The sixth month of pregnancy is the final month of your second trimester. The sixth month of pregnancy is with respect to making yourself ready to be a mother. Generally, all pregnant women are screened for gestational diabetes amid this sixth month of pregnancy. From this month onwards, you should understand the signs of premature labor. It is important to watch the diet during the sixth month of pregnancy.
You will put on weight, and your pregnancy bump grows reliably from this month onward. If not yet, definitely during this month, you have to purchase maternity clothes, as the old ones are not going to fit you anymore comfortably. Setting up a maternity wardrobe is a must this month.
In This Article
- Sixth Month Pregnancy Symptoms
- Development Of The Baby In This Month Of Pregnancy
- What Should Be Included In the 6th Month’s Pregnancy Diet?
Sixth Month Pregnancy Symptoms
Here are the ten vital signs experienced by the expecting mother during the sixth month of pregnancy:
1. Mild Shortness of Breath
During the sixth month of pregnancy, your heart and lungs are working 50% harder than usual. Moreover, the child starts to press the rib cage upwards. Therefore, you may encounter mild shortness of breath during this month
2. Start Feeling Your Baby’s Kick
During the fifth month, you may have slightly felt the baby’s movements in your womb. However, a significant change in the baby’s growth would have taken place since then. Before the current month’s over, you will start to feel his kicks and movements often
3. Itching
Your belly turns out to be well-rounded. The skin of your stomach area may start to itch as it gets to be dry due to stretching. It is an ideal month to start using particular creams to prevent stretch marks
4. Weight Gain
This month, you will start gaining around ½ Kg of weight per week
5. Lower Backache
The pressure on your back muscles and spine increases. Therefore, unless not keep up a good healthy posture, your chances of experiencing backache increases
6. Bleeding Gums
You may experience bleeding gums whenever you brush your teeth. It is due to increased blood volume in the body. During this month, you are more vulnerable to gingivitis. Hence, take necessary measures to prevent it.
7. Gastric Issues
If adequate are measures were taken, the issues like constipation, heartburn, gas formation, indigestion, etc. from the previous month will continue this month as well.
8. Swelling
Mild swelling in hands, feet, and legs can appear this month due to the increased blood volume and water retention.
9. Increased Vaginal Discharge
Increased vaginal discharge is a noticeable sign during this month of pregnancy. The color can vary from clear to slightly yellowish with a faint smell. If the color and odor change noticeably seek medical advice as it can be an indication of infection.
10. Increased Frequency of Urination
The intervals between your urination decrease more during this month. This is because the pressure on the bladder by the uterus increases (more than the fifth month), as the baby and the uterus, are growing further.
Development Of The Baby In This Month Of Pregnancy
The child keeps on developing quickly this month, putting on weight, as well as length. Likewise, the infant starts to look increasingly like a human baby as the limbs and facial features attain definite shape and structure.
Here are some imperative changes that take place on different organs of your infant in month 6:
1. Skin
Though 1% of the entire body is fat, the fat deposit begins under the skin of the baby. Therefore, even if wrinkled, the skin of the baby starts to become smooth and thick. The skin has a pinkish tinge as the blood vessels are getting fair developed under the skin
2. Respiratory System
The nostrils and the lungs are developing tremendously during this sixth month of pregnancy. The lungs begin to produce a substance called surfactant. It is a flimsy layer, which spreads over the inner surface of lung cavities.
The surfactant is essential for the lungs to work properly in light of the fact that it keeps the wall of the lungs from adhering to each other when the baby breathes out. The advancement of the lungs is a long procedure and will not be finished until the baby is almost ready to be born
3. Senses
The child starts to respond to certain senses, like touch, vision, sound, etc. Some 6-month fetal sense development is:
- The baby may cover his face with the hand (sometimes) in response to the translucent light going into the womb from outside
- The baby can now hear noises from the outer world, and he definitely reacts to louder voices (by fitful movements). He can hear your voice from this month onwards
- Taste buds start to develop
4. Eyes
The eyes of the baby can be open wide, and the eyelids will begin to blink. The retinas of your child’s eyes will be fully developed before the month is over
5. Ears
Bones in the middle ear start to harden, which is vital for proper hearing and balancing
6. Spine
The joints and ligaments of the baby’s spinal cord start to develop. All these form the backbone and supports the baby when he is in an upright position
7. Genitals
The female baby’s reproductive organs are formed and placed correctly. The male baby’s testes start to fall downwards from the abdomen (where it is formed) to their proper place in the scrotum
8. Muscles
The muscles of the hands and legs of the baby are developing considerably. It is responsible for the kicks and pushing you are experiencing in the womb
9. Baby Starts to Develop a Routine
Unlike the through out restlessness of the previous month, this month, the baby starts to design himself a routine of activity followed by a resting period
What Should Be Included In 6 Month Pregnancy Diet?
