What to expect in your fifth month of pregnancy

You might be asking yourself what to expect during the fight month of your pregnancy? When the fifth month of pregnancy starts? What week the fifth month of pregnancy begins? Below we have a detailed guide on what to expect during this fifth month of your pregnancy.

What was once completely abstract is fast becoming palpable and real. During the fifth month of pregnancy, your baby will continue to grow and develop. You may notice that your baby is moving around more, and may even be able to feel her kicks from the outside.

What happens to your baby during the fifth month of pregnancy is explained below week by week. 

The fifth month of pregnancy begins in your:

Week 18

Your baby’s organs will continue to develop and she will start to develop fine hair on her body. Baby development during the fifth month of pregnancy includes physical changes like getting stronger and more coordinated. Baby’s lungs are also maturing, and they can now breathe on their own. Mentally, the baby is becoming more aware of their surroundings. They may start to react to loud noises and can even follow simple commands.

Week 19

This week your baby is about the size of a large mango. Another set of skills your baby is mastering now is yawning and hiccupping (You might even begin to feel those hiccups soon!) And your one-of- a- kind baby is truly one of a kind now, complete with unique fingerprints on her or his fingertips and toes. 

Week 20

You’ve got a baby the size of a small rock melon in your melon-size belly this week. Your ultrasound this month should be able to detect, if you want to know, whether your baby is a boy or a girl!

Week 21

Your baby is now the size of a large banana. And talking about bananas, you may want to eat some this week if you’d like your baby to have a taste for them. Some carrots too. That is because amniotic fluid differs from day to day depending on what you’ve eaten, and now your baby is swallowing amniotic fluid each day, he or she will be getting a taste of whatever’s on your menu. Arms and legs are finally in proportion, neurons are now connected between the brain muscles, and cartilage throughout the body is turning to bone.

Week 22

This week, your baby is the size of a small doll. Though it is dark in the uterine cocoon, fetuses this age can perceive light and dark. If you shine a flashlight over your belly, you might feel your baby react. What is your baby hearing? The sound of your voice and your partners, your heart beating, a dog barking, sirens, a loud TV. What is your baby tasting? Pretty much everything you taste.

What YOU may be feeling

As your baby continues to grow, you may start to feel more uncomfortable. You may have difficulty sleeping due to your growing belly, and may also experience back pain. Additionally, you may start to leak urine when you cough or sneeze due to the pressure on your bladder. However, these discomforts are all normal and will improve as your baby grows.

Physically

• Hearty appetite 
• More energy
• Fetal movement
• Increasing vaginal discharge
• Constipation
• Backache
• Heartburn, flatulence, bloating
• Leg cramps
• Skin colour changes on the abdomen and/or face
• A protruding navel
• Faster pulse (heart rate)
• Nasal congestion and occasional nosebleeds, ear stuffiness
• Mild swelling of the ankles and feet, and occasionally of the hands and face. 
• Sensitive gums that may bleed when you brush
• Spider or varicose veins and/or haemorrhoids
• Easier or more difficult orgasm

Emotionally

• Fewer mood Swings. 
• A growing sense of reality about the pregnancy
• A feeling you are not quite together, you are scattered, forgetful, drop things, have trouble concentrating.

What to Expect During Your Fifth month’s check up

This month, you can expect your practitioner to check the following:

• Weight and blood pressure
• Urine, for sugar and protein
• Fetal heartbeat
• Size and shape of the uterus, by external palpation
• Height of the fundus (top of the uterus)
• Hands and feet for swelling and legs for varicose veins
• Questions or problems you want to discuss, have a list ready!

You will likely have an ultrasound at this visit. This gives your doctor a chance to check on the baby’s development, assess the placenta, and check for any twins or multiples. 

This is also a good time to start thinking about childbirth and parenting classes. Ask your doctor for recommendations. 

Pregnancy is an exciting time! Enjoy it and don’t forget to schedule your next check-up.

Tips for your fifth month of pregnancy

• Drink plenty of fluids and eat plenty of healthy snacks to keep your energy levels up.
• Avoid standing for long periods of time to prevent fatigue and swelling.
• Exercise regularly to maintain your fitness level and help reduce stress.
• Get plenty of rest and relaxation to help your body recover from the demands of pregnancy.
• Connect with other moms. Connecting with other moms-to-be can be a great way to cope with pregnancy. Join a prenatal yoga class or a support group for pregnant women.

Congratulations on making it to the fifth month of your pregnancy!

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