6th Month Pregnancy Care – What To Expect, Do’s & Dont’s

Month six of pregnancy is all about prepping yourself to be a mommy!

Your growing baby bump along with those food cravings and nesting indicate that your body will now send you the signals to start making arrangements for your little one’s arrival. You will be full of mixed feelings, both happy and anxious. You will now be more excited about the baby shopping and the getting ready for baby phase!

This is an ideal time to make a shopping list of all the necessities that are required while nursing your baby after the arrival. You will be stuck with a lot of decision making while planning to pick things.

Make sure that you buy only what is required in the long run for your little one. Essentials like toiletries, nappies, wipes and diapers should be included in the list. Try not to go overboard while shopping for fancy things that do not add much value or last only for a short while.

6th Month Pregnancy Care – What To Expect?

Care during 6th month of pregnancy is very essential like any other month. Here are some new developments that you will see happening in and around you while progressing through this month:

• You will be more confused than before. This is due to the growing bump, plethora of advises from near and dear and the anxiety to shop for the baby
• You will be more relaxed than you were in month five. There is an occasional gush of energy to ‘get everything arranged and sorted.
• You will start to prepare your home and surroundings for the impending arrival of your baby. While the expected time of arrival is significantly large, you will begin to kick off the preps.
• You will need to constantly remind yourself to relax at regular intervals, since you are in such a rush to get things done. Make sure there is a balanced routine every day.

Changes In Your Body:

Like every other month, you will see a foray of changes happening to your physical and emotional self. Below are some important changes:

• You will experience constant bleeding from your gums while brushing. While your gums are trying to support teeth and the bone, make sure that you brush at least twice a day and floss before bedtime. Visit your dentist if the bleeding is more than anticipated. Your gums can be prone to gingivitis, hence, take care.
• You will have increased discomfort in the abdominal area with the expanding uterus making more room for your growing baby. The muscles around your pelvic area will be prone to stretching and increasing on an everyday basis. You will experience those cramps. Indulge in warm bath, tummy massages and physiotherapy.
• Your tummy is big enough now for you to not be able to see your knees when you stand. While you may be embarrassed at your pregnant body, learn to love and accept it. A pregnant woman is the most beautiful sight in the whole world!
• By the end of month six, your tummy will start getting itchy. This is due to the stretching of the collagen fibers in the middle of your skin on the abdomen. Apply good amounts of cocoa butter cream to get instant relief.
• Your blood volume will continue to peak as the months come by. It would have increased to about 25 percent by now as compared to the start of pregnancy. The results are the swollen fingers and ankles.
• You are subject to an increased appetite and growing food cravings around this time. While your inner self is actually longing for that junk food, cakes and muffins, remind yourself that these are not healthy for your baby. Having a fulfilling and nutritious diet like wholegrain bread, cereals, fruits, vegetables and juices is more advisable.
• You will experience false contractions, also called as Braxton Hicks contractions in the middle of the month. Do not panic as this is your body’s way of preparing for the oncoming childbirth naturally. However, if you feel your uterus hardening more than normal and sense any pain, do consult your doctor to rule out any complications.
• Constipation and low blood sugar will continue to annoy you. Make sure you continue the same healthy pattern of drinking lots of liquids and eating high fiber diet as done in the earlier months.
• Carpal Tunnel syndrome is possible to occur by the end of third trimester. Fluid retention in your body causes carpal tunnel to swell. Physiotherapy helps.

[ Read: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ]

• Your fears and anxieties can either increase or decrease around this time. Childbirth is an emotional process, and you are bound to weigh the pros and cons about what is about to transpire. Make sure there is enough sharing happening with friends and loved ones to ease out the stress.
• You will now find yourself immersed in advises, literally. Family, friends, loved ones and even neighbors will take full liberty to shower you with what is good and what is not. It can get a bit overwhelming, not to forget annoying at times. Excuse yourself politely from the same if you are not ready to take in the advice. It’s quite okay to be honest about it.
• You will have a rush of mixed feelings looking at your pregnant body. Life surely changes a lot after childbirth. Do not overburden yourself with thoughts.

[ Read: 7 Month Pregnancy Care ]

Changes In Your Baby:

Your little baby continues to grow with significant progress and you cannot wait to get a glimpse of the same in your next ultrasound.

