as regular milk and may be easier to digest. Yogurt is another good choice.

Health Watch:

• Pregnancy at 20, 30, 40
• Pregnancy Over 35
• Advice for Teen Moms

Mom to Mom

Embrace your burgeoning curves. "Pregnancy made me feel like a healthy country wife, strong and full of life. Your body is about more than youth and tautness. Pregnant, I was free to appreciate being round and able to create--and all that is very sexy."--Katie Ripple, mother of four, Madison, WI

The Celebrity Bump Watch

Which celebrity do you think had the best belly? Jennifer Garner? Ashlee Simpson? See how pregnant celebrities showed off their growing baby bumps!