Pregnancy Month Five

Baby's Growth

Week 18

Two exciting things happen around this week: your baby may be developed enough to see and to hear. Your baby uses these skills before she is born as a way to familiarize herself with the environment she will live in. Although her eyes are only able to detect the difference between bright light and darkness, this helps her learn about the day/night schedule where you live.

The sounds she hears are muffled because of the amniotic fluid, but she does hear enough to become familiar with the voice of her mother and others who live in her home. She may also become familiar with the type of music you listen to.

Week 19

Your baby has been developing two forms of protection for his skin; lanugo hair and vernix caseosa. The vernix is a thick and creamy white substance that prevents the amniotic fluid from damaging the skin. It slowly wears off near the end of your pregnancy, so babies born early tend to have more on their skin than babies born late. Lanugo hair develops all over the body and seems to help the vernix remain attached to the skin. The lanugo will also fall off near the end of your pregnancy.

Week 20

Her skin is developing the layers it needs to provide protection to the bones, muscles and other tissues underneath. This thickening process will make her skin opaque (you will not be able to see through it any more).At the end of the 20th week your baby will be around 7.5 inches from crown to rump and weigh 1 pound, and baby's kidney's are now functioning well enough that they can make urine.

Week 21

As the bones are hardening, the bone marrow is also developing. It is now developing the ability to produce blood cells (this is the function of marrow in an adult). Until the marrow can do this on its own, your baby’s liver and spleen are making his blood.

Mom's Changes

Your nausea should have disappeared by now, but you may be feeling heartburn or indigestion when you eat. You may also be experiencing some constipation and pelvic pain. Although some pelvic pain is normal due to the relaxing and stretching of the pelvis, you should seek the advice of your caregiver if the pain is excessive or interferes with your regular activities.

You should be feeling the baby's movements by the end of this month. You may also have grown enough that you begin to see stretch marks.

Your thyroid gland is more active during pregnancy, which may cause an increased perspiration. Some women find that the increased blood volume during pregnancy causes their gums to bleed and nosebleeds.

Although still early, some women begin to have leaking fluids from their breasts. It is normal for the breasts to leak, and normal for the breasts not to leak. It will have no effect on your ability to breastfeed.