If you are 6 months pregnant, you are in the final month of your second trimester and only three months away from giving birth to your baby. Your belly has enlarged by this month, and you have a clear pregnancy radiance on your face. Your baby is growing quickly, and so your body is changing dramatically. This post informs you about the various changes in your body at six months of gestation, the baby’s development, and potential pregnancy complications, as well as the precautions you should take during this month.
What Are The Symptoms Of Pregnancy In The Sixth Month?
Dr. Alan Lindemann, MD, a former clinical associate professor at the University of North Dakota, says, “At six months of gestation, you would be approximately two-thirds through your pregnancy. Your baby has a reasonable chance of surviving in good condition. Twenty-five years ago, I delivered quadruplets at about that gestational age. All four babies weighed 1.5 pounds, give or take a few ounces. They all did well and have now reached healthy adulthood.” The pregnancy symptoms that you may experience are (1) (2) (3):
Weight gain: You may gain 3 to 4 pounds by this month (4).
Fatigue: The body is working more to nourish your baby, which makes you feel tired, although not as much as before.
Constipation: The pregnancy hormones relax the intestinal muscles. Also, the pressure of the growing uterus on the intestine slows the movement of food, leading to constipation.
Heartburn: The gastrointestinal tract relaxes due to the increased progesterone levels. The upward pressure that the uterus exerts on the stomach pushes the gastric juices into the esophagus, causing a burning sensation.
Flatulence (gas): As the progesterone hormone relaxes the intestinal muscles, the digestion process slows down and builds up gas.
Nasal congestion: An increase in the estrogen hormone results in swelling of the nasal passage lining, making way for more mucus and causing congestion.
Nosebleeds: An increase in the blood circulation during pregnancy expands the small blood vessels in the nose. The pressure exerted on the blood vessels can lead to nosebleeds.
Bleeding gums: An increase in the blood flow and hormonal changes are the reason for swollen and bleeding gums during pregnancy.
Increased appetite: As the morning sickness is minimal by this month, there is an elevation in food cravings. Cravings are normal and a reasonable increase in food intake necessary to meet the demands of the growing baby.
Swollen ankles: The water retention in the body and the pressure put by the growing uterus on the veins, restricting the backflow of the blood, leads to edema or swollen ankles.
Achy feet: The edema, as well as the pregnancy weight gain, put additional pressure on the feet, causing the feet to ache.
Varicose veins: The pressure exerted by the growing uterus on the inferior vena cava (the largest vein in the body that carries blood from legs to heart) restricts the blood flow, causing the veins near the legs to swell.
White vaginal discharge: The cervix and the vaginal walls soften during pregnancy causing white discharge, which in turn prevents any bacteria from traveling to the uterus through the vagina.
Breathlessness: The growing uterus puts pressure on the diaphragm, which may cause breathlessness.
Backache: The uterus also puts pressure on your lower back. Also, pregnancy results in the stretching of the joint ligaments in the pelvic and lower back area. Both these factors lead to backache.
Insomnia: Frequent visits to the bathroom, backache, nasal congestion, etc. can deprive you of a good night’s sleep. Braxton Hicks contractions: Some women may feel painless contractions, which is normal and a way to prepare the body for delivery.
Physical Changes In The Sixth Month
The physical changes that you may experience include:
Stretch marks: The growing uterus causes tiny tears in the skin tissues, causing stretch marks.
Linea nigra: The line running down from the belly button to the pubis becomes darker.
Skin pigmentation changes: Production of more hormones during pregnancy can lead to skin pigmentation, also known as melasma. It appears as darkened spots near the cheeks, neck, and the forehead. Colostrum: The breast may start leaking a yellowish liquid called colostrum, which is the first breast milk that your baby will feed on immediately after delivery.
Emotional Changes In The Sixth Month
Here are a few emotional changes you might experience:
Pregnancy brain: The inability to concentrate (absent-mindedness) or forgetfulness is all attributed to the hormonal changes during pregnancy. It is sometimes also referred to as momnesia.
Mood swings and anxiety: These happen due to hormonal changes during pregnancy.
Baby Developments In The Sixth Month Of Pregnancy
Dr. Lindemann adds, “At six months, the baby has developed arms, hands with ten fingers, legs with feet and ten toes, and good reflexes. The baby has eyes and eyelids so she or he can see, ears to hear, lips, nose, tongue, neck, and a heart that works. However, the baby’s lungs don’t work very well.” The weeks from 21-24 constitute the sixth month. During these weeks, your baby grows from the size of a carrot to as big as the ear of corn (5). The baby attains a human face by now. Baby weight: 8 ounces to 1 pound Baby’s CRL (crown-rump length): It is about 8-12in (20-30cm) Your baby’s growth spurts during this month. Here is how your little one’s body is developing this month (3), (6) (2) (7).
