Your actions can impact your baby's growth at this stage
Overheated
During pregnancy your metabolism or the rate at which your body expends energy speeds up. You are also perspiring more due to needing to lose all the heat your baby is making. This can make your feel rather warm even in cooler temperatures. It is very important to stay cool while you are pregnant.
- Drink plenty of water and fluids. In fact carry a water bottle with you.
- Dress lightly in breathable fabrics like cotton
- Stay out of the sun as much as possible
- Stay in an air-conditioned environment if the heat gets too much
- Go for a swim or take cool baths or showers
- Avoid exercising in warmest part of the day. Take a walk when the sun is down i.e. early morning or evening or go to the fitness center for the workout.
Yeast Infections
Increased estrogen levels during pregnancy cause changes in the vaginal environment which throws off the natural balance and makes room for some organism to multiply faster than others. Candida may be present without symptoms or may cause an infection. Signs of vaginal infection include thick, white and curd-like discharge; itching, redness around the vagina area and burning sensation when urinating. Though unpleasant for you it will not harm your baby and it is treatable during pregnancy. Help prevent with these measures:
- Eat plenty of yoghurt that contains live Lactobacillus acidophilus cultures. It helps maintain the right mix of bacteria in your system
- Wear underwear with cotton crotches and loose fitting pants that do not cut into your crotch area
- Avoid sugar laden foods as these encourage bacterial growth
- Avoid long hot baths which create the perfect environment for yeast to flourish. Opt for showers instead.
- Avoid wearing wet bathing suits and exercise gear for long periods of time; wash them after each use
- Do not self treat with OTC remedies. Consult your doctor.
Common Concerns in in Week 22
Is a small breast lump of concern in the 5th month of pregnancy?
Since the breasts are collections of glands that make milk, it is not unusual for a milk duct to get engorged - this happens frequently. It is possible that a breast lesion becomes more prominent and obvious during pregnancy. Since it is difficult to draw a line between what is suspicious and unsuspicious the following will help you decide on what is unsuspicious:
- Freely movable (cancerous cells tend to stick in the surrounding tissue)
- Painful, which usually means inflammation, not tumor. It is possible to get mastitis before actual breastfeeding begins.
- Size - cysts related to milk production change size with hormonal fluctuations. Bad cysts will stay the same or grow bigger.
- Very round (malignant growths are irregularly shaped)
- Small size (less than 1 cm)
- Breast lumps are fairly common during pregnancy. Mammogram, if necessary is safe especially if an abdominal shield is used, and any procedure following that is best left at your obstetrician's discretion.
There is some fluid coming from my breasts staining my clothes. I am only half-way through my pregnancy - is this breast milk?
- This isn't breast milk. During the second trimester a thin, yellow fluid called colostrum forms, which is the precursor to breast milk. Sometimes it will leak from the breasts and this is normal. It is usually best to leave your breasts alone; don't try to squeeze the fluid out. Wear breast pads if necessary.