Sixth month is the last month of second trimester of pregnancy. Your baby is growing regularly; growth rate has slowed down but the organs are still maturing. You are more excited to see your baby. We understand that motherhood is no less than an occasion beautifully wrapped in the basket pleasures of a new life developing inside your body. There are certain pregnancy tips for 6th month that you should know while you are in your sixth month of pregnancy.
Sixth month Pregnancy guide
1. Baby-birth class – Women who have relatively lesser friends and relatives who have no knowledge or incomplete knowledge about pregnancy may opt for baby-birth classes. These classes will teach you various things about pregnancy like importance of nutritious food and exercise, relaxation techniques for pain management, breastfeeding, effective communication skills, normal labor, birth, and early postpartum care, different ways to position yourself for labor etc. Taking a baby-birth class is sixth month pregnancy advice.
2. Breakfast – be punctual – Since our childhood, we have been taught to have breakfast and we should never skip it after a night’s sleep. This rule follows till we get older and it becomes very important for a pregnant woman to take her breakfast and do not rush from it. During sixth month of pregnancy, women experience food cravings due to the emotional state of mind.
For your breakfast, you may take a glass of low fat milk, some fruit like orange, and some pieces of stone bread (kaak). Porridge is also a good option to be taken in your breakfast that will keep you active until the morning lasts. Do not skip breakfast- is one of the important pregnancy tips for 6 month.
3. Less food in tummy? Prepare a food plan for the day and follow it. You do not have to gulp the food at once and remain hungry all day. Instead divide your diet in at least five or six smaller meals. This will improve your digestion. We are suggesting you to take small meals at regular intervals all day as it provides nutrients to your baby at all times. It also helps you ease heartburns.
4. Going on a diet? This is not the right time to lose weight as you are gaining weight on a regular term. The time for the due date is coming closer and your baby needs every nutrient and mineral to build its body organs. Your baby gets the vital nutrients and minerals from you. Heavy snacks may make you feel lethargic. Choose a right food diet to keep your energy levels up. Therefore, it becomes very important to eat a balanced diet so that your body can supply sufficient nutrients to your baby. 6th month pregnancy advice is plan dieting after your pregnancy.
5. Fluids – The risk of constipation is high during pregnancy. Plenty of water should be taken to avoid constipation and other gastric problems. Fluid intake after physical activities is must. Fluids in form of juices, milk, shakes and squashes may be taken. Various flavors may be tried for change of taste. Apricots, dried apples, raisins and prunes are good sources of fiber.
6. A food pyramid – Pregnancy tips for sixth month includes creating a good food pyramid. Plan a food pyramid to feed your growing tummy. From the beginning of the day to its end, a good and balanced food pyramid is must.
For the breakfast, you may take milk, and fruit. The snack-1 may include a whole-wheat hotdog bun and 2 tablespoons peanut butter topped with thinly sliced banana.
A bowl of mixed salad, medium baked potatoes or rice or pasta, stew prepared with a piece of grilled fish filet or meat or chicken may be taken as lunch. Dried apricots or dates, a cup of plain or fruit flavored yogurt may be included in your snack-2.
For dinner, a bowl of vegetable soup and egg or cheese sandwich made with brown bread. Snack-3 may include a glass of low fat milk and a cup of whole grain breakfast cereals. This may definitely be a satisfactory food intake that you may follow everyday by adding petty changes according to your taste.
7. Must eat food – Health tips for sixth month of pregnancy includes consuming iron, folic and other nutrients. Folic and iron intake is necessary for your body and growth of your baby. Enriched whole grain bread and cereals contain folic acid and iron. Beans including white beans, black beans, lentils, pinto beans, black-eyed peas, kidney, soy beans and garbanzo are good sources of nutrients such as iron, zinc, calcium and folate. Omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon are good for baby’s eyes and brain. It also contains protein and vitamin B. Do not consume uncooked salmon. Amino acids may be obtained from choline found in eggs, meat, fish and some whole grain cereals. For vitamin C and fiber, berries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries are good. Green leafy vegetables should not be forgotten. Starchy foods (carbohydrates) are important.
8. Foods to be avoided – Raw sea food, under-cooked and uncooked meat should be avoided. Spicy, fried and fatty foods take long time to break down. Non-pasteurized food should also be avoided. Stay away from caffeine, alcohol and tobacco. Some over the counter medicines should also be avoided if not consulted from your doctor. Therefore, raw sea food, uncooked meat, spicy and fatty food, non-pasteurized food, caffeine, alcohol, tobacco should be eliminated from your sixth month of pregnancy diet.
9. Ideal weight – For a healthy pregnancy, you need to make sure that your body weight is close to ideal weight during pregnancy. Weight gain is natural during pregnancy. Check your weight with your health care provider. If you are gaining gradually, there is no need to worry.
However, if you observe a sudden increase or decrease in your weight, talk to your doctor about it to check if your weight is okay for the childbirth because very low or high weight may also harm your baby.
10. Skin care – Your growing weight may be a factor of stretches in your skin. Your skin may become itchy due to dryness. This is natural though. Certain creams and lotions may be used to moisturize your skin and prevent itchiness and dryness. Bio oils or creams may be used to prevent stretch marks on your belly, waist, navel and hips. However, there is no assurance that the stretch marks will vanish but they may fade away. Keeping your skin moist is one of the tips for 6th month pregnancy.
