Fifth month of pregnancy: what happens in these weeks?
The fifth month of pregnancy represents half of the journey, the path of the fetus towards birth and of the mother towards childbirth. What happens during the weeks of pregnancy of the fifth month, ie from the seventeenth to the twenty-first weeks?
The analyzes to be done
Seventh month of pregnancy: when does it start and what happens?
During the fifth month, and in any case between the fifth and sixth, the second of the three ultrasound scans to be done during gestation is performed. This second ultrasound is very important, because it serves to identify any malformations, to probe the general health of the fetus, and often to see its sex. The morphological ultrasound, this is its specific name, is held between the twentieth and the twenty-second week. Thanks to technological developments, the morphological is often performed as a 3D ultrasound, if the hospital to which the mother goes has the right machinery. For an even better view, the gynecologist might also prescribe a “transvaginal ultrasound.” 3D ultrasound is even more exciting for future parents because it also sees the baby's face. Also during the fifth month, the pregnant woman undergoes a toxo-test, to identify the possible presence of toxoplasmosis.
Ultrasound during pregnancy: a video to understand everything
Doctor De Mita tells everything about ultrasound scans in pregnancy: what they are, what they are for, and when they should be done. The most important, and also the most exciting for the family expecting the child, is the second, where you can glimpse the sex, and perhaps the face of the child. Find out all in the video story of our expert.
Fifth month of pregnancy: the weight of the baby and its growth
By the fifth month of pregnancy, the baby's weight is about 250 grams, while the length is about 20 centimeters. The development of the fetus continues peacefully: the umbilical cord becomes longer and more resistant, while a protective layer is formed around its skin, known as vernix. The sex of the child is formed, visible from the ultrasound, the nerve cells are completed and the muscles are strengthened. The eyelashes and the pigments of the iris are born. The fetus sleeps most of the time, and thumb sucking begins. Hearing is refined, so much so that sudden noises make him wince or move.
The changes in the mother's body, from contractions to pains
The mother's body begins to suffer from the growth of the belly. If the nausea subsides, contractions begin. There is no need to be afraid, they are the normal adaptations of the uterus that dilates to make room for a fetus that grows more and more. During this period it is possible that spots appear on the skin, and that the nipples become dark: there is nothing to be alarmed about, everything will soon return to normal. During this period, the mother may suffer from constipation, which can sometimes lead to hemorrhoids. These are completely normal annoyances in this phase of pregnancy. In addition, the gynecologist checks the weight gain of the expectant mother, to make sure that everything is proceeding normally.
Our advice
This is a particularly beautiful time for the expectant mother, because the nausea is gone and the fatigue is less felt than in early pregnancy. There is a great desire to do and the advice is to take advantage of it, albeit in moderation. The fifth month is therefore ideal to take some nice walks, or to calmly prepare the baby's room. Often sports during pregnancy is also a way to get rid of the typical problems of gestation beyond its mid-term, such as swollen legs, or constipation. Nutrition, as always, is important: the mother must drink a lot of water, take a lot of fiber and vitamins, necessary for a healthy growth of the child, do not overdo it with sugars and fats and do not be tempted by alcohol, cigarettes or excessively sugary sweets. The excess of salt and fat could in fact cause hypertension, a rather problematic state during pregnancy.
