5 Months Pregnant - What Happens? Feelings, Complications

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 21:43

5 months pregnant

At this stage of pregnancy, many pleasant events await a woman - if desired, future parents during the next ultrasound will be able to find out the gender of their child, and the baby for the first time will clearly make itself felt with tangible movements. Now he has grown so much that the expectant mother feels his movements.

Content:

• Fifth month - define the period in weeks
• What happens in a woman's body at 5 months of pregnancy?
• Fetal development at 5 months
• Feeling at 5 months
• Psychological condition
• Belly at 5 months
• Possible problems
• Pain and discharge
• Required research at 5 months
• Weight gain
• Formation of the diet
• Intimate relationships at 5 months of pregnancy

Fifth month - define the period in weeks

This month lasts from 16 to 20 weeks, at the end of it we can say that half of the pregnancy has passed. Usually, a pregnant woman is still working at this time, but she should already think about how to add her next vacation to maternity leave. In the meantime, you have to devote more time to your health, walk more in the fresh air, avoid stressful situations, rest more often, but not lead a sedentary lifestyle.

Find out your pregnancy period online

What happens in a woman's body at 5 months of pregnancy?

At this stage of the gestational period, the uterus is intensively enlarged. If at the beginning of the month its bottom is not located in the middle of the distance between the navel and the bosom, then by its end the upper edge of the uterus is 2 cm above the navel. The navel may protrude above the surface of the abdomen or flatten somewhat.

Due to the increase in blood volume, a woman may experience physiological anemia. This condition is typical for pregnant women, as the liquid part of the blood (plasma) increases in volume and the number of red blood cells does not increase. As a result, there are fewer erythrocytes per unit of blood volume, which means that the amount of hemoglobin decreases. Failure to replenish iron stores can lead to pathological anemia, a more dangerous condition. It is not difficult to determine the level of hemoglobin in the blood; it is enough to pass tests.

Due to the action of progesterone, which relaxes muscles, ligaments, joints can be relaxed, and lower back pain is felt.

Since the fetus is intensively developing the musculoskeletal system, a woman may lack calcium. It is replenished by including fermented milk products, cheese, cottage cheese in the diet.

If the placenta, which is responsible for the life support of the fetus, is located close to the cervical pharynx, a condition occurs that is dangerous for the favorable course of pregnancy - low placentation. This diagnosis is made if the lower edge of the placenta is located closer than 6 cm from the inner edge of the uterus. Closer to childbirth, the placenta can spontaneously take the correct position, if the lower part of the uterus, as it were, "pulled up" with the growth of the fetus. The diagnosis can be clarified using ultrasound.

Fetal development at 5 months

The future child is rapidly growing and gaining weight - during the fifth month, his weight will increase from 200 to 500 g, and his height from 20 to 30 cm. The fetal heartbeat is perfectly audible, according to his tones, the doctor determines the condition of the child.

The reserves of calcium from the body of the expectant mother are spent on strengthening and growing the skeleton of the fetus, forming the rudiments of permanent and milk teeth. The child already has nails on the formed phalanges of the fingers and toes. The layer of subcutaneous tissue grows intensively, allowing after birth to maintain body temperature within the specified limits. The composition of the cheese-like lubricant, which protects the skin from the action of amniotic fluid, includes exfoliating cells of the epidermis.

The large head of the fetus indicates that during this period there is an intensive development of the brain and central nervous system. The baby can already arbitrarily control his movements, he touches his face, arms and legs, umbilical cord, sucks his finger. Often he makes swallowing movements, swallowing amniotic fluid. The digestive tract of the unborn child is so developed that it is able to separate water and sugar from the amniotic fluid, and spend them on the baby's nutrition. In the rectum, the formation of meconium begins - the original feces.

The papillae of the tongue are so developed that the baby is able to determine the taste of the amniotic fluid swallowed by him. The fetus already has distinct periods of sleep and activity, during which it intensively moves in the uterine cavity. Sometimes a woman clearly feels how he hiccups, making light tapping movements.

The yolk bladder, formed after birth, transferred the functions of hematopoiesis to the fetal bone marrow, which produces the formation of erythrocytes and special fetal hemoglobin. These blood cells stimulate the provision of the unborn child with oxygen, since at this stage he is able to use only 30% of the mother's hemoglobin.

