Getting straight into our pregnancy adventures for month five – this is all the new symptoms and experiences that I have had through weeks 18 – 22.

Important note – none of this is intended as medical advice. This is an honest account of my experience, but every pregnancy is different. If you have any concerns please contact your doctor or medical professional.

Pregnancy Body Pillow –

When I got to Puerto Rico last week the pregnancy body pillow that I had ordered to my hotel was waiting for me! A total game changer! I’m still not big enough to be too uncomfortable at night, but the pillow is making all the difference in being able to get comfortable sleeping on my side (and, more importantly, not waking up on my back!). I fling one arm over and one leg over and that keeps me in position for the night!

Leg Cramps –

A couple of times in the last week I’ve woken up with a really bad cramp in my calf! I can get it to stop pretty quickly by stretching out my leg and pulling back my toes – but it’s agony while it lasts!

Up every night –

Between the vivid dreams, leg cramps and now being up at least 2 or 3 times to pee (up from my usual once) I am not getting the best sleep currently. Something tells me that this will only continue and possibly get worse during the rest of my pregnancy!

Lightning Crotch –

Week 19 brought the start of some serious lightning crotch which seemed early to me. (Lightning crotch can happen at any time in pregnancy but is more common in the third trimester.) But, since you can’t really mistake a sharp electric shock to the vagina for anything else, I guess that’s just what we’re dealing with this week.

High Blood Pressure –

I think I’ll need to put together a separate post regarding my bp issues, but week 18-19 saw me signed off work for a week’s rest as my bp was so high (176/111) we tweaked my meds and I am now back at the office but they are watching me very carefully.

Fourth scan –

I had my anatomy scan at 19w4d and everything was looking good! We saw the four chambers of the heart and the spine and rib cage were so clear!

Report confirmed that everything was normal (not usually a word I like to use but in pregnancy having everything as normal as possible is quite a relief) They confirmed the gender for us… do you think it’s a boy or a girl??

Feeling baby kicks –

I was really worried that with an anterior placenta it would be ages until I felt baby kicking! But at 19w6d I felt my first unmistakable kicks! It was 4:00 am and I had just got up to pee (see above) and as I settled back down to go to sleep I got a couple of good kicks! Not sure if baby was happy I was up and awake at that time! Either that or it’s a worrying sign of things to come and baby Barefoot likes a good party at 4:00 am…

During the course of the month the kicks are getting more frequent. I can now reliably feel them pretty much every morning and night when I lie down. I also feel them if I eat something sweet (which is often…) The husband felt his first little kick at 21w1d but generally speaking most of them are still a little small to be felt on the outside.

YOU MIGHT ALSO ENJOY READING: FIRST TRIMESTER PREGNANCY FAVOURITES

We are sailing –

Week 20 and we embarked on an amazing sailing trip with friends! I probably napped more than anyone else on board, and I couldn’t dive, but it was lovely to get out with everyone, hike and snorkel.

It was the perfect balance of relaxation and activity and just what this mama needed!

Heart rate –

Week 21 I started to notice when I took my blood pressure that my resting heart rate was very high. It is normal for pregnant mama’s resting heart rate to increase due to the additional blood volume, but not to the extent that mine had. It was time for a trip back to the doctor.

Pregnancy Month Five At A Glance –

• Feeling: the first kicks!!
• Craving: chocolate brownies (I drove to three supermarkets to find box brownie mix, baked a pan of them and then ate far too many…)
• Missing: being able to sleep on my back!
• Struggling with: my heart rate and blood pressure
• Enjoying: tentatively starting to baby shop for small items and maternity wear
• Milestone: anatomy scan at 19w4d confirming the sex and making it to half-way!
• Baby is the size of a: bok choy
• Baby weighs: 3/4 lb
• I weigh: +5.5 lbs

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