Pregnancy Month 5

Overview of month 5

Month 5 covers roughly weeks 18 to 22 and includes the halfway point of pregnancy at 20 weeks. It is often the month of the detailed anatomy scan, and movements become easier to feel.

Weeks in pregnancy month 5

Your baby in month 5

The baby is swallowing amniotic fluid, developing a sense of hearing and covered in protective vernix. From around 20 weeks the baby is measured head to heel and is roughly 25–28 cm long.

Your body in month 5

The bump is clearly visible and the top of the uterus reaches the belly button around 20 weeks. Back ache, leg cramps and skin changes such as the linea nigra are common.

Care during month 5

The anatomy (anomaly) scan is commonly offered between 18 and 22 weeks. It is also a good time to book antenatal classes. Schedules vary between countries and providers; your own care team will tell you what applies to you.

Why pregnancy months are approximate

A 40-week pregnancy does not divide evenly into nine calendar months: each calendar month is about 4.3 weeks, so nine months is roughly 39 weeks, and the due date falls a week or so later. Different books and apps therefore group weeks into months slightly differently. This site uses the common grouping in which month 5 spans about weeks 18 to 22. When you talk to a healthcare professional, you will hear weeks and days — for example “19 weeks and 2 days” — because that is far more precise. To see exactly where you are, use the Pregnancy Week Calculator.