Skip to main content

What to Expect: 20 Weeks

What to Expect: 20 Weeks

Look at you! You've made it half way through this journey! This is an exciting time because your belly has most likely popped out by now making you look visibly pregnant (i.e.: people can stop wondering if you're just a little pudgy). It also means that the risk of complications goes down as you've been able to sustain a healthy pregnancy for 5 months. The second trimester is filled with a series of tests so buckle up! The 20th week, specifically, has tons of tests that you need to be aware of and prepare for. I also want you to know the what and why of the tests/screenings.

At this point in your pregnancy, your medical provider will want to see your baby which is exciting for you, too! You get to see your baby, hear their heartbeat, and learn about their anatomy! Yes, this means find out whether you're expecting a little bit or a little girl. If you're wanting to keep the gender of your baby a secret, you will want to share this with your tech because they might just blurt it out. I would remind them a time or two if it's really important to you.

During this particular scan, you will be evaluating your child's face, body, brain, spinal development, heart, and their limbs. You will also get a report on your placenta's health, a check-in on your uterus, and a measure of your amniotic fluid. Your providers are looking for your baby to be growing and developing as expected based on an average. The test can take 30-45 minutes if baby cooperates, you're well hydrated, and baby is in a good position. If baby isn't in a great position, it may take a bit longer.

A few things to keep in mind for the anatomy scan:

- Try not to read your tech's face during the actual scan. They are trained to not show any emotion or reactions. It is your providers job to read and deliver sensitive information. 
- These 'expected growth charts' are based on an average. If you and your partner are not average humans, why on Earth would your baby be an average baby? Just think about it. To expect two very small individuals to have a baby the grows as expected is good, but is it realistic? I would expect that child to fall a bit below the expected growth average since both parents are small. Same with larger individuals. 
- The accuracy of ultrasounds are questionable. We can't really see inside of your belly so this means there is room for error. Keep this in mind. 
- Be sure that the birthing parent is well hydrated for the scan. You can get a better look with the ultrasound if you're well hydrated. 

Another thing your provider will offer is a series of screenings and diagnostic. A screening will tell you the likelihood (what are the chances?) of your baby having a specific condition. A diagnostic test will tell you a definitive yes or no. Generally, you start with a screening and if that brings back questionable results, you will move to a more invasive or more sensitive diagnostic test.

- Quad Screen (screening): This is a blood test that screens for neural tube defects, Down syndrome, and other genetic disorders.
- Genetic Carrier Screening (screening): This test for several genetic conditions that you may be a carrier for and potentially might pass down to your baby. Ask your doctor if these test would be appropriate for you.
Amniocentesis (diagnostic tool): This test takes amniotic fluid to test for genetic markers.
- Chorionic Villus Sampling (diagnostic tool): This is similar to the Amniocentesis, but tests tissue from your placenta.

These tools are not that accurate which is unfortunate because it's information that creates high anxiety in many people. It is 100% up to you whether or not you pursue these screenings and tests. You have the right to deny them altogether if you feel strongly.

My best suggestion for this decision is to consider how you feel now and how you might feel in the future. You should explore all your questions including if you deny it now can you change your mind? If you say yes and receive a result you weren't expecting, what will you do? What are you options for each possible outcome? You should inquire about costs and the actual procedure if it's more than a simple blood tests. Some of the procedures are quite invasive and may be enough to make you think twice. 




Looking for more support like THIS? Don’t forget to check out our newest adventure The Birth Lounge, listen in to The Birth Lounge Podcast, and follow us on Instagram at @tranquilitybyhehe! 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Vagina Whispering: Everyone's Doing It

Meet The Vagina Whisperer [This is also an episode of Friday Free Talk on The Tranquility Tribe Podcast on iTunes. Listen  here .] Hey Tranquility Tribe!  I’m so excited to bring you this episode of the Tranquility Tribe podcast!  Today, Hehe talked to Sara Reardon, also known as the Vagina Whisperer.  As you may be able to guess from her nickname, Sara is an expert in all things vagina, which means that this episode is full of super essential and often understated topics! Who is the Vagina Whisperer? Sara Reardon is a physical therapist who currently practices in New Orleans.   She specializes in men and women’s pelvic floor health, and she is passionate about speaking up when it comes to treatment and prevention of pelvic health issues.   By bringing humor to the often sensitive topic of staying healthy “down there,” Sara helps to unpack countless vagina-related topics that many women have experience with but few are comfortable talking about.   In addition t

Sexual Wellness with Rebecca Alvarez Part 1 of 2

Sexual Wellness Products with Rebecca Alvarez (Part 1 of 2 of our interview derived from The Birth Lounge Podcast Episode 130 ) You GUYS. I am SO excited to bring this interview to life here on the blog. Did you know that 98% of all feminine care products has at least 1 toxic ingredient? That's scary! Rebecca Alvarez earned her BA in Women’s Health & Sexuality from UC Berkeley and her MA in Sexuality Studies from San Francisco State and is the founder of The Bloomi. She is joining me to dive deep into what’s wrong with traditional sexual wellness products, how to spot harmful ingredients and false labeling, and what you need to know about long term effects of these issues in sexual wellness and women’s health! So Let's have Rebecca introduce herself! Rebecca : I consider myself a sexual wellness expert. I'm also an entrepreneur and my passion is bringing clean intimate care products to women and femmes. I'm sure we'll talk about why that's important and wha

Do Inductions Really Rise Around the Holidays?

Do Inductions Really Rise Around the Holidays? As long as I can remember in my doula career, I have been told, both seriously and sarcastically, that inductions rise around the holidays because doctors want to control the births they will have to deliver on..let’s say Thanksgiving day or Christmas Day.  I have to be honest in that I never really paid much attention to it because our team typically takes off the end of the year! It has been an intentional decision in years past to not take births in the months of December and January. This provided us with the time to disconnect, visit family and friends, and wrap up one year + dive into the next with a solid foundation. As you well know, 2020 has changed so much of what we knew and, for us, this meant not having the space to disconnect without leaving birthing people vulnerable in a global crisis and not traveling for this holidays. With this, we decided to work straight through 2020 into the start of 2021. And in this moment, the enti