5 Months Pregnant: Symptoms, Baby Development And Diet Tips

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If you are 5 months (week 20 to 24) pregnant, you are in the second trimester of your pregnancy. Yourbaby’s growth spurts begin,and the pregnancy tummy becomes noticeable, signaling that it’s time for a wardrobe refresh.Morning sickness is no longer a factor because the hunger impulses have taken control during this month.

Read this post to know more about how your 5th-month pregnancy alters your body, how your baby develops, and what measures you should take in the fifth month of pregnancy.

What Symptoms Do You Experience In The Fifth Month Of Pregnancy?

Some common 5th-month pregnancy symptoms you may experience include nausea, heartburn, constipation, and breast changes.The causes for these symptoms to appear have been explained with several other symptoms like (1,2):

• Weight gain:It must be as per the BMI(3).

Pregnancy month	BMI	BMI 25-30	BMI > 30
5th	2-4kg	1-2kg to 2kg	0-2kg to 1-2kg

• Gravity changes:The center of gravity of your body changes with the growing baby bump, which canmake you feel imbalanced at times.
• Shortness of Breath:Thegrowing uterus puts pressure on the diaphragm, making breathing difficult.
• Headaches:Hormonal fluctuations cause headaches.
• Fatigue:As the body works more to fulfill the growing demands of the fetus, you start to feel tired.
• Dizziness:Thehormonal fluctuationsin the body make you dizzy.
• Leg cramps:Vitamin deficiency, extra weight or being too active or inactive at this time could result in leg cramps (3).
• Nasal congestion:Theincreased estrogen level causes the nasal membranes to expand, thereby increasing the mucus flow and causing congestion.

• Constipation:An increase in theprogesteroneⁱXA female reproductive hormone that plays an important role in menstruation, pregnancy, and breastfeeding.level causes slow movement of the food through the intestine, leading to indigestion and constipation.
• 心burn:The growing uterus pushes up the gastric acids in the stomach to the esophagus, causing heartburn.
• 背部疼痛:The 5th-month pregnancy baby weight puts extra pressure on the lower back or the sciatic nerve (that runs from the spine to legs) causes back pain.
• Increase in appetite:As the morning sickness wanes by this month, your cravings increase.
• Frequent urination:Thegrowing uterus puts pressure on the bladder, resulting in frequent visits to the bathroom.
• Insomnia:Insomnia is a common occurrence throughout pregnancy. TheAmerican Pregnancy Association (APA)states that about 78% of women experience insomnia during pregnancy. The back pain, frequent urination, leg cramps deprive you of a sound sleep.
• Edema:The water retention in the body makes yourfeet, hand, and face swell.
• Bleeding gums:Hormonal changes and an increase in the blood flow can cause bleeding gums.

Apart from these symptoms, you may experience other physical and psychological changes too.

Physical Changes In The Fifth Month

Physiological changes you go through include:

• A growing belly:Your 5 months pregnant belly is visible by now, and it feels itchy as the skin stretches.
• Enlarged breast:The breast starts the milk production, and hence it looksbigger and fuller.
• Colostrum:Ayellow liquid starts discharging from the nipples, which is the first milk for your baby.
• Stretch marks:The growing uterus causes tinytears in the skin tissues, creating stretch marks.
• Linea nigra:A line that runs from the navel to the pubic hairline gets darker.
• Darker areola and nipples:The skin pigmentation could make the nipples and the area around them look darker.

Emotional Changes In The Fifth Month

Few emotional changes you may experience on your 5-month pregnancy are:

• Mood swings:They are the result of hormonal fluctuations.
• Stress:The thoughts of parenthood andanxiety during pregnancycan put you under stress.
• Pregnancy brain:Due to the hormonal fluctuations, it iscommon to forget thingsduring this time.

By this month, fetal development picks up the pace. Are you anxious to know about it? Keep reading here.

Baby Development In The Fifth Month Of Pregnancy

The fifth month spansfrom weeks 17 to 20(4). By this time, yourbaby grows from the size of a Turnip to a Banana(5).

Baby weight(6): Around 5 to 10 ounces (140 – 300g, 0.30 – 0.7 pounds)

Baby’s length:5.1 – 10in (CRL) (13 – 25.6cm (CRL)) between 17th and 20th weeks. From week 20, the length is measured from crown to rump.