When you are six months pregnant, your child will begin becoming rapidly at this stage, and this will make you feel hungry more often than not. This does not mean you ought to consume whatever you require.
You call for an appropriate pregnancy diet that meets all the nutritional needs of your developing baby. What you eat and how you eat have an impact on the gross development of the baby. Here is the list of food that you should include in your daily menu during the 6th month of pregnancy.
1. Eat Foods Rich in Folic Acid
In your sixth month of pregnancy diet, you ought to incorporate food rich in folic acid. It is vital for the brain development of your infant. Also, regular intake of folic acid aids in toning up the baby’s spinal cord. The following foods are rich in folic acid.
- Whole-grain bread
- Fortified Cereals
- Green vegetables such as romaine lettuce, spinach, mustard leaves, turnip leaves, etc.
- Broccoli
- Fruits like strawberry, raspberry, orange, avocados, grape, banana, cantaloupe, etc.
- Vegetables like okra, lentils, Brussel’s sprouts, cauliflower, beets, peas, corns, and beans
- Nuts like peanuts and almonds
- Seeds like flax seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and sesame seeds
2. Increase the Intake of Fluids
Remember to consume lots of water and juice during this month of pregnancy. Try to drink at least eight glasses of water and some fresh fruit juice daily. Fluids not only provide essential minerals and nutrients but also help in keeping constipation away during pregnancy.
3. Dairy Food
Dairy foods are rich in calcium. Intake of dairy products ensures that the baby will have strong bones and teeth. They are also rich in proteins. You can have ‘low fat’ products if you are worried about putting on weight.
Try to take at least one liter of milk or milk products every day. This you can achieve by taking one glass of milk in the morning and evening, and including a portion of the following items in the daily menu:
4. Protein-Rich Food
Proteins are essential for the development and growth of the baby as they are the building block of cells and tissues. Here is the list of protein-rich foods that you should include in the daily menu:
- Dairy products
- Nuts and seeds like pistachio, hazelnut, coconut, almonds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, and sunflower seeds
- Chickpea and black beans
- Whitefish
- Eggs and lean meat
- Oats
- Tofu
5. Carbohydrate-Rich Food
Carbs are a vital source of energy during pregnancy. Without sufficient energy, the body of the mother cannot support the growth of the baby. Some of the best sources of carbs include:
- Potatoes
- Sweet corn
- Whole-grain Pasta
- Nuts
- Wheat and Oatmeal
- Bulger
- Legumes
- Whole grain cereals and bread
- Banana
6. Vegetables
Vegetables can provide all the important nutrients, fiber, and all sorts of vitamins. Therefore, it is important to include the following vegetables on your daily menu:
- Brussel sprouts are rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Vitamin C, manganese, and potassium.
- Cauliflower is rich in vitamin C and folic acid.
- Beetroots are rich in antioxidants, folic acid, calcium, silica, and iron.
- Carrots are rich in vitamin C, vitamin A, and fiber.
- Turnips are rich in vitamin C, protein, iron, etc.
- Asparagus is rich in vitamin B 9, vitamin B complex, vitamin K, vitamin C and vitamin A, calcium, fiber, and folic acid.
- Eggplants are a rich source of folates, vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin E, and vitamin B complex.
- Pumpkins are rich in protein and have fair amounts of fat, zinc, carbohydrates, vitamins, iron, fiber calcium, niacin, and phosphorus.
- Tomatoes are rich in vitamin C and vitamin A.
- Potatoes are rich in carbohydrates, calcium, potassium, folate, fiber, and so on.
7. Fruits
Fresh fruits deliver key vitamins for the progress of a healthy pregnancy. Including a different variety of fruits in the daily menu will keep you from issues connected with the inadequacy of vitamins. Likewise, fruits provide essential minerals that will help with the baby’s development and growth.
- Pears are a good source of vitamin C, potassium, fiber, copper, folate, and phosphorus
- Apples are rich in antioxidants, B-complex vitamins, flavonoids, iron, phytonutrients, and dietary fiber
- Bananas are an excellent source of potassium. It also has a fair amount of fiber, vitamin C, vitamin B6
- Grapes are rich in iron, antioxidants, sugars like glucose and fructose, vitamin complex – A, C, K, and B group
- Kiwi is an excellent source of dietary fiber, carbohydrates, Vitamin E, energy, and other minerals
- Orange is one of the richest sources of vitamin C. It is an excellent source of potassium, folate, and antioxidants
- Avocados are rich in folic acid and are loaded with calcium and vitamins like B1, B2, B6, K, and C
- Mangoes are rich in vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin B6, potassium, iron, and folic acid, which are all vital during this month
