The whole process of pregnancy is a bumpy one. From the time the mother misses her periods and the fetus grows slowly, the mother's body also changes slowly, affecting both her mental and physical conditions. The first 3 to 4 months carry on with a series of nausea and vomiting. For some, it carries throughout the nine months. Therefore, before deciding to take care of the baby, the mother must first take care of herself. There are 100s of care tips advice available out there, but you need to know which of them are real and which are mere myths that mislead you.
6th Month Of Pregnancy
By the 6th month of pregnancy, you will be excited to welcome your child into this world. The fetus's lungs and other organs are fully developed, with a unique set of fingerprints. The child developed sucking reflexes and is on his way to becoming a new member of the family. Now the baby tries to hear the sounds outside the uterus. And you will slowly start noticing bodily changes like weight gain and fluffy cheeks.
Symptoms That Your Baby Is of 6 Months
After the successful six months of your pregnancy, you might notice your breast growing, your round tummy with a protruding navel, you start wearing baggy clothes, your legs become heavy and suddenly your hunger increases. Now you are 1000% clear that you're expecting a new member of the family. However, there are a few changes happening in the body that are normal.
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Swollen Foot
As your baby slowly grows, your body starts to retain fluids in the tissues, which helps in your child's nourishment, which causes your ankle and legs to swell. Sometimes your eyes and cheeks swell too. It can worsen in hot weather. This condition is also called oedema, and to avoid it, try not to stand for a long time and keep your feet up while you sit. However, if you notice high blood pressure along with all this, consult your doctor soon.
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Indigestion
With each passing week, the body goes through many hormonal transitions, which directly affect the digestive system. Some mothers experience indigestion and constipation by the 6th month of pregnancy. The uterus is located in between the urinary bladder and the rectum. As the child grows and enlarges, it puts pressure around the bowel muscles and slows down the digestion process, causing issues like indigestion and constipation.
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Light headedness
With your child's growth, the womb grows as well, which puts pressure on your blood vessels and causes dizziness making you feel lightheaded. It is suggested to keep track of your blood pressure and take the necessary cure if you have low blood pressure.
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Varicose Veins
While the womb grows, it puts pressure on the inferior vena cava that carries blood back to the heart from the legs, causing a twisted blue vein clearly visible just below the skin surface; this is called varicose veins. It's usually harmless and common during pregnancy and can be avoided by not sitting in a position for a long time, not wearing tight fit clothes, regular exercise and avoiding crossing legs while sitting.
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Itchy Skin
By the 6th month of pregnancy, the tummy expands significantly, as the baby is grown by now, causing the skin to stretch and dry out, which itches. It can be quite annoying. It is advised to stay hydrated and eat water-based fruits to retain the skin's moisture in such situations. Doctors prescribe creams and oils too, which can stop stretch marks and itchy skin.
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Cravings
The baby and its organs are growing, and providing the right nutrition is essential. This is the reason why mothers suddenly feel the urge to eat something, and it is okay to pamper the random cravings. Now the mother has to eat for herself and the baby too. However, consuming healthy and nutritious food like fruits, nuts, eggs, salads, etc., is important. It is also crucial to eat in small intervals instead of a lot at a time.
Misconception and Myths around Pregnancy
As soon as a mother announces her pregnancy, loads of advice along with myths come on her way. One needs to understand that not all suggestions are real and to be believed. Let's look at the different myths and misconceptions associated with pregnancy.
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You can't exercise during pregnancy
This one is famous! Some say that the mother should take complete bed rest and not do any physical activity. But that's not true. Moderate physical activity and exercise are vital for the mother and child's physical and mental health. However, activities, which include jumping, heavy breathing, stretching, bouncing, and sudden jerks, should be strictly avoided. Yoga and walking for 30 mins per day for 5 days a week can be a great way to stay fit during pregnancy. This can help maintain a good body weight, which in return helps during delivery. Studies have proved that too much weight gain affects the baby and the mother before and after the birth. So keep yourself active and happy pregnancy with all the mothers out there!
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You can't have sex during pregnancy
It's okay to have sexual intercourse while you are pregnant, only if your doctor advises you not to. You need to be conscious about the position and make sure not to put pressure and weight. The baby is secured in a bubble of water within the uterine wall, so this thought that sex will hurt him is not true. If your pregnancy is normal without any serious complications, having sex is all right. By the time you are 6 months pregnant, it is much recommended to be prepared to welcome your child and take a break from sex.
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Predict The Sex Of The Baby
Various people apply various methods to predict the sex of the baby. Some of them include the shape of the pregnant belly, type of food the mother craves, sickness and many more. However, none of them can actually predict the sex of the unborn child. So enjoy the process and wait for the new member.
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The Mother Should Eat A Lot Of Food
The concept that the mother has to eat for two is a big misconception. Overeating can lead to excess weight gain, which can have adverse effects on the child and the mother's health.