Here is how your baby is developing during this month (7,8,9):

Body parts	Development
Skin	Vernix caseosa, a greasy material covers and protects the skin.
Hair	Starts to grow on the head.
Lanugo	Fine hair that covers the body.
Eyes	Eyebrows, eyelashes, and eyelids start appearing.
心	心rate follows a daily cycle called circadian rhythms.
Vocal cord	Maturing
Ear	Cochlea fully developed and the fetus starts hearing.
Genitals	In girls, the ovaries develop about 7 million oogonia, which give rise to primary oocytes.
Nerves	Getting covered with a tissue called myelin.
Fingers	Fingerprints are developed.

It’s a moment of joy when you feel your baby’s first movement. Read here to know what happens inside your womb this month.

Baby’s Position And Movements In The Fifth Month

Position:The baby has alot of free space inside the womb to move around. Hence, there is no specific position that the baby attains during this month.

Movement:The fetal movements can be felt slightly by this time, likea fluttering feeling in the stomach, referred to as quickening.First-time mothersmay not be able to recognize it and take it for gas in the stomach(10).

Eating the right food in the right amounts is essential for the health of the mother and the baby. However, it is also necessary to ensure that you stay away from foods that are not recommended for pregnant women.

Pregnancy Diet For The Fifth Month

Here is the list of foods that you should add to your diet(11):

• Add a lot of green leafy vegetables, bread, milk, sardines, and fortified cereals that arerich in Calcium. It promotes healthy bones and teeth in your baby. According to ACOG, apregnant woman should take 1000mg of calcium/day.
• Ironhelps in the production of red blood cells. Therecommended intake is 27 mg/day(包括any supplements). Whole grain products, fish, green leafy vegetables, dried fruit, beans, lean pork, and beef are a good source of this mineral.
• According to the ACOG, the recommended daily intake ofFolic acidby a pregnant woman is 600mcg/day. It preventscongenital disabilitiesⁱXThese are medical disorders present from birth and could be hereditary or due to infection or injury to the fetus during pregnancy.relating to the brain and spine in the baby. Add a lot of Leafy vegetables (spinach, broccoli, romaine lettuce, and kale), kidney beans, lentils, nuts, citrus fruits, and beans in the diet.
• Vitamin Dpromotes healthy eyesight and strengthens the bones and teeth. Salmon and milk fortified with Vitamin D are a good source. Therecommended intake is 600 IU per day.
• AddVitamin A rich foodslike orange or yellow vegetables (sweet potatoes or carrots), leafy green vegetables, liver, and milk. Therecommended daily intake is 750-770 mcg/day. It promotes bone strength and healthy eyesight.
• Proteincan be obtained from lean meat and poultry, eggs, seafood, peas, soy products, beans, milk, and unsalted seeds and nuts. It is necessary for muscles and the brain.
• Add Vitamin C rich foodslike citrus fruits, strawberries, tomatoes, and broccoli in your diet. It promotes healthy gums, teeth, and bones.The average daily recommended intake is 85mg.

Foods To Avoid During The Fifth Month Of Pregnancy

Here is the list of foods you need to avoid:

• Stay away fromraw or uncooked food as it can cause a foodborne disease called listeriosis(12).
• Avoid eating fishes likeswordfish, tilefish, king mackerel, and sharksthat have a high level of mercury.
• Avoid consuming更多的than 200-300 mg of caffeine a day as it maylead to a miscarriage(13).
• Avoidunpasteurized milk and cheese.
• 避免含有的食物glutensuch as wheat and barley(14), if you haveceliac diseaseⁱX自身免疫、遗传条件,触发一个reaction caused by gluten found in wheat and barley.. Instead, switch to vegetables, fruits, beans, poultry, and meat.
• Avoiddeep-fried and spicy foodsas they can aggravate heartburn.

It’s time to fix your appointment with the doctor as a part of your prenatal care for ensuring both you and the baby are doing well.

What To Expect During Your Visit To The Ob/Gyn?

Here are some tests that your doctor would suggest for this month:

Physical examinations:

1. Blood pressure check
2. Weight check
3. Urine test for protein and sugar levels.
4. Measurement of the fundal height

Other:

1. Ultrasound: It is carried out to,

• Monitor the fetal heart rate and growth of your baby in terms of weight and CRL (crown-rump length).
• Check the position of the baby and the condition of the placenta.
• The scan is also calledanomaly scan(15).

