Tall women or women who have long torsos may have a smaller-looking bump, because they have more space for the baby to fill, lengthwise. Your baby is positioned in your uterus in a way that minimizes your bump. You have strong core muscles. Women with stronger cores tend to show later.
Strong abdominal muscles mean a growing uterus is going to stay closer to the core of the body, Kirkham explained, making a bump appear smaller. On the other hand, if core muscles have been stretched out from a previous pregnancy, a second or third pregnancy baby bump may look larger.
20 weeks pregnant belly
So from your pubic bone to the top of your bump, your belly should be measuring 20 cm (7.9 in) now. This is called the fundal height. At 20 weeks pregnant, your uterus is approximately the size of a cantaloupe or a melon.
Typically, your bump becomes noticeable during your second trimester. Between 16-20 weeks, your body will start showing your baby's growth. For some women, their bump may not be noticeable until the end of the second trimester and even into the third trimester.
The truth is, no-one can judge the size of your baby simply by looking at your belly – not even your doctor or midwife. As your body changes at each different stage of pregnancy, you can't compare yourself with other women. Remember, every pregnancy is unique.
Yes, it's most likely normal to have a small baby bump. You may feel like you don't look pregnant yet, even if you're already into your second trimester, but it's important to know that there isn't a specific time when moms-to-be are supposed to start showing. Every pregnant body is different.
(Between 28 and 40 weeks, your cutie will grow from the size of an eggplant to a small pumpkin!) “You're experiencing maximal distension of the uterus, skin, and abdominal muscles because the baby is taking up so much space,” Anderson says.
A few studies have estimated that one in 400 or 500 women are 20 weeks, or about 5 months, into their pregnancy before they realize they are pregnant. One in 2,500 women make it all the way to labor before they understand they're going to have a baby.
20 weeks pregnant bellies
The top of your uterus is about in line with your belly button now, making your belly rounder than ever. As your uterus continues to push against your abdomen, you might find that your belly button flattens or pops out, turning your "innie" into an "outie."
Your belly may appear smaller at 6 months if: it's your first pregnancy. you had a strong abdominal core pre-pregnancy. you're above average in height.
There's no set number of movements you should feel each day – every baby is different. You do not need to count the number of kicks or movements you feel each day. The important thing is to get to know your baby's usual movements from day to day.
As you near the end of your first trimester, and begin the second, weight gain is expected to increase. Some providers like to see women with a "healthy" BMI prior to pregnancy, gain 10 pounds by 20 weeks. During the second and third trimester, guidelines often suggest gaining 1/2 to 1 pound per week.
Although your baby appears fully formed, he still has plenty of maturing ahead of him. For past two weeks, your baby has begun to hear sounds in utero. He can now listen to the sounds of blood rushing around, the air moving in and out of your lungs—and perhaps the most dominant sound, your heart beating.
Babies are sometimes called small for gestational age (SGA) or small for dates (SFD). Most babies that are smaller than expected will be healthy. But up to 10% of pregnancies will be affected by FGR and will need close monitoring during pregnancy. In some cases, you may need to give birth earlier than expected.
Healthcare professionals recommend limiting or completely avoiding caffeine, alcohol, and undercooked meat and eggs during pregnancy. Also, a person's religious and ethical beliefs may shape what they eat during pregnancy. It is always a good idea to consult a doctor when planning a pregnancy diet.
Early on in pregnancy, you can sleep on your stomach. Eventually, that position can become uncomfortable. But it's OK to sleep on your stomach if it is comfortable.
A: It doesn't happen to everyone who's pregnant, but sometimes a growing fetus in the uterus puts so much pressure on your abdominal wall that your normally “innie” belly button becomes an “outie.” It typically happens in the second or third trimester of pregnancy, most commonly around 26 weeks.
If you feel your bump isn't getting any bigger and your baby's movements have slowed down, talk to your midwife and immediately get checked. These are the symptoms of a condition called intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR/FGR). It means the baby is not growing properly in the womb.
At around 20 weeks of pregnancy, the top of the uterus reaches the navel, and your fundal height would be about 7 to 8.5 inches (18 to 22 centimeters). Here's a fun fact about the fundal height measurement: Your fundal height in centimeters is roughly equal to the number of weeks you are pregnant!
Remember that your belly shape can change as your pregnancy progresses. From the first to the third trimester all bellies develop through different shapes and sizes. Some women report that as weight shifted and adjusted during their pregnancy the “B” shape became less obvious or even transformed into a “D” shape.
The general size and shape of your belly don't have much to do with your baby, their health, or their size. A healthy baby can grow regardless of how your belly looks. The way you carry has more to do with you than it has to do with your baby.
What does it mean if my fundal height is measuring small? Some reasons why the fetus could be measuring small or behind for gestational age are: You are petite or have strong abdominal muscles. You have oligohydramnios (not enough amniotic fluid).
There is no need to gain any weight at all and it is perfectly normal. In fact, some women may even lose a few pounds because of morning sickness that is usually okay, as long as weight gain in later part of pregnancy is appropriate. However, the same is not true when we talk about weight gain in second trimester.