FROM the changes that your body goes through to changes in your baby, Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Dr Anahita Pandole gives you week-by-week tips on what to expect during your pregnancy.
Your baby is about as big as the head of a pin. Her cells are multiplying rapidly.
It is alright to lose some weight due to the nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite.
Your baby's heart will start to beat this week. Her skin and hair have also begun to grow.
The food cravings are most likely to start around now. Eat what you feel like, but do so in moderation.
It is time to buy a new pair of pants with a bit of Lycra stretch to fit you perfectly.
Your baby's ears and eyelids are now taking shape.
Your baby's fingers have fully developed. She can now make a fist and even suck her thumb!
Your baby will now start kicking her legs around.
Tiny tooth buds are starting to appear under her gums. Her fingernails are also growing.
The morning sickness will stop soon and your appetite will return.
Your baby's fingerprints have now formed at the tips of her fingers.
Your baby can now make facial expressions like smile and grimace.
You may have gained a little weight by now and will start to show.
Your face will start to glow due to increased blood circulation.
Your sex drive is back and you are not as tired as you were in the first trimester.
Your baby is now about 150 mm long from head to toe and weighs about 200 grams
You may start to snore, thanks to hormones that cause your nasal passages to swell and partially block your airways.
If you are working, now is the time to explore your company's policy towards pregnancy / maternity leave.
By now, your stomach has become a punching bag for your baby!
Drink plenty of fluids, especially water to help prevent headaches, uterine cramping, urinary tract infections and swelling.
Your sexual desire skyrockets. This is due to increased blood flow to the pelvic area and the heightened sensitivity it brings.
Because of your size, you probably cannot move around as gracefully as before.
You may notice a yellowish discharge - colostrums - from your breasts. This is your baby's first food and usually appears most heavily after delivery.
Your ligaments are also loosening up in preparation for pushing the baby out, so you may feel loose in the hips.
Your baby now has fully developed lashes and the fat layers are beginning to form.
Now is a good time to discuss delivery methods with your doctor.
Your baby begins blinking and is now aware of light.
You may feel the occasional light contraction called Braxton Hicks contractions. This is your body preparing for delivery.
Your baby's skin is now smoothening out and she is growing chubby and pink.
Your baby is slowing turning and positioning herself, headfirst, towards the lower part of the uterus. She is preparing for her birth.
You may feel a little pain around your pubic bone. That is where your baby's head is now resting, getting ready for labour.
By now, your baby has predictable patterns of sleep and wakefulness.
Braxton Hicks contractions are a little more frequent now. Call your doctor if your water breaks or you notice a decrease in your baby's activity.
Your baby's hands can now grasp things firmly and if she is exposed to a strong light, she will turn towards it!
Since it is time for delivery, prepare for your stay in the hospital. Carry a video camera/camera, baby paraphernalia, an iPod or anything to pass the time of a long labour.
If your water breaks, call your doctor right away, but stay calm. It may be hours before your first contraction.
If your baby were a fruit, she'd be a watermelon -- a very big one! Get ready mom, you are almost there.
Ask our experts: If you have a question about your baby's development, the right diet or any pregnancy concerns, write to our pregnancy experts. Ask Dr Rishma Dhillon Pai, a consultant gynaecologist at Mumbai's Jaslok and Lilavati hospitals. Ask Dr Firuza Parikh, Director of the Department of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics at Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre, Mumbai. Ask Sonali Shivlani, an internationally certified childbirth educator. |
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