In the fifth month the pregnancy is more showing and it cannot be hidden anymore, the daily skin and health care routine and the lifestyle of the mother-to-be will be different. Here is everything you need to know about yourself and your baby in the fifth month.
Week Eighteen
The baby kicks often. It can now yawn, make facial expressions and frown. The taste buds begin to develop and can distinguish between sweet and sour tastes. The fetus can suck, swallow and get the hiccup as well.
The mother can clearly feel the baby's movement. She will need an ultrasound performed to know her due date. If the baby is in the right position, then the sex can be determined too. The heart's functionality has to increase by 40%-50% to be able to support the fetus.
Week Nineteen
The baby's skin grows and is transparent that the blood vessels can be seen through it. The mother may experience some symptoms such as stomachaches, dizziness, heartburn, constipation and swollen feet. Some of the blood veins can be visible on the face.
Week Twenty
The baby can hear sounds now: the mother's sound, her heartbeats, her bowel movement and outside sounds. The baby covers its ears with its hands when the sounds are loud. It moves more often now, kicks and twists its body.
The mother may get bladder infection due to the relaxation of the surrounding muscles. She may experience excessive sweating as the thyroid gland becomes more active. She will also have back pain. We recommend you avoid standing for prolonged time, sit on a comfortable chair and place a pillow under your waist when you go to bed.
The baby is covered with a layer of white matter that protects its skin that it sheds soon before labor.
Week Twenty-One
The baby is still forming fats to keep warm. The gum (gingiva) starts to develop. The weight gain now goes up to 5-7kgs.
Now that the signs of pregnancy are more showing, make sure you regularly go for checkups and avoid physical exhaustion to enjoy a healthy trouble-free pregnancy.