Here are some vital changes happening to your baby in month 6:

• Nostrils and lungs will now develop fully. The nostrils are well developed and functional while the lungs are busy coating themselves with tiny alveoli, necessary for breathing and retaining oxygen at birth.
• The position of your baby could be anything at this time: breech (bottom pointing down and head upwards under your ribs), transverse, sideways or even oblique (diagonally across your uterus).
• Your baby still has room large enough to swim in the amniotic fluid. The final position of your baby is known only in the last few weeks of pregnancy. Till then, it’s a fun time to swim around in your uterus.
• Your baby is less than one kilogram in weight, about 900 grams.
• The eyes are wide open and the eyelids will start to blink
• Your baby will start kicking around more than before. You will sense those amazing kicks and stretches. Cherish the feeling.
• Your baby will be more responsive to sounds, food and sensations by this time. Do not be surprised to feel a kick after having a yummy ice cream or a sweet snack: your baby wants to say that he has an opinion of the same.
• The retinas of your baby’s eyes will be fully developed by the end of the month. Your baby will be experiencing some magical visions with a dull translucent light passing into the womb from outside. You may get to see your baby closing his eyes with his palms during the scan if you are lucky enough.

 6th Month Pregnancy Precautions:

As your womb is fast preparing with growth and birth of your baby, you will have to be even more careful about precautions during 6th month of pregnancy.

Here are some Dos and Don’ts that you need to follow:

Do’s:

1. Posture:

The growing bump and the itchiness on your belly may cause you to change your posture often.

• Make sure that you maintain a good posture throughout.
• Continue to sleep on your left side and sit on well-cushioned furniture during the day.

2. Food:

Constipation is inevitable.

• Invest in some great fiber diet as you have been doing earlier.
• The issues of constipation and blood clots will fade away after childbirth.

3. Exercise:

Continue to exercise every day.

• The basic stretches and meditation should help you deal with stress, both physical and emotional.
• Keep your trainer duly notified of what month you are in.

4. Sleep Deprivation:

Yes, you will have funny sleep pattern as the days pass by.

• Going to bed late and waking up early without proper sleep can become a routine from here on.
• Make sure you indulge in a warm bath, a glass of milk and relaxing music before hitting the sack. It is very important to get adequate amount of rest.

[ Read: Sleeping Problems During Pregnancy ]

5. Cord Blood Banking:

This is the perfect time to sign up for Umbilical Cord Banking.

• The stem cells of your baby’s umbilical cord are said to have miraculous healing properties to fight many ailments in the future.
• Make sure you invest in this option after getting all the information from your gynecologist.

6. Pre Natal Checks:

You are most likely to suffer iron deficiency during this month. Make sure you eat lots of iron rich foods to commensurate the red blood cell count.

Don’ts:

1. Smoking And Passive Smoking:

It is not enough that you quit smoking, it is also crucial that you avoid the company of smokers. Passive smoking is as harmful as an active one during pregnancy.

2. Risky Foods:

You will have to keep a watch on what you eat, regardless of your strange cravings.

• You might be subject to Listeria, a dangerous bacterium that can cause pregnancy related complications.
• Avoid foods such as coleslaw, soft cheese, unpasteurized milk, cold meats, sushi and raw milk.
• All these foods are more vulnerable to bacteria build up and hence the precaution.

3. No Slouching:

You will want to do this all the time, but control the urge.

• Slouching is very dangerous for you and your baby as it can put pressure and cut off the blood supply to the womb.
• Be absolutely mindful of your postures.

4. Do Not Ignore The Unusual Symptoms:

If you experience pain, bleeding or any other symptoms that look out of the ordinary, do not fail to report to the doctor. Do not be shy to discuss the slightest doubt on this front.

Tips:

Here are few essential tips you should follow when it comes to six month pregnancy care:

• You will have to train your mind to take it easy, sit back and relax.
• Sure, there is plenty of work ahead but ensuring that you get enough rest is also of paramount importance.
• Cherish the experience of planning for your baby’s furniture, shopping and nesting. However, getting obsessive about the same is not advisable.
• If you have a piling emotional crisis about the oncoming birth, discuss your fears with your gynecologist.

Talking to your loved ones and spending time in positive surroundings can make a great difference in how you look at things.

Don’t forget to share your experiences of your 6th month pregnancy care with us.

Happy Pregnancy!

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