Second Trimester • Weeks 18-22
Month 5: Movement Begins
👶 Baby's Development
Your baby is very active now! You may start to feel those first fluttering movements called quickening.
Size: Bell pepper to banana
Weight: About 300-430 grams
Key Milestones:
- • Baby can hear sounds
- • Vernix covers the skin
- • Regular sleep-wake cycles begin
- • Taste buds develop
- • Gender can be determined
🤰 Your Body Changes
Your belly is really showing now! You'll likely feel baby's first movements—an exciting milestone.
Common Symptoms:
- • Feeling baby move (quickening)
- • Round ligament pain
- • Leg cramps
- • Mild swelling in feet
- • Backache
- • Increased vaginal discharge
💚 Care & Wellness Tips
Talk and sing to your baby
Wear supportive shoes
Elevate feet when possible
Practice pelvic floor exercises
Consider a pregnancy pillow
Stay connected with partner
🏥 Medical Checkups
The anatomy scan is the highlight of this month!
- • Anatomy scan (20-week ultrasound)
- • Check baby's organs and development
- • Gender reveal (if desired)
- • Measure amniotic fluid levels
- • Check placenta location
⚠️ Things to Avoid
- • Ignoring unusual symptoms
- • Skipping water intake
- • High-sodium foods
- • Unsafe lifting techniques
- • Comparing yourself to others
💑 How Partners Can Help
Baby can hear now! Start bonding with your little one and share in the excitement of feeling movement.
- • Talk and read to the baby—they can hear you!
- • Be there for the anatomy scan—it's amazing
- • Feel for baby kicks together
- • Help with leg cramp relief during the night
- • Give regular back and foot massages
- • Start assembling a baby registry together
Your pregnancy journey