Pregnancy is one of the most beautiful phases of your life. However, it is also one of the most challenging phases, as you will experience a sudden change in your body. Nausea, lack of appetite, and mood swings during the first trimester of pregnancy. After entering into the 5^th month of pregnancy, the body gets accustomed to changes & starts accepting the baby in the womb. You can start enjoying your pregnancy with a regained appetite and a relatively calm mindset.

Here, let us see the detail of the development of the fetus in the fifth month and what can you expect to change in your body.

Baby Development 5^th month of pregnancy

• The fifth month marks the growing period, baby shows significant growth and development at an astronomical speed.
• Baby’s lungs are formed & beating heart now can be clearly heard with a stethoscope on your belly by your doctor.
• Baby’s liver is producing red blood and kidney is filtering out waste.
• Baby is showing significant growth of fat layers underneath her skin.
• The brain and its functions have developed, connections of neurons and complex nerves are getting interconnected in the body.
• The baby is now weighing a 400+ grams, height 9 to 10 inches baby shows various body movements.
• This month you may start to feel the baby move.
• The fetus is developing muscles and exercising them. This first movement is called quickening and can feel like a flutter.
• Hair growth continues on baby’s head and body. The shoulders and back become covered with a thin hair called lanugo.
• A thick substance, called vernix caseosa, covers the skin to keep it protected from the exposure to amniotic fluid. This will shed before the baby is born.
• If born prematurely after 25^th week, baby will be kept in the NICU for a better chance of survival.
• Baby becomes more and more active, often in the evenings.
• Mother may see baby moving / kicking this month.
• Baby is most active when mother is resting.
• Baby will also settle into a regular pattern of activity & sleep.
• Over the months, baby has heard your voice, your surroundings, father’s voice & now baby can reciprocate & has the ability to take in voices and familiarize them.
• Often after birth the same voices, even music can help her calm down at difficult times.

Changes in your body during 5^th month of pregnancy

Sleepless nights, certain overflowing emotion that takes control of your mind causing mood swings, or makes you feel depressed and sad. The rise in your appetite also has an upper hand now.

• Physical symptoms of pregnancy increase due to your growing belly.
• You may put on weight on buttocks as well as your abdomen.
• You may have more gas or indigestion, change your eating habits, take small frequent meals, avoid heavy or fried food.
• Belly button may pop out as growing baby continues to compress upwards.
• You may feel bit breathless, as lungs become cramped with other organs. Gentle & conscious deep breathing in through nose & breathing out through mouth will help.
• Breasts continue to become larger, nipples will grow softer and small bumps may appear around the nipples – Breast exercise, wearing proper supporting bra is important.
• Wearing seat belt may seem difficult – but buckle up. & fasten belt below belly.
• Hormones cause varicose veins & legs may ache – Put up your feet whenever you can & avoid standing for long time.
• Frequent urination & difficulty getting comfortable may disturbed sleep – drink lots of water during daytime & avoid drinking water after nine at night.
• Fatigue will set in again, because of the extra weight, if you have excessive fatigue, see doctor for anemia.
• You may have itching around enlarged belly – Wear loose cotton clothes, and use calamine lotion.
• Feet and ankles There can be swelling as body is holding more fluid than normal.

End of the 5^th month, you may notice a few aches. The growing baby and expanding uterus may start to push the lower ribs outward, causing pain – sitting down

Full body stretching, relaxation and massage may be helpful in reducing this.

Important Concerns

Stretch marks

The baby bump has grown beyond your uterine walls stretching ability. Weight gain leads to stretching causing wear and tear of skin, resulting in stretch marks on the lower abdomen. The same happens with breasts & bums as they grow leading to stretch marks. To overcome the dreaded stretch marks, apply creams, aloe vera and oils enriched with Vitamin E to keep your skin hydrated and prevent the marks, even if skin is pulled from inner layers.

Itching on belly

Starting around middle of the month, you may notice itching around your enlarged belly. Try wearing loose clothing made of natural fiber and use calamine lotion.

Bigger baby bump & breathlessness

As you enter the second half of pregnancy! Your belly button may pop out as the uterus compress upwards. The growing uterus pushes up against your lungs & you may have trouble breathing as your lungs become cramped with your other internal organs.

Back pain:

In 5^th month you might have back pain, which is caused by a faulty sleeping position. Sleeping on your left side, with pillows supporting growing belly helps preventing/reducing back pain.

You can massage muscles in back for quick relief from time to time. Hot bags or cold compresses are welcome too.

Increase in appetite:

Your hunger may have increased, eat right kind of food will help in avoiding excess weight gain. Keep fruit, nuts, healthy roasted snacks around. Do your exercise, continue walking & keep gainfully occupied.

Gas / Heartburn

Your digestive system slowed, resulting is acidity, burping and flatulence. To avoid this, have freshly made healthy diet, rich in nutrients

Swelling of feet

• Swelling of feet in 5th month is common due to water
• Keep your legs up & rest them on a pillow /chair to avoid swelling.
• Walking also can help in reducing
• Wear comfortable foot

White discharge

White discharge during 5^th month is quite common not a thing to be worried about.
It is completely normal, you can use panty liners to avoid feeling wetness.

