5 Months Pregnant: Symptoms, Baby Development, Belly Size, Body Changes, and More

Congratulations on reaching the 5-month pregnancy milestone! At this stage, with 20 weeks in, you’re halfway through your pregnancy. Your baby is developing rapidly and your body is undergoing several changes to meet your baby’s growth and nutritional needs. 

To know more about what to expect when you’re 5 months pregnant and how to handle the changes, read the sections below.

Symptoms at 5 months pregnant

At 5 months of pregnancy, with all the hormonal changes and rapid baby development, you may experience the following symptoms:

• Heartburn

• Leg cramps 

• Varicose or noticeable veins

• Swollen ankles and feet

• Constipation 

• Frequent urination

• Increased dizziness

• Headaches

• Back pain, especially in the lower back 

• Skin pigmentation such as darkening of the nipples

• Nasal congestion

• Increased appetite and food cravings

• The rapid growth of hair and nails

• Stretch marks

• Change in the center of gravity

• Protruding belly button

• Pregnancy brain

• Mood swings

• Difficulty in sleeping

Since there’s a risk of miscarriage during this period, if you experience any symptoms out of the ordinary, consult your doctor immediately for advice.

Baby development

At 5 months pregnant, your baby is going to develop rapidly and will go through several developmental milestones. 

Baby size at 5 months pregnant

At 5 months pregnant, your baby could be the size of bell pepper or a small banana. Around this time, you could expect your baby to:

• Grow 10 inches long 

• Weigh around ½ to 1 pound (approx. 250–500 grams)

Baby development milestones

At this stage, your baby will develop:

• Vernix Caseosa, a thick, creamy, and protective biofilm that shields your baby’s skin from the amniotic fluid

• Denser muscles and bones 

• Well-defined hands, legs, fingers, toes, and fingerprints

• Weighs around 140 and 300 grams

• Eyebrows, eyelids, eyelashes, ears, nails, and hair

• Lanugo, which is the protective soft, fine hair that grows on the body and limbs

• Genitals

• More brain functioning

• Immune system (around Week 18)

• Functioning nervous system (around Week 20), with a working spleen and endocrine glands

• Light sensitivity and auditory faculty

At 5 months pregnant, your baby may also be able to:

• Have facial expressions 

• Open his/her eyes, blink, yawn, suck his/her thumb, and respond to external stimuli like noises

• Stretch, move, kick, twist, and turn around

• Follow a schedule of sleeping and waking up

• Assume the head-down position

Since your baby is developing muscles and starting to use them now, you could start feeling his/her movements around this time.

Twins at 5 months pregnant

Your twins would be the same length as singleton babies, i.e., the length of a small banana. However, their weight maybe a little less than a singleton baby, which is completely normal. To learn more about twin pregnancies, click here.

Body changes

Somebody changes that you may notice when you’re 5 months pregnant are as follows:

• Fetal movement:

You may notice your baby’s initial movements, also known as quickening, around Week 18 of your pregnancy. This could feel like a fluttering or a bubbling sensation in your belly. 

If it’s your first pregnancy, you may not be able to tell if your baby is moving around early on. On the other hand, if it’s not your first time being pregnant, you could notice quickening as early as Week 13 or 14.

How easy it is for you to identify your baby’s movements depends on: 

• Your baby’s size and position 

• Your placenta’s placement

• Belly size: 

At 5 months pregnant, your belly is getting bigger and your pregnancy becomes noticeable. 

When you go for a prenatal checkup, your doctor may check your belly size by measuring your fundal height, which is the distance between your pubic bone and the top of your uterus in centimeters.

Typically, your fundal height should correspond to the number of weeks you’ve been pregnant, e.g., if you’re 18 weeks pregnant, your fundal height should be 18 cm.

Note: While you may not be able to count your baby’s kicks just yet (which usually starts around Week 28), if you have any worries about your baby’s movements, consult your doctor to ease your mind.

Ultrasound scan at 5 months pregnant

This mid-pregnancy ultrasound scan is important to evaluate your baby’s well-being and your pregnancy’s progress. Usually performed between Week 18 and Week 22, this scan ascertains that your baby’s anatomical development is on track and that there are no structural anomalies.

Since your baby’s genitals are developed when you’re 5 months pregnant, this ultrasound scan can also help you find out the biological sex of your baby. 

