Pregnancy, as they say is truly one-of-a-kind experience. Every week in pregnancy is important. After the fifth week or at the onset of 6th week, the nose, ears and the mouth of the child start forming. Your baby’s oversized head, as big as his body, will have dark spots where his nostrils are beginning to emerge. The eyes you will spend hours at end looking into once he is born are already developing: His eyelids are formed; he has an iris, cornea, a lens as well as retina. The sides of his head exhibit small depressions which mark the materialization of his ears and the small buds sticking out of his body indicate the development of his arms and legs. That is not it, his pituitary gland, which is also known as the master gland has begun to form, along with the other parts of his brain. His intestines have started to develop, and also his muscles and bones. And figure this; his spine is already completely developed!
It’s fascinating to think how all these changes are taking place inside your baby who is only a quarter of an inch long at this stage. That’s right; he is smaller than a sweet pea! But what is even more fascinating is that not only have his kidneys and heart started to form, but the latter is beating about 100 to 160 times a minute! That is more or less two times faster than your own heart beat.
Changes you’re going through
- Hormonal changes start to take place during this time, and can prove to be troublesome; for you, and even more so for your partner. You might feel excited one moment and irritated the next, but this is completely normal at this stage, so do not feel unreasonably guilty about your mood swings.
- You will feel more exhausted than usual, so make sure your body gets enough rest. Share the household chores, get enough sleep, and make sure you get enough calories in your diet. And if at all possible, take some time out to walk with your partner or do some yoga.
- Frequent urination: Your kidneys are now working to get rid of the waste produced by you and your baby’s body, so it is only natural that you’ll have to spend a lot of time in the bathroom.
- Nausea and vomiting: Although nausea is believed to indicate that there are fewer chances of you miscarrying, the experience itself can be really uncomfortable. Make sure you eat snacks at regular intervals, especially those that contain carbs and proteins.
- Gas and heartburn: You are going to experience these all throughout your pregnancy, so it’s better to take measures to minimize them from the very beginning: take your time when eating your meals, eat lots of fiber and drink plenty of water, and make sure you wear clothes that give your belly a lot of breathing space.
Some tips
- Do not self medicate: Although most medications that you get from your chemist are safe, but make sure you talk to your doctor before trying any new drug. When it’s a question of your baby’s safety, you can’t be too cautious, can you?
- Although you shouldn’t fuss too much about what you eat, make sure you are eating six or seven small meals a day, which will help keep your blood sugar in a constant range. You certainly don’t need to go on a diet, so it’s okay to have that chocolate chip ice cream you’ve been craving for a while.
- Alcohol is a big no! While an occasional glass of wine doesn’t hurt the baby, it is best to stay away from any sort of alcohol. According to a few doctors, two or more alcoholic drinks daily can cause fetal alcohol syndrome.
- Decrease your caffeine intake: It is unlikely that a cup once in a few days will harm your baby, but make sure you don’t need coffee everyday to get you out of bed. Any drink that contains caffeine, like sodas should be consumed as less as possible.
- You are eating for two: Although you can go for a second helping of your favorite meal, but make sure you don’t eat indiscriminately, thinking it’s good for the baby. A pregnant woman only needs about 300 extra calories every day. You read that right, just 300.
- Don’t be too lazy: Although it is advisable for you to get more rest than before, it does not mean that you give up on all sorts of exercises. Low impact workouts, and light walking can be a great way to keep you healthy.