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Pregnancy brings glow on the face
This cannot be applied to everyone. Pregnancy can be full of complications and issues for some mothers and lead to fatigue and tiredness. Pregnancy leads to many physical, hormonal and mental changes, and the 'glow on the face' fact does not seem to be valid for all.
Diets and Exercise Tips to Consider At the 6th Month of Pregnancy
21- 24 weeks of pregnancy brings a lot of physical and mental changes to both the mother and the child. This is the time when the mother must intake good and healthy food as she faces various symptoms lie swelling and constipation. However, healthy food is a must throughout the miraculous process. Lets us see what are certain type of food you should/ can include in your diet at this time.
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Probiotics
Probiotics are the good gut bacteria naturally present in your intestines, which help in good digestion and bowel movement. They can be easily found in food like curd, miso and fermented curd. However, probiotics are also available in supplements, which help in conditions like bloating and constipation and reduced chance of eczema in babies. It is safe to consume probiotic supplements, but a doctor's consultation is a must before that. Otherwise, you can always go for naturally available options.
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Vitamin C
Vitamin C boosts immunity and helps the body to produce collagen, which is vital for repairing and maintaining connective tissue in the body. Vitamin C also helps the body to absorb iron better. Fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C can be included in the regular diet like Citrus fruits, strawberries, grapes, sweet potato, etc. Supplements are also available but must be taken only with a doctor's prescription.
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Calcium
As we all know, calcium is important to strengthen the bones for both mother and child. It also keeps the nervous system, heart and muscles healthy, which makes it very important during pregnancy. Dairy products, dark green vegetables, almonds, pulses, figs and fish are rich sources of protein and can be enjoyed as yummy dishes. If you notice that you are not consuming enough calcium, your doctor may prescribe you supplements. However, the body cannot absorb calcium on its own and vitamin D help to do so, which can be easily gained by direct sunlight.
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Protein
Protein is essential throughout pregnancy as it promotes the baby's healthy growth. Proteins are otherwise called the building blocks of cells. Foods like eggs, white meat, nuts, milk and pulses are rich in protein. So add them to your everyday diet and keep your and your baby's muscles healthy.
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Folic Acids
Folic acids, otherwise known as Vitamin B, are essential for the body and help produce red blood cells (RBC), which carry oxygen throughout the body. This plays an important part in the everyday diet of a to be a mother. By the 6th month, the baby's organs and senses are almost developed, and studies have proven that mothers who take folic acids have lesser chances to give birth to babies with neural tube defects (NTD) like Spina bifida (a spinal cord defect) and anencephaly (a brain defect), a condition in which the neural tube does not close properly. Green vegetables like broccoli, spinach, peas, green onion have a good amount of folic acids and must be consumed for a healthy baby. Flax seeds, pumpkin seeds and sesame seeds are also great sources of folic acids.
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A good amount of fluid intake
Up to 60% of our body is water, and fluids are very important to keep the body hydrated, especially during pregnancy. The to be mothers can eat fruits and vegetables like melons, grapes, cucumber, watermelon, peaches, etc., with have high water content. 6th month of pregnancy brings constipation issues as well, so to help yourself fight such problems, drink ablest 3- 4 litres of water a day and include juices too. This would help to retail the hydration level and maintain overall health.
Above mentioned are a few points to consider when it comes to a healthy diet. However, it is important to maintain a balanced diet and eat what is good for you and the baby. Yet, certain types of foods and things must be strictly avoided during pregnancy.
Let's have a look at what your baby and body would never like you to eat or try.
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Alcohol
Alcohol is a big no during pregnancy, as it increases the chances of miscarriages. Let's understand how. Whatever the mother consumes, it reaches the baby through the placenta from her bloodstreams. When you drink alcohol, it would anyhow reach your baby's liver, which is developed at the last stage of pregnancy. Alcohol is strong, and your baby's liver would not process it easily and cause serious damage and may cause a miscarriage as well.
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Half Cooked Meat
Uncooked meat like chicken and mutton may contain Listeria bacterium, which can cause Listeriosis, a type of food poisoning that can cause serious damage to the baby and sometimes cause miscarriage as well. So always remember to cook the meat or eggs properly before consumption.
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Spicy And Oily Fast Food
Fast foods have nothing but empty calories like excessive sugar, salt and unhealthy fats, which do no good to the body except provide unhealthy calories. The 6th month already brings heartburns and bloating issues, which can bet worse with junk and oily food. Experts recommend avoiding processed and unhealthy food, which contains refined flour and artificial flavouring agents as much as possible during pregnancy and switching to healthier alternatives. Well, you can always try the healthy version of fried food.