Besides identifying your baby’s gender, this scan can also help your doctor check your baby’s:

• Gestational age

• Weight

• Development, including the growth of your baby’s heart, head, and spine

• Position

• Movement

• Heart rate

With this 5 months pregnancy scan, your doctor will also be able to: 

• Evaluate the health of your anatomy, ensuring that your placenta, amniotic fluid levels, and umbilical cord are all fine.

• Determine if you are carrying twins.

• Check for placental conditions such as placenta previa and placenta accreta. 

In case the ultrasound scan shows any abnormality or developmental issue, your doctor may suggest extra scans to determine the problem, further tests, and treatment for it.

Concerns when you’re 5 months pregnant 

Besides the symptoms at 5 months pregnant, you may also experience the following discomforts:

• Abdominal pain

• Increased pulse rate 

• High blood pressure

• Palpitations

• Low hemoglobin, leading to anemia

• Shortness of breath

• Hemorrhoids 

• Bleeding gums

• Increased vaginal discharge

If you are worried about any of the pregnancy changes and symptoms, consult your doctor for advice. 

Exercise at 5 months pregnant

Staying active, fit, and healthy during pregnancy can help you during your labor and speed up your recovery post-childbirth. 

It is usually safe to do the following exercises at 5 months pregnant:

• Walking or jogging

• Yoga, especially prenatal yoga

• Swimming

• Hiking

• Low-impact aerobics 

• Dancing 

• Lifting lightweights 

• Stationary cycling

• Stretches and leg lifts

However, you should avoid doing heavy, intense exercises during pregnancy. Also, if you have a high-risk pregnancy or some complications, it is better to talk to your doctor and figure out the best course of action for you.

Diet at 5 months pregnant

When you’re 5 months pregnant, you need to consume around 300–350 additional calories per day so that your baby is well-nourished and develops properly. 

You should meet your daily calorie needs from sources that are rich in protein and calcium, and not from foods high in fat, sugar, and carbohydrates.

Include the following in your pregnancy diet:

• Lean protein such as chicken and fish

• Low-fat dairies such as cheese, milk, and yogurt

• High-fiber foods such as fresh fruits, vegetables, and lentils

• Whole grains such as quinoa, rolled oats, and brown rice

• Monounsaturated fats such as those found in nuts, seeds, olive oil, and avocados

• Vitamin C-rich foods such as oranges, broccoli, and tomatoes 

• Dry fruits like almonds, pistachios, dates, and walnuts

Also, avoid the following in your pregnancy diet:

• Junk/Fried food

• Alcohol

• Sweets

• Raw seafood such as sushi

• Unpasteurized cheese

• Deli meat

• Foods that you’re sensitive or allergic to

Eating a balanced, healthy diet can help you avoid pregnancy problems such as constipation, hemorrhoids, nausea, and vomiting.

Other tips to follow if you’re 5 months pregnant

Here are some other tips that can help you relieve discomfort and avoid any problems at 5 months pregnant:

• Maintain a good sitting and standing posture to relieve pregnancy pain due to your growing belly.

• Take a shower with cool water to reduce rashes on your breasts, underarms, and groin region.

• Move around instead of sitting or standing in the same position for too long. This can help you avoid aches and cramps and improve your blood circulation.

• Take sufficient rest. Sleep well or take power naps during pregnancy to reduce stress and fatigue. 

• Sleep in a comfortable position. Try sleeping on your left side or using a pregnancy pillow to relieve some pressure from your growing belly.

• Wear comfortable footwear such as flats and avoid wearing heels. Pick shoes of the right size, since your feet may swell during pregnancy.

• Urinate frequently, whenever you feel the urge. Holding in your pee could lead to urinary tract infections.

• Avoid getting up suddenly from a sitting or sleeping position as it could cause dizziness. 

• Ask your partner to support you, for instance, by helping you out with the household chores, giving you a foot or neck massage, and going with you to the ultrasound check-ups.

• Indulge in relaxing activities like listening to music, going on short walks, and practicing meditation and yoga.

Remember to stay active, positive, and relaxed during pregnancy. If you experience any symptoms out of the ordinary, consult your doctor immediately for advice.

When to See a Doctor 

Consult your doctor If you experience any of the following symptoms at 5 months pregnant: 

• Vaginal bleeding

• Severe pelvic cramps or back pain

• A fever (more than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit)

• Painful urination

• Dark-colored or foul-smelling urine

• Increased or foul-smelling vaginal discharge

• Severe vomiting

If you have any more questions or concerns about pregnancy symptoms, you can ask our doctors for advice