5 months and 1 week
2nd trimester
19 more weeks to go
Your baby bump has become bigger, shifting your centre of gravity and making you wobbly. You might find yourself being clumsier than usual thanks to the above and also the fact that your joints are looser now because of the hormone ‘relaxin’. It is a golden period though backaches, pains, itchiness and nasal congestion may trouble some mums-to-be. Stretch marks - pink, red, purple, reddish-brown or dark brown streaks - the colour depending on your skin colour will be making statements on your belly. You will be feeling more movement in your uterus. You may also be feeling the effects of extra fluid in your body.
पंचमे मासि गर्भस्य मांसशोणितपचयो भवति अधिकं अन्येभ्यो मासेभ्यः। (चरक शारीरस्थान)
Ayurveda says there is an increase in anabolism of the blood (शोणित) and flesh(मांस) in foetus this week. This makes the foetus more active.
Your baby's arms and legs are in proportion this week and his movements are now much more coordinated. With the neurons now connecting the brain to the muscles, and cartilage throughout the body is turning to bone, the limb movements can appear like that of a trained gymnast! These are solid upgrades to the little one and he’s loving those moves, it seems.
Your baby is now heavier than the placenta. Up until this point, your baby's liver made most of the red blood cells. But now, their bone marrow is starting to take over as the primary contributor. By 24 weeks, the bone marrow will take over as the primary producer of the baby's red blood cells. Eventually, the liver and spleen will stop producing these blood cells before birth.
Your baby's eyelids, which closed and sealed together around week 11, are now beginning to separate. Your baby's eyebrows have grown in. Behind her eyelids, her irises still lack pigment, though.
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You may also notice so-called spider veins (a group of tiny blood vessels near the surface of your skin), particularly on your ankles, legs, or face. They may have a spider- or sunburst-like pattern with little branches radiating from the center, they may look like the branches of a tree, or they may be a group of separate thin lines with no particular pattern.
Your pregnancy hormones and your increased metabolism can leave you feeling hot and sweaty. Make sure you stay cool by wearing loose clothing and drinking plenty of water. Don’t feel awkward telling your family if you are not able to sit in a stuffy room.
Hormonal activity and your growing baby pushing against your intestines can lead to constipation. Although this condition can be uncomfortable, drinking more water and eating more fibre can help get things moving. S for ‘Salads’ is the word!
You may be having a hard time concentrating as well as you used to, and you may find that you’re forgetting small things. Use the phone for reminders. Sticky notes and telling your spouse to take on some of the reminders you need is also a good idea. Do mindfulness exercises to build concentration. And, make sure to take some extra breaks while doing tasks that require your concentration.
Does Yoga really work? Do I really have the time for it? These questions do bother a lot of pregnant women. We’d just gently request you to give it a shot.
This week, try Virabhadrasana or the warrior pose. Do it consistently, everyday for the entire trimester.
The benefits will be really noticeable. You will find your muscles -- the back, ankles, knees, and shoulders -- strengthening nicely.
You will also experience a boost in confidence as you conquer the wobbliness of the pregnancy gait.
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We have curated several pregnancy lifestyle sessions and expert-led webinars to help mums to build flexibility and to prepare their bodies for delivery.
Every moment, we are accumulating toxins in the body. Simple home-remedies to rid the body of toxins are so powerful! Moreso, for pregnant women. Here are some tried and tested remedies with the goodness of traditions and a solid certificate from science!
Useful for all pregnant women, with special benefits in cases of urinary tract infection.
Dhanyaka Udaka - Soak a spoonful of dhaniya (coriander) seeds overnight. In the morning, remove the seeds and drink the infused water for a clean and healthy urinary tract.
Narikel Udaka - Tender coconut water is a natural diuretic that helps flush out bacteria from your body. Cooling properties help in reducing the burning sensation of the urine.
