Second trimester
Week 20 of Pregnancy
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About the size of a banana
10.1 in · 25.6 cm · 10.6 oz · 300 g (head to heel)
Your baby this week
- Halfway there! From this week, size is measured head to heel instead of head to rump.
- Taste buds are working — the baby tastes what you eat through the amniotic fluid.
- Meconium, the first sticky stool, is collecting in the bowels.
What you may be feeling
- Belly button beginning to flatten or pop
- Stronger, more definite kicks
- Lower back pain
Gentle tips for this week
- If your anatomy scan has not happened yet, it is usually booked between 18 and 22 weeks.
- Keep side-sleeping and use pillows for support.
Common question for week 20
Why do size measurements change at 20 weeks?
Before 20 weeks, babies are curled so tightly that length is measured crown to rump. Once the legs uncurl and can be measured, charts switch to head-to-heel length — which is why the jump from week 19 looks big.
Every pregnancy is different. Sizes are averages, symptoms vary widely, and none of this replaces the guidance of your own provider.