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Excessive Caffeine
Many recommend no caffeine intake during pregnancy, especially during the 6th month. But some allow it in moderation. Caffeine boosts the brain and central nervous system, which energizes and keeps you awake. Along with benefits, caffeine may have potential risks while you carry a life inside your womb. During pregnancy, the caffeine metabolizes slowly. It also reaches the baby through the placenta and can cause issues to the baby. Caffeine can also trigger rapid heartbeat, dizziness, high blood pressure, increased anxiety, restlessness, abdominal pain and diarrhoea. So it is suggested to reduce caffeine as much as possible during pregnancy.
Possible Complications and Precautions
Pregnancy brings loads of happiness, yet one must be ready to shoulder all the responsibilities. By the 22nd to 26th week of pregnancy, the fetus grows up to 1 foot long and weighs around 600-700 grams. The muscles develop, and the mother feels the fetal movement prominently in terms of kicks. The eyelashes, eyebrows, face develops fully, which makes the abdomen area-wide and heavy.
At times, this good news comes along with some complications, which may also affect the mother and child. It isn't certain that a mother won't face any pregnancy-related complications even though she was healthy before conception.
In 2020, the novel coronavirus affected many lives, but does it have any adverse effects if a woman is expecting a baby? Being worried during a serious pandemic is genuine, especially if you are expecting a child or are pregnant or breastfeeding. A pregnant woman can face serious health issues like shortness of breath and, at the time, premature delivery if infected with COVID-19. Many serious conditions may lead to intense care unit and ventilation as well. In many cases, mothers give birth to a still-baby and lose the child as well. Pregnant women with other health issues like diabetes and high blood pressure are at risk anyways, but the risk increases if they get infected with the novel coronavirus. There were many questions related to the vaccination against COVID-19 during pregnancy. If you are pregnant, you must take the vaccine to stay safe in a serious epidemic situation. It is safe, and according to a study, more than 40,000 women show no adverse symptoms after the vaccination. However, there are no clear incidences to prove the vaccine is risky for expecting mothers, yet it is always safe to talk to the doctor and then take the necessary step while you carry your child in you.
Other complications that can cause problems to the mother and the child are- high blood pressure, diabetes, Iron-deficiency anaemia and serious nausea and vomiting. Mothers also face anxiety, depression and stress during the whole process due to hormonal changes. So along with the mother, the father must be equally responsible for taking as much care as possible and face every complication with her. Always remember to avoid other counter medicine and only take drugs as prescribed by your doctor, even if it is a food supplement.
The mother should also take care of the way she sleeps and gets up during her pregnancy. Sudden jerky movements must be avoided as they can affect the child. Do not sleep on your back or tummy as it can cause low blood pressure. Sleeping on your left side is advisable, and while sleeping, keep the knees bent and keep a pillow in between the legs to make it more comfortable. You can also lay back with some soft pillows in a half-sitting position. It is comfortable and prevents heartburning situations.
Conclusion
The points mentioned above are a few tips and health care advice for the 'to be mothers.' Each day of the pregnancy phase is important, and the expecting parents must be careful and conscious before taking any step, as it may indirectly or directly affect the child. Do not ignore any unusual situation like vaginal bleeding, painful urination, persistent fever, a sign of water breaking or extreme vomiting; it may lead to many serious issues. Apart from that, you can also go for postpartum classes and be prepared for breastfeeding. In addition, remember to exercise each day to keep yourself and the baby healthy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which side effects are normal during pregnancy?
During pregnancy, the body slowly tries to adjust and support fetal growth, for which the body will show certain side effects like morning sickness, heartburning, constipation, feet swelling, backache, mood swings, dizziness and sometimes contractions. These are normal during the pregnancy phase. However, if you notice any other discomfort or an issue persists, visit your doctor and take the necessary medication.
Can I have soda drinks or soft drinks during pregnancy?
It would be better to avoid soft drinks as they contain a lot of sugar, artificial flavouring agent, and caffeine. Whatever you eat or drink, it reaches your placenta, and your baby receives it. Therefore, you should go with natural homemade juices.
I heard that eating papaya during pregnancy is not good. Is that true?
Yes, it is true. Unripe papaya contains a type of latex- papain, which the body may misunderstand for the prostaglandins, and trigger a uterine contraction and lead to early labour. So avoiding papaya during pregnancy is wise.
Is milk from the breast normal before childbirth?
Breast leaking during pregnancy is absolutely normal. You may notice yellowish and sticky milk-like substance coming out of your breast; this is colostrums, your child's superfood, as it's full of awesome antibody and nutrient content. It may tend to leak; the breast is preparing to feed the baby. It is normal, and you don't have to worry about it.
Is frequent urination normal during pregnancy?
Yes, it is absolutely normal to urinate every 30 mins during pregnancy as the progesterone and hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) increase. The baby is also growing, which puts pressure on the urinary bladder. Hence, never try to control your pee while you have a baby inside you.
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