In addition to erythrocytes, the child's own leukocytes appear in the child's blood, building the immune defense system. It synthesizes interferon and immunoglobulin, which is necessary for the reliable functioning of the immune system.

Feeling at 5 months

The main sensation is the movement of the baby, compared by pregnant women with the fluttering of a butterfly or the splash of a fish. The optimal time for the appearance of perturbations in primiparous is 18-20 weeks of pregnancy, in women carrying the second and subsequent pregnancies, the perturbation is felt 2-3 weeks earlier.

If a woman feels a lack of oxygen, the movements may become more intense. This is due to the fact that during the active movements of the child, blood from the placenta enters in large volumes, providing an increase in oxygen and nutrients in the fetal blood. If the pregnant woman moves, the baby calms down, the movements lull him, and he moves less often. On the contrary, during rest, the movements become more intense.

The unpleasant sensation of the fifth month of pregnancy can be heartburn. It occurs due to a change in the position of the stomach and a decrease in intestinal motility. Heartburn occurs when the acidic content of the stomach is thrown back into the esophagus.

How to avoid heartburn:

• There is often and little by little;
• Do not bend over or lie down immediately after eating;
• Drink water, milk, carrot juice;
• There are seeds, cereals.

If simple remedies do not help, it is necessary, on the recommendation of a doctor, to choose antacids that neutralize acid. You should not use baking soda as a medicine for heartburn, since, when combined with gastric juice, it can cause inflammation of the esophagus and stomach lining.

Itching of the skin of the buttocks, abdomen, thighs occurs in 20% of pregnant women. It can be caused by the skin stretching significantly with rapid weight gain. In this case, you should use anti-itching drugs used for allergies. Another cause of itching is irritation of the sciatic nerve by the growing uterus. To relieve pressure on the nerve, you should lie not on your back, but on your side, do pelvic rotations and bends before lying down.

At this stage of pregnancy, colostrum, a yellowish translucent liquid, may leak from the breast of a pregnant woman. This is a natural phenomenon that indicates the preparation of the breast for breastfeeding. It is impossible to express colostrum, as this procedure can lead to stimulation of the uterus and provoke abortion. In case of severe colostrum leakage, special bra pads should be worn.

Psychological condition

At this time, the psyche of most women is quite stable, although absent-mindedness and irritability can be felt. Sometimes a woman worries that she does not feel the first fetal movements for a long time, sometimes she worries that she will receive unfavorable results from a second trimester screening.

If there is concern about the upcoming birth, you need to visit a school for pregnant women, where physical and psychological preparation for this process is conducted. According to the results of medical research, after such preparation, women are calmer, have fewer complications in childbirth.

Belly at 5 months

With the enlargement of the uterus, most women have a significantly larger abdomen. However, some women note that their belly is much smaller than that of pregnant women at the same time, and the mail is not visible. Most often these are tall women with wide hips, the fullness of which hides the size of the abdomen. It is possible that overweight women have a significantly larger belly than it would be with normal weight gain.

There is a belief that the size of the abdomen is affected by the location of the egg on the wall of the uterus. If it is located on the front wall, the belly is more noticeable, on the back, its size will not increase soon.

Possible problems

Compression of the ureters and bladder by the pregnant uterus disrupts the normal flow of urine. Its stagnation leads to inflammation of the renal pelvis, when pyelonephritis occurs during pregnancy.

Pyelonephritis symptoms:

• Hyperthermia up to + 38 + 40 ° С;
• Weakness;
• Frequent urination accompanied by pain;
• Back pain.

With severe infection, signs of abortion may appear - spotting, pain in the lower abdomen. An ultrasound scan, blood and urine tests will help to clarify the diagnosis. Treatment of the disease is carried out in a hospital setting.

If a woman's body lacks calcium, she has symptoms of calcium deficiency:

• Bleeding of the gums, their increased sensitivity;
• Cramps in the calves;
• Pain in the bones of the pelvis.

To replenish this mineral, the doctor may prescribe mineral complexes: Calcium D3 Nycomed, Calcium-Active, Calcemin, will often recommend including fermented milk products in the diet.

When the placenta overlaps the inner opening of the cervical canal, placenta previa occurs. Since its tissue does not have extensibility, with the intensive growth of uterine tissues, placental abruption occurs, accompanied by bleeding.

