Take your time with this information
Week 21
As you further into the 5th month of pregnancy, foetal movement may be more noticeable!1
Your body
To accommodate rapid foetal growth, your body expands which may cause the tissue under your skin to stretch and tear. This process results in pink, red, purple or reddish-brown marks called striae gravidarum (stretch marks).1,2 They occur in 56% of women and birthing people experiencing their first pregnancy and are more common in those aged younger than 20 years old versus those aged over 30 years. They are more commonly found on the abdomen, but can occur on the hips, thighs and breasts.2 Unfortunately, there’s no proven method to prevent striae gravidarum, but managing weight gain during pregnancy may help to reduce the risk of being predisposed to developing them.1
Symptoms1
- Headaches
- Bloating and gas
- Dizziness
- Constipation
- Nasal congestion
- Increased appetite
- Oedema (swelling, specifically hands or ankles)
- Bleeding gums
- Pelvic girdle pain and back ache
- Foetal movement
Your baby
Head-to-toe, your baby should now measure approximately 26–27 cm, and weigh around 310–350 g.1 At this point in pregnancy, your baby has started consuming small amounts of amniotic fluid as they practice swallowing.1 As their taste buds have now fully developed, they may be able to have their first experience of different tastes from the maternal diet.1,3,4 Interestingly, prenatal exposure to different flavours has been shown to influence the acceptance and enjoyment of those flavours in infants during the weaning process.3,4
Things to remember this week
- Consistently taking folic acid is recommended,5 or if you haven’t already, consider taking a prenatal supplement that has the recommended amounts of vitamin A and D, iron and calcium6 which will also help support your oral health7
- Book your routine dental check up to help support your oral health during pregnancy7
- Staying active and keeping a healthy weight can help support overall health8
- Try to avoid alcohol consumption and smoking – both are known as risk factors for miscarriage9,10
- Nourish your body with pregnancy-safe foods. Try to avoid foods high in mercury, such as mackerel and tuna, raw seafood, undercooked meat, poultry and eggs, unpasteurised foods and cheese with a mould rind such as brie, unwashed fruits and vegetables, and any type of herbal tea11
- Limit caffeine consumption to no more than 200 mg per day12
As a guide:
1 mug of coffee contains 100 mg of caffeine
1 mug of tea contains 75 mg of caffeine
1 can of cola contains up to 40 mg of caffeine
1 bar of chocolate contains up to 50 mg of caffeine