Baby’s Position And Movements In The Sixth Month
Position: During this month, there is more space inside the womb for the baby to move freely and attain various positions. Movements: By this time, you can feel the baby wiggle and roll inside. The baby’s kicks are strong, and a sleeping pattern is established. During pregnancy you need to be careful with the food that you eat. Your plate should comprise nutritious foods in the right proportion.
Pregnancy Diet To Follow During the Sixth Month
Here is the list of foods that you may add to your diet (8):
Consume plenty of green leafy vegetables, bread, fortified cereals, and milk. These are rich sources of calcium. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends a daily intake 1,000mg calcium during pregnancy.
Foods like lentils, leafy vegetables (spinach, romaine lettuce, broccoli, and kale), kidney beans, nuts, beans, and citrus fruits are rich sources of folic acid. The ACOG recommends a daily intake of 400mcg of folic acid during pregnancy.
Eat whole grain products, beans, dried fruit, lean pork and beef, green leafy vegetables and sardines, which are a good source of iron. The daily recommended intake of iron is 27mg per day (including the supplement).
Foods such as yellow or orange vegetables (sweet potatoes or carrots), leafy green vegetables, liver, and milk that are rich in vitamin A must be added to your diet. The recommended daily intake is 770mcg.
Fatty fish like salmon and milk fortified with vitamin D help you reach the recommended vitamin D intake of 600IU per day. But avoid sea fish.
According to the ACOG, the average daily intake of DHA by a pregnant woman is 200mg, which can be procured from dry fruits and fortified heath drinks and supplements. Include lean meat and poultry, (risk of mercury poisoning in sea fish) eggs, soy products, peas and beans, and unsalted seeds and nuts that are a rich source of protein. Add citrus fruits, strawberries, tomatoes, and broccoli to your diet. They are a good source of vitamin C. The average daily recommended intake is 85mg.
Foods To Avoid During The Sixth Month Of Pregnancy
Here is the list of foods you need to avoid:
Avoid too much of caffeine (more than 200-300 mg/day) (9).
Do not eat raw or uncooked food as it can cause listeriosis, which is a food-borne bacterial infection (10).
Those who have celiac disease should avoid foods that contain gluten (11). Instead, they may opt for fruits, vegetables, beans, potato, meat, and poultry.
Avoid swordfish, shark, tilefish, and king mackerel that contain a high level of mercury.
Limit the consumption of deep-fried and spicy foods as it can cause heartburn.
Avoid unpasteurized milk and cheese.
Besides good home care to stay healthy, it is important that you go for your monthly check-up without fail.
What To Expect During Your Visit To The Ob/Gyn?
During the visit to the doctor, you will undergo:
Physical examination
Blood pressure check Weight check Measurement of fundal height
Other tests
Next, we tell you about a few things you must be aware of to prevent any unwanted instances.
What Do You Need to Know in Your Sixth Month of Pregnancy?
Here are some symptoms that you must watch out for during pregnancy (13):
Belly or pelvic pain, other than mild cramping Vaginal bleeding Fever of 100.4°F or higher Painful or less urination Dark-colored urine Vomiting that gets worse and lasts longer than 24 hours Feel like you might pass out Headaches that do not subside even after taking acetaminophen (Tylenol) Uncontrollable nosebleed Constant leg cramps
Preterm labor is one of the risks you should be wary of this month. If you experience any of the following symptoms, then get medical help immediately (14):
Experiencing more than five contractions in an hour or every 10 minutes. Vaginal fluid leak Pelvic pressure Menstrual-like cramps Any vaginal bleeding Abdominal cramps with or without diarrhea A dull, low backache A sudden increase in vaginal discharge
The best way to take care of your health is to follow a good lifestyle, which will take care of the rest of the things.
Precautions To Be Taken In The Sixth Month
Here are some precautionary measures you should follow this month:
Keep your stress at bay. Drink plenty of fluids to keep yourself hydrated. Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol.
Get enough rest. Maintain oral hygiene. Walking and doing Kegel exercises can strengthen the pelvic muscles. Do not lift any heavy objects. Wear comfortable, flat footwear and loose, breathable clothes. Avoid taking any medicine without the doctor’s advice. Avoid cleaning cat litter as it can cause toxoplasmosis. Avoid exposure to chemicals.
At this time, you could be going through a lot of mood swings and even have difficulty in managing household things. Your partner can help you with the chores and also make you feel comfortable now.
Tips For Dad-to-be
Help you with the household chores. Spend some quality time with you, preparing to welcome the new member. Accompany you to the doctor’s appointments, walks, and shopping trips.
“However, most twins contain a membrane between babies so that cords can’t get mixed up and they have their own nutrition. When this happens, twins have a reasonable chance of growing normally and being born relatively at term, for example at 39 weeks.”
