Day 141 of 280, second trimester
You are 20 weeks and 1 day
You're in the second half of your pregnancy, and you'll see your doctor more regularly in the months ahead.
139 days until your due date
Your prenatal appointments will become more frequent in the second half of pregnancy. Even if you're healthy and your baby was thoroughly checked at the 20-week scan, regular checkups can be reassuring.
How many appointments you have depends on whether you've had complications or have a high-risk pregnancy for another reason, such as diabetes. For a low-risk pregnancy, expect around 14 in total. As a general rule, you'll now be seen every 4 weeks until 30 weeks, every 2 weeks until 36 weeks, and then weekly. If you go past your due date, you'll see your doctor once or twice a week. You can always contact your doctor in between if you're worried.
If you're expecting twins, you'll have more appointments, depending on whether they're nonidentical or identical, and, if identical, whether they share any of their support system.
Explainer
Looking good at work
With the wide range of maternity clothes available, you can still look good at work. Look for items you can also wear after the birth.
Focus on
Your body: Dressing well
With your usual work clothes straining at the seams, you may need to rethink your work wardrobe. The good news is that there's now plenty of attractive, affordable maternity clothing, often in coordinated sets that are easy to mix and match.
You'll be wearing maternity clothes for a few months and may get bored of them, so if you can, set aside a little budget to buy one or two new items each month. If you're tired of your black stretch pants, sleeveless top, and smock dress, liven them up with a pretty new shirt or jacket, which you can wear unbuttoned if needed.
Accept hand-me-downs; even if they don't suit your office dress code, wearing them at home lets you spend more on work clothes. And don't forget your shoes: if you were a stiletto fan before, you'll need to rethink.
Appointments and key dates around now
- 20-week screening scanBetween 18 and 21 weeks
- Whooping cough vaccineUsually around 20 weeks, best before 32 weeks
Read the full 20 weeks pregnant guide
This is general information based on NHS guidance, not medical advice, and every pregnancy is different. Talk to your midwife or GP about anything that worries you. If your baby's movements slow down or change, or you have bleeding, severe pain or leaking fluid, call your maternity unit straight away. In an emergency, call 999.