Pregnancy – Month 5

This is the halfway point. By the end of this month you'll have as many weeks behind you as you have ahead, and for most women it's also the month everyone else finally notices you're pregnant. It tends to be one of the more comfortable stretches, so if you've got things you want to get done before the third trimester slows you down, this is a good window.

Physical changes you might notice

Everything from Month 2, Month 3, and Month 4 can still show up, plus a handful of new ones. Nasal congestion and nosebleeds are common as blood flow to your mucous membranes increases, and the same goes for occasional bleeding gums when you brush. Mild ankle swelling and hemorrhoids can start now too. A thin, whitish vaginal discharge called leukorrhea is normal at this stage and just means your body is protecting itself from infection, though call your doctor if it changes color, smells strong, or comes with itching. Some women notice mild breathlessness as the uterus takes up more room, hair that looks fuller or shinier than usual (or, for some, the opposite), and allergies that flare up worse than before. You might also pee less often for a while, simply because your growing uterus has lifted up out of the pelvis and off your bladder. For a closer look at what your doctor is checking for around now, our guide to second trimester testing walks through it.

Possible anemia

Your blood volume is expanding faster than your body can make new red blood cells to fill it, which is completely normal and sometimes called physiologic anemia of pregnancy. It can still leave you more tired than expected, so if fatigue feels like more than the usual pregnancy kind, mention it at your next appointment. Iron needs go up during pregnancy, most prenatal vitamins already account for that, and a blood test can quickly tell your doctor whether you need more.

Possible emotional changes

On top of what showed up in earlier months, a lot of women notice they're more forgetful or less focused than usual this month, sometimes called pregnancy brain. It's a real, commonly reported experience, even if researchers are still sorting out exactly why it happens. Alongside that, there's often real excitement now that you're visibly showing and it feels safe to share the news more widely if you haven't already.

Appetite changes

Morning sickness has usually faded by now, and appetite often picks up to match. It's tempting to eat for two, but current guidance calls for only about 340 extra calories a day during the second trimester, roughly what you'd get from a serving of Greek yogurt with fruit or a slice of whole grain toast with peanut butter. How much total weight you should gain depends on your starting weight before pregnancy rather than one flat number for everyone. Our pregnancy weight gain chart breaks it down, and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has more detail on how those numbers are calculated.

The inside story

Your baby is around six and a third inches long now and weighs about eleven ounces, roughly the size of a banana. Fingernails and toenails have grown in, and tooth buds for baby teeth are forming under the gums. This is often the month women first feel fetal movement, a sensation called quickening. If this is your first pregnancy, it's common not to feel it until closer to twenty weeks, women who've been pregnant before often notice it earlier, sometimes around sixteen weeks, since they already know what to look for. Your baby is also settling into rough patterns of sleeping and waking, and can respond to loud noises or a nudge from outside.

Sleep and energy

Fatigue typically eases up by the end of this month, and most women feel more like themselves energy wise. It's also a good time to travel if you've got a trip planned, since the risk of common pregnancy complications is lowest right now and most doctors consider the second trimester the easiest stretch to fly. If your trip involves a destination that recommends certain vaccines, check with your doctor first, some vaccines are perfectly fine during pregnancy and others aren't, so it's worth a quick conversation rather than avoiding travel altogether.

Easing the stress

For the fuzzy thinking that can come with pregnancy brain, keeping lists and writing things down helps more than trying to just remember everything. Yoga, guided imagery, and generally simplifying your schedule where you can also take some of the pressure off.

Special risks worth knowing about

Gaining too little weight can affect your baby's growth and raise the odds of a premature birth, while gaining more than recommended can increase the chances of backache, leg pain, a C-section, and a harder recovery afterward. Neither extreme is something to panic over, it's just worth keeping an eye on with your doctor at your regular visits.

Want to see what your baby looks like around now? Our ultrasound images page has real examples from this stage. If quickening has you paying closer attention to movement, Cleveland Clinic has a good explainer on what's normal and when it typically starts. From here, Month 6 wraps up your second trimester.