Nine Weeks Pregnant

 Ninth Week of Pregnancy

Nine Weeks Pregnant