Wearing sit belt

Your belly may make it uncomfortable to wear a seat belt but you must wear it for safety, fasten belt below your belly, across pelvis & upper thighs.

Visit your dentist

• Pregnancy makes you prone to bleeding gums and gum
• Dental infections, if untreated, can even trigger premature
• Take care of oral
• Schedule dental visits.

Diet and exercise for the 5^th month of pregnancy

Diet

1. An important mantra is to keep hydrated, drinking water helps constipation & helps you take care of the baby inside you. Drink milk, eat watermelon, buttermilk, and fresh fruit juice, they are
2. Have food rich in protein, like lean meat, eggs, nuts, dal- pulses-sprouts, They help the baby’s development.
3. Salad – cabbage, tomatoes, carrots, and beets are helpful they have fiber & are rich in
4. Iron is an important nutrient, leafy vegetables like spinach, fenugreek, pulses, banana give you iron. Do not drink coffee or tea with iron supplements or iron-rich

Exercise:

• Stretches: full body stretches for fitness & flexibility are the best set of exercises for pregnancy, they help you to get to normal delivery.
• Squat: Half squats help strengthen thighs and pelvic areas.
• Meditation & Yoga: Yoga helps to maintain weight, increases flexibility & is helpful in delivery.
• Pelvic tilt Is good exercise to prevent pain in your pelvic area. It will also help flex your back and thighs & maintain your center of gravity.
• Walking: is very essential, it refreshes you & gives you positive energy. Walking gives you long-term benefits and decreases stress.

Daily exercise

Sitting down body stretch:

• Sit cross-legged with back
• Raise both arms on sides at shoulder level with palms facing
• Raise them above the head with arms touching
• Stretch the whole body and arms upwards and count from 1 -5.
• Slowly bring them down to
• Repeat 5

Arm flapping – breast exercise

• Bend elbows with hands at the chest
• Open your arms by pulling your elbows back strongly but
• Repeat 8

Book open – breast exercise

• Sit tall.
• Keeping arms as high as possible and comfortable with palms and elbows together with hands parallel to each other.
• Part your arms and take them out to the side (as if opening a book)
• Bring them back together.
• Repeat 5

Stretches – for leg pain & swelling of feet

 1. Flexion & extension of feet

• Lie flat on the floor with Arms on the sides
• Stretch both feet downward from toes, count from 1 to 5
• Now stretch toes upwards and towards the face, count 1 – 5
• Relax
• Repeat 5 times

2. Feet circles

• Lie flat on your back
• Pull both feet’ toes downwards, outward, upwards, and center in a clockwise direction 5 times.
• Pull feet upward, outwards, downwards & to center in clockwise & anti-clockwise directions 5 times each.

Lying on your back exercise

 1. Rotation of knees

• Stand against wall
• Raise left knee up
• Turn your left leg sideways toward the wall
• Feel stretch in the inner thigh
• Helps to mobilize hip & knee joints

2. Pelvic tilt / Back press

• Bend knees
• Put a hand on hands and place them palms down under the lower back
• Tilt your pelvis & back downwards on your hands, as you push your palms against the floor to create extra pressure. Hold and count up to 5

Do’s and Don’ts during 5^th month of pregnancy

• Take rest at the appropriate time to give rest to your body and baby inside. Take regular naps, & do easy and stress-free tasks.
• Take your husband when you go for check-ups.
• Do not listen to the experience of other people at the time of delivery. This will give stress and make you uncomfortable.

5^th month of pregnancy precautions and tips

• Dress up in comfortable maternity clothing the whole time.
• Do not stop doing exercises.
• Sit with proper support & maintain your center of gravity well.
• Talk to your family about your progress.
• Start talking to your baby, so the baby can recognize your voice.

Your medical visit & check up in the 5^th month of pregnancy medical checkup

• Blood pressure is checked
• Weight is checked
• Share any concerns you have
• An abdominal examination is done
• The Baby’s growth is checked by measuring the distance from the pubic bone to the top of the uterus (fundal height).
• Baby’s heartbeat is heard using a Doppler

After 20 weeks of pregnancy, this measurement in centimeters often matches the number of weeks you’re pregnant, plus or minus 2-3 centimeters.

Blood tests & urine tests

Alpha Fetal Protein (AFP) helps screen for neural tube defects Urine tests, to screen for signs of preeclampsia, and UTI.

Ultrasound

20 Weeks – Anomaly Scan

Pregnancy Myth & Fact

1. Myth:If you are happy and think positive, the baby will grow better.

1. Fact:Absolutely right. mother’s moods have a great effect on the baby. During stress, the body chemistry alters. Be cheerful and optimistic throughout pregnancy.

2. Myth: First babies always arrive late.

2. Fact:While this is true to an extent since about 60 per cent arrive after their due date, five per cent on the due date and 35 before the due date, what really determines the arrival of your baby is the length of your menstrual cycle. If it is shorter, there are more possibilities of you delivering early. If your cycle is longer, your baby will arrive later and if your cycle usually lasts 28 days, you will more likely deliver close to your due date.