2. Multiple markertest:It includes thescreening of the mother’s blood samplefor evaluating the levels of(16);

• Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)– An abnormal protein levels of AFP in the maternal blood serum indicates:
  • Down syndrome
  • Open neural tube defects (ONTD), such as spina bifida
  • Defects in the wall of the fetal abdomen
  • Some other chromosomal abnormalities
  • A miscalculation in the due date because the protein levels do vary throughout pregnancy
  • More than one fetus makes the protein
• hCG– The human chorionic gonadotropin is a pregnancy hormone produced by the placenta.
• Estriol– Produced by the placenta
• Inhibin– Produced by the placenta

In case of unsatisfactory multiple marking testing results, an amniocentesis may be recommended for an accurate diagnosis.

3. Amniocentesis:It is done tocheck for open neural tube defects (ONTDs) such as spina bifida and chromosomal disorders. A sample of the amniotic fluid is tested to evaluate the results. In the case of twins andmultiple babies, the sampling will be done from each amniotic sac.

Specific symptoms may indicate a problem and should be checked by the doctor immediately.

What Do You Need To Know In Your Fifth Month Of Pregnancy?

In the case of the following symptoms, get medical help right away (17,18):

• Vaginal bleeding
• Belly or pelvic pain or severe cramping
• Fever of 100.4 degrees or higher, chills
• Painful or less urination
• Dark-colored urine
• 呕吐,持久than 24 hours or gets worse
• Dizziness
• Increased vaginal discharge or discharge with a foul smell

Do not overlook any unusual symptomsthat could indicate complications with the pregnancy. Find out more about them next.

Dr. Alan Lindemann,MD, an obstetrician, maternal mortality expert, and former clinical associate professor at theUniversity of North Dakota, says, “At five months of pregnancy, your uterus should be an inch or two above your belly button. Where your uterus is not felt, your abdomen should still be soft. If you feel your uterus, it will be a little harder than the rest of your abdomen. However, it will not be as hard as it is toward the end of your pregnancy.”

Complications In The Fifth Month Of Pregnancy

Pregnancy complications during this month include miscarriage or stillbirth (9,20,21).

Miscarriage:It is also described as pregnancy loss andhappens before the 20th week of pregnancy. Its symptoms include:

• Vaginal bleeding
• Pain or cramps in the lower abdomen
• Low back pain
• Tissues, fluids, or clot-like material passing through the vagina.

Stillbirth:Also termed asfetal death can happen in or after the20th weekof gestational age. It may be due to any birth defects or pregnancy complications.

Keep reading to what you can do to make your pregnancy a better experience.

Precautions To Be Taken In The Fifth Month

Here are some precautionary measures you can follow in the fifth month:

• Keep your stress at bay.
• Stayhydrated.
• Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol.
• Giverest to your body.
• Maintainoral hygiene.
• Maintain the right posture while sitting and try sleeping positions that promote sound and comfortable sleep.Do not sit or stand suddenly as it may cause the blood pressure to drop and result in fainting or dizziness(22).
• Take prenatalvitamins regularly.
• Do not lift heavy objects.
• Havesmaller meals at regular intervals.
• Do not take any medicines without consulting the doctor.
• Try walking andKegel exercises that strengthen the pelvic muscles.
• Wear loose, breathable maternity clothes and comfortable flat footwear.
• Stay away from harmful chemicals.

Dr. Lindemann opines, “At five months, your movement will be somewhat restricted, but you will be able to bend. Don’t bend so much that it bothers you, but you will probably be able to pick up things off the floor, especially if you do it slowly and carefully.

“Also, the best position to sleep from the middle of your pregnancy to the end is called the left lateral decubitus. This position is midway between your side and your back. You may even sleep completely on your side; however, many people can’t sleep that way for more than an hour or two without getting shoulder, neck, or hip pain. Sleeping on your belly and back is not a good idea. It may compress your vena cava, the large vein bringing blood to your heart.”

Tips For Dad-To-Be

• Help your partner with household chores
• Create a pleasant environment for her at home.
• Accompany her during the prenatal visits.
• Plan a day out with her.
• 去购物和她的孕产妇的必需品。
• Give her a good foot and neck massage.

怀孕的过程只不过是罗依ller coaster ride. At five months pregnant, the ups and down may take a significant toll on your body. However, you can stay relaxed as this phase is temporary. The moment you hold the little one in your hand, you are likely to forget all the pains. Stay relaxed and positive to enjoy this phase fully.

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