What may change in your body
Broken sleep, heartburn, pelvic pain, bleeding gums, cramps and constipation may appear. It's common to need to change how you sit, get up and sleep.
Care for this week
Use pillows or supports for comfort when sleeping.
If you have pelvic pain, don't treat intense suffering as normal: physical therapy and an assessment can help.
Keep up preventive dental visits.
Prenatal care focus
- The anatomy scan usually happens around this time, depending on the health service.
If you're expecting twins
Twin pregnancies may need more frequent ultrasounds from the second trimester on, especially when the babies share a placenta.
For those by your side
Help with physical tasks and make room for rest without treating it as 'pampering'.
Questions for this week
Is back pain normal?
It's common, but severe or disabling pain, or pain with fever, urinary symptoms or other signs, needs to be evaluated.
Can I sleep on my back?
As the pregnancy progresses, your team may recommend side positions for comfort and circulation; follow your individual advice.
When to seek care
- Vaginal bleeding during pregnancy should be reported to your care team; how heavy it is, pain and gestational age change how urgent it is.
- Severe, worsening or persistent abdominal pain deserves evaluation.
- Fever, fainting, significant shortness of breath, chest pain or feeling very unwell need medical care.
In an emergency, go to the urgent care service in your area. This content does not replace a professional assessment.
The next chapter
In week 20, you reach roughly the halfway point of the pregnancy and the anatomy scan takes center stage.
See week 20Was this helpful?
Sources and transparency
- Brazil's Ministry of Health — Brazilian Pregnancy Booklet, the official prenatal record (Caderneta Brasileira, updated in 2026)
- Brazil's Ministry of Health — Prenatal care (Ministério da Saúde — Pré-natal)
- Brazil's Ministry of Health — High-Risk Pregnancy Manual — Multiple pregnancy (Manual de Gestação de Alto Risco — Gestação múltipla)
- NHS — Week-by-week guide to pregnancy
- ACOG — How Your Fetus Grows During Pregnancy
- Brazil's Ministry of Health — Prenatal tests and vaccines (Ministério da Saúde — Exames e vacinas no pré-natal)
- ACOG — Bleeding During Pregnancy
Nilu editorial content, written from the official sources above. Individual clinical review of each week is in progress — this text is for information and does not replace your prenatal care.