In the second trimester and definitely not after this week, your doctor may do the Quadruple test. Also known as the Quad screen, it is a prenatal test that measures levels of four hormones in a pregnant woman’s blood:
The quad screen is done to evaluate your risk of carrying a baby who has any of the following conditions: Down syndrome (trisomy 21), Edwards syndrome (trisomy 18), Spina bifida, and Anencephaly.
The quad screen is optional. Test results only indicate whether you have an increased risk of carrying a baby who has Down syndrome, not whether your baby actually has the condition. If your risk level is moderate or high, you might choose to follow the quad screen with another test that’s more definitive such as amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling.
In the second trimester, swelling of feet is common because of the hormones. It can be reduced by eating foods that are high in potassium, such as bananas, sweet potatoes, bok choy, and spinach. Here is a simple recipe packed with big potassium benefits:
Panchamrita means five amruthams or amrtas which basically consists of milk, honey, sugar, yogurt and ghee.
Ingredients
Banana – 1
Dates – 4
Dried Figs – 2
Raisins – 12-15
Grated Jaggery (Gur) – 1 tbsp
Honey – 1 tbsp
Cardamom Powder – ¼ tsp,
Rock sugar or Mishri – 2 tsps
Ghee – 1 tsp
Pachai Karpooram or Edible Camphor– 1/8 tsp or a pinch
Method
Chop the banana, dates and figs. Add all the ingredients, except rock sugar and ghee. Give it a nice mash!
Now, add the ghee and rock sugar.
According to Ayurveda, this recipe balances the Pitta Dosha, improves immunity, enhances brain function, memory and creative abilities. It clears complexion and keeps hair healthy. It also nourishes the Sapta Dhatu - the seven bodily tissues, Shukra Dhatu (reproductive tissues), Majja Dhatu (bone marrow and nervous tissues), Asthi Dhatu (bone, teeth), Medas Dhatu (fatty tissues), Mamsa Dhatu (muscle tissues), Rakta Dhatu ( blood ) and Rasa Dhatu (plasma for strength, immunity and vitality).
iMumz provides micro nutrients week by week for your daily dose of nutrition. Diet charts and recipes are made by mothers to give your daily dose of health for your baby and you.
If you place your fingers about a half-inch above your belly button, you may be able to feel your uterus. The uterus is now sitting directly on top of the bladder. As the uterus grows, its increased weight can block the drainage of urine from the bladder, causing an infection. To prevent UTI,
Your uterus is up at your belly button, so you might be getting some heartburn or indigestion. You might just need to burp a lot more often. As the baby gets bigger within you, your uterus exerts more pressure on your bowel. This usually results in more instances of your passing gas.
Constipation becomes more common because of high levels of progesterone and because of growing uterus pressure on them, the gas might not have anywhere to pass, leaving you feeling bloated. Drinking plenty of fluids and eating fibre-rich foods can alleviate constipation.
One tsp of isabgol powder in one glass of warm water helps in bloating as well as constipation. Isabgol, a psyllium husk is a dietary fiber that helps to increase stool and promote laxation. It is completely safe in pregnancy.
iMumz has a team of doctors working round the clock to prepare a rich repository of such tips.
Sesame seed (til seeds, ellu) can cause miscarriage.
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Not true! In Indian food culture, some foods are considered to have increased ‘heat’ and supposedly can harm the baby. This has no scientific basis. In moderation, it is good for mum and baby.
Garbh Samvad (Talking to the baby)- Every single effort to connect with the baby goes a long way in establishing bonds. You might think the baby is so tiny - how would he know that I am trying to connect?!
Science has proven that if you communicate with him on a regular basis, share your hopes and fears, there is a form of listening that is taking place.
A study conducted showed that infants were able to figure out the emotions that their mums were going through. They had identified with emotions that their mum had felt when they were in-womb!
We have weekly bonding activities to help mums to connect with babies for their all-round development.
The award-winning iMumz App is helping 350,000 + women make their pregnancies healthier and happier.
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