Bleeding occurs spontaneously, spontaneously. It is painless and has different intensities. Excessive bleeding can be life-threatening for both mother and baby due to significant blood loss. Even a slight bleeding with placenta previa is a good reason for a woman's hospitalization in a hospital until the moment of delivery.

Pain and discharge

The most common source of pain is pain in the lower back or side of the abdomen. It can be caused by a stretching of the round ligament that supports the uterus and a weakening of the hip-sacral joints. To relieve her condition, a woman can wear a special bandage that supports her abdomen. If the pain is not associated with ligaments and joints, there may be a state of spontaneous abortion. At this period of the gestational period, the baby, born as a result of premature roles, is not yet viable. You should immediately consult a doctor if you experience regular cramping pains accompanied by bloody vaginal discharge to prevent miscarriage.

Leakage of amniotic fluid is another alarming symptom that requires urgent medical attention.

The effect of estrogen during this period of pregnancy makes the discharge somewhat more abundant than usual. They are white or grayish in color, with a thick consistency. A change in color to yellow or green, the addition of mucus, an unpleasant odor indicates an infectious process that has begun or a change in hormonal levels. Diagnosis is by smear for urogenital infections.

Required research at 5 months

In the second half of pregnancy, you may have to visit antenatal clinics more often - up to 2 times a month.

You should first pass a urine test. At the appointment, the doctor will conduct the following tests:

• Measure height and weight;
• Will measure blood pressure;
• Assess the shape of the uterus, measure the height of its standing;
• Listens to the fetal heartbeat;
• Examine the woman for edema and varicose veins;
• If necessary, conduct an examination on the gynecological chair;
• Take a control smear on the vaginal microflora.

At 5 months, a routine ultrasound is performed as part of the second trimester screening. Its purpose is to identify fetal malformations, assess the state of its internal organs, and conduct biometrics (measurements).

Research parameters:

• Measurement of the length of the femur, diameter and circumference of the abdomen and head;
• Assessment of the volume of amniotic fluid;
• Placental structure;
• The state of the myometrium of the uterus;
• Neck length;
• The sex of the fetus.

With ultrasound with Doppler imaging, the doctor examines the blood flow in the vessels of the fetus, placenta, uterus, obtaining additional data on the course of pregnancy.

Weight gain

At 5 months, a pregnant woman has a significant increase in the volume of the hips and abdomen. Her weight gain is about a third of the weight gain over the entire pregnancy. On average, by 5 months, the increase is 3-5 kg. Increasing appetite, increased fetal growth require an increase in caloric intake, an increase of about 500 additional calories.

Formation of the diet

Do not exceed the permissible rate of weight gain, for a month it is no more than 2 kg. To do this, most of the diet of a pregnant woman should consist of natural products. You should remove canned foods from your menu. semi-finished products, canned food.

Preference should be given to such a source of protein as lean meat, fish, cheese, cottage cheese. These dairy products, with the addition of fermented baked milk, kefir, curdled milk to the diet, will satisfy the need for calcium. Vegetables and fruits will help to replenish the supply of trace elements and vitamins, the liver, beef, pomegranate and tomato juice, and apples will become a source of hemoglobin.

To strengthen the gums, it is recommended to eat foods with a high content of vitamin C. In order not to gain weight due to fast carbohydrates, you should not eat a lot of sweets and refined foods.

It is undesirable to eat foods that cause increased gas formation - cabbage, onions, beans and peas, dishes prepared by the frying method.

Intimate relationships at 5 months of pregnancy

The return of her sexuality is associated with an improvement in the well-being of a pregnant woman. This is expressed in an increase in libido, increased blood flow to the pelvic organs, an increase in the sensitivity of erogenous zones, and an increase in vaginal secretion. If there are no contraindications, you should not give up intimate relationships.

Medical contraindications:

• A history of miscarriage or premature birth;
• The threat of termination of pregnancy;
• Inflammatory process in the vagina;
• Placenta previa;
• Sexual infections in her husband.

Do not be afraid that the baby will be harmed during sexual intercourse. It is reliably protected by the amniotic fluid and the membrane of the fetal bladder.

Video about a woman's condition at 5 months of pregnancy, her appetite, gait, activity:

The author of the article: Lapikova Valentina Vladimirovna | Gynecologist, reproductologist

Education: Diploma in Obstetrics and Gynecology received at the Russian State Medical University of the Federal Agency for Healthcare and Social Development (2010). In 2013 completed postgraduate studies at N. N. N. I. Pirogova.