Time to celebrate!
You made it through everything the first trimester threw your way — like daily puking, sore boobs, and crushing fatigue — but likely don’t have to deal (yet!) with everything the third trimester brings, like crotch pain, sleepless nights, and the reality of impending labor.
Usually by this point, you’re sitting pretty in the latter half of the second trimester — and it’s the best pregnancy is going to get.
You have a little more energy, you can eat more of your favorite foods, and you can still walk down the street without waddling.
What else can you expect at 6 months pregnant? Here’s the scoop.
Symptoms You May Have at 6 Months
You’re probably not having morning sickness anymore, unless you’re one of the unlucky women who get stuck with nausea and vomiting for the whole 9 months (in which case, we’re very sorry).
But the sixth month of pregnancy isn’t exactly symptom-free. You might be feeling:
- constipated, as your growing uterus puts pressure on your intestines and slows things down
- achy, especially in your back, hips, and pelvic area (due to the extra weight you’re carrying and how it’s being distributed)
- itchy, especially on your stomach, as your skin stretches to accommodate your growth
- dizzy, because your circulation is ramping up to provide more blood flow to your uterus
- swollen or crampy in your legs and ankles, as your veins work harder to keep all that extra blood moving through your body
- super hungry All. The. Time. (hey, baby needs to grow, right?)
You may also be continuing to have symptoms like:
- heartburn and indigestion
- aversions to specific smells
- round ligament pain
All of these can start in the first trimester but may or may not go away over time.
Your Baby Bump at 6 Months
Gone are the days of feeling horribly pregnant but still not looking pregnant. By 6 months, it’s becoming clearer that you’re expecting! You might notice:
- your breasts continuing to grow in size
- your belly protruding enough to require a transition to maternity clothes
- your belly button beginning to turn outward
- varicose veins, as your circulation needs increase
- weight gain of anywhere from 10 to 15 pounds since the first trimester
If you’re not showing a ton yet, don’t stress: All expectant moms (and their babies!) develop at different rates. Your belly may appear smaller at 6 months if:
- it’s your first pregnancy
- you had a strong abdominal core pre-pregnancy
- you’re above average in height
This is totally normal. You’ll pop at some point — we promise!
On the flip side, if you feel like your 6-month belly belongs to that of a full-term baby, that’s probably normal, too.
The number of pregnancies you’ve had, combined with your overall health, weight, and anatomy, play a bigger role in determining your bump size than your baby’s health.
Still, if you have concerns about the amount of weight you’re gaining (or not), give your doctor a call for a professional opinion.
Fetal Development at 6 Months
Enough about you — how’s baby doing in there?! At this point, your little nugget is, well, not quite so little anymore. They’re anywhere from 7 to 12 inches long and may weigh between 1 and 2 pounds.
They’ve also been making tons of strides as far as development.
By 6 months, your baby has fully formed lungs and a unique set of fingerprints, and they’re beginning to focus on sounds outside the uterus (like you and your partner talking).
They’re also moving their eyes beneath their still-closed eyelids and probably having lots of hiccups — which you should be able to feel! Speaking of feeling…