11. Morning sickness and leg cramps – During your sixth month, you may be relieved from morning sickness while your uterus is still on the growing path and this may make you feel good. The leg and foot cramps do not go and there may be mild swelling in your ankles and feet. Eating calcium and potassium rich foods may help to control cramps. Flex your toes back toward your face and keep your legs straight to cure leg cramps.
12. Vaginal secretions – A yellowish colored vaginal secretion may be seen in pregnant women in their sixth month of pregnancy, which has a faint smell. Yeast infection is common type of vaginal infection also known as vaginal candidiasis. Precautions during 6th month of pregnancy should be taken if you analyze any change in color or odor of the secretion. Consult your doctor if the secretion is severe. It may be an infection. Lying down, getting gentle massages, and applying hot water bottle or a heating pad to the area may be helpful.
13. Gestational diabetes – Gestational diabetes is a pregnancy related high-blood sugar condition. Glucose screening test also called glucose challenge test (GCT) is recommended to the pregnant women to check gestational diabetes. A difficult vaginal delivery of the baby or cesarean is caused, in case of untreated diabetes because it may cause your baby to grow too large. It may also cause other complications to your baby such as a low-blood sugar level right after birth.
14. Preeclampsia – It is a condition where an excessive blood pressure occurs combined with more complications both for the expectant mother and the baby. You may suffer from a mild or high range of preeclampsia during pregnancy. Preeclampsia causes an increase in blood pressure that may affect your body organs such as brain, liver and kidney. The doctor may check for blood pressure and urine for protein.
Signs of preeclampsia include elevation of blood pressure 140/90, headache, decreased urination, severe pain in the upper abdomen and swelling of face and hands. Consult your doctor or gynecologist who may recommend the precautions taken during 6th month of pregnancy.
15. Anemia – Many pregnant women are prone to anemia. The blood test to check anemia is given generally. If the woman is found to be anemic, she is given required medications and diet chart that helps her to battle anemia. Anemic women have more chances that their babies also develop anemia.
16. Hemorrhoids – There are strong chances of hemorrhoids due to increased blood level in your body, indigestion, constipation and terrible heartburn. The indigestion may lead to gastric problems. Special precautions during 6th month of pregnancy should be taken to prevent hemorrhoids.
To curb hemorrhoids, you may apply witch hazel or ice pack. You may also try a sitz bath i.e. drenching your bottom in low warm water. Medicated wipes or over-the-counter suppositories may be used to prevent hemorrhoids. Avoid taking mineral oil or laxatives. Kegel exercise may also help in preventing piles also known as hemorrhoids.
17. Carpel tunnel syndrome – One of the 6th month of pregnancy symptoms is carpel tunnel syndrome. Numb, prickly and tingly fingers are signs of carpel tunnel syndrome. Almost 75 percent of the pregnant women experience Edema-aka i.e. swelling in hands and feet. Your rings and shoes may not fit your fingers and feet respectively. This occurs due the excessive fluid in your body. Drinking plenty of water may help you reduce this syndrome.
Try to consume more water during day hours. Drinking plenty of water at evening and night may cause swelling in your feet due to water retention over night. Swelling may be prevented by using support stockings.
18. Sleeping – As your abdomen grows day by day, you may feel it difficult to sleep or take ample naps. Sleeping does get tough during pregnancy. If you are besieged by insomnia, you may try natural remedies to get sufficient amount of sleep, which may include drinking hot milk before hitting the bed. Meditation and some exercises may also help you to maintain good sleeping hours.
19. Tiredness and discomfort – You may feel fatigue and uncomfortable during sixth month of pregnancy. The glow on your face may fade away during this month. Take sufficient amount of rest. Foot or back rubs may be helpful to battle tiredness. Do not work for long. Refrain yourself from standing and walking too much. This is one of the prominent sixth month pregnancy tips.
20. Pamper yourself – Being the last month of second trimester of pregnancy, you may feel relative comfort these days. Spend this time to pamper yourself by enjoying the little things that makes you happy. You may gorge for a spa treatment or read your favorite book. A relaxing bath in tub or a long pictorial drive may also help to lighten your mood. And you may do whatever you want to make yourself pleased.
21. Exercises – For maintaining perfect posture and shaping yourself, you need to continue your antenatal exercises. This is because you might have become inactive by this time, which may result in an increase in weight. Sitting idly may make you lethargic and may cause constipation. Therefore, it becomes necessary to make physical moves. Doing the routine housework, walking, and going up and down the stairs are some examples to keep you active. There are some forms of yoga that should be consulted well with doctor before practicing. Light aerobic workout and dancing are also good. Vigorous exercises should be avoided to prevent pregnancy complications.
You are at the end of second trimester. Make sure the diet you are eating, are healthy and nutritious, as it is the only source of development for the baby. Continue taking prenatal vitamins. Do not overwork and de-stress yourself. Try to follow our 6th month pregnancy tips to prevent complications. Stay happy. Stay positive.
Disclaimer: Make sure that this generic advice is good for you in all manners. All the suggestions, diet plans, and tests must be cross-checked with your doctor as they may vary based on your medical history or health conditions. Hence, it is advisable to consult a doctor before adhering to any of them.