6 months pregnant women usually have a happier time, why? Symptoms such as morning sickness, nausea and fatigue must have become past experience.
Besides, any expecting mom in month 8 must have become used and adjusted to other pregnancy symptoms. As a result, no major changes should are expected to unusually affect the mom’s body in the weeks of pregnancy month 6.
Although some kind of insecurity and fears regarding the baby’s development may be likely this month, knowing in advance what the little one is doing inside the womb can relieve these worries.
The tiny hairs covering the baby’s body get darker and the brown fats are deposited on its bones for regulating body temperature.
Measuring 12 inches and weighing about 2 pounds, the growing boy or girl starts practicing walking and kicking the uterus walls. Its vocal cords are almost completely developed and hiccups become more frequent as the baby continues to swallow amniotic fluid.
During this month, the baby’s eyes are fully formed to the extent that any source of light placed near the belly may make the baby turn its head and move inside the womb. Under the baby’s transparent and wrinkled skin, the spinal cord with ligaments and joints begins to form.
Another change occurring this month is the production of a thin surfactant membrane inside the baby’s lungs, which serves for covering the alveoli and is essential for breathing. However, the baby won’t be able to breathe normally outside the uterus as its lungs aren’t mature.
The belly of most 6 months pregnant moms is like the size of a basketball and exerts increased pressure on ligaments, skin and organs inside the abdominal cavity, as such itching, aches and digestion problems are likely to be experienced.
Most women feel bloated, heavy and chubby during the last weeks of the second trimester and heart burn, headaches, cramps in the lower back and legs, numbness in hands and feet and weakness are the most common symptoms in pregnancy month six.
Stretch marks forming on breasts, belly, thighs and buttocks become more visible in month 6. Applying some cocoa or Shea butter is a good idea for minimizing their appearance.
Wrists pain irradiating to shoulders is also common among six months pregnant women and urine loss while coughing or laughing may be experienced. Still, this problem can be avoided by doing Kegel exercises, which strengthen muscles in pelvis and help improve bladder control.
Tenderness and a tearing sensation in the lower abdomen are often experienced in pregnancy month 6, due to the stretching and splitting of abdominal muscles.
Although they won’t be as toned as they were, these muscles will get back to their position after birth and with a sustained workout routine they’ll look better in only few weeks.
Uterine contractions don’t normally start this month but some women do experience some painless and irregular contractions from time to time. These are called Braxton Hicks contractions and they’ll be more frequent starting with month 7 as their role is to prepare the uterus for birth.
When you’re 6 months pregnant, maintaining proper body hygiene habits is crucial for preventing infections and reducing the discomfort caused by breasts leakage, increased vaginal discharge and perspiration.
Warm baths relax the muscles and reduce back pain and leg cramps, so they should definitely be part of the daily routine of every expecting Mom.
Maintaining a correct posture helps in reducing pressure on joints and legs and wearing comfortable shoes – even if they’re a size bigger than usually - is useful for diminishing feet swelling.
For preventing bladder infections and hemorrhoids, cotton underwear and maternity clothes should be chosen even if they make the belly look even larger.
The most important prenatal or antenatal exams were already taken and most 6 months pregnant women only do their regular checkups.
However, besides the urine and blood exams, a nonstress test, which is able to detect if the baby is under any stress, could also be taken for measuring the fetal heart rate, the baby’s response to movements and the overall intrauterine activity.
The biophysical profile is usually done with the nonstress test by week 26 and it shows the baby’s breathing movements and muscle tone, and the amount of amniotic fluid inside the womb.
As the second trimester approaches its end it’s good for the expecting mom to decide whether she wants to breastfeed or not and to talk with her health nurse or obstetrician about the pros and cons of breastfeeding for both the mom and the baby.
Talking honestly about this issue, among others, helps in getting more comfortable to decide, and reducing parental anxiety which is a normal symptom among 6 months pregnant moms and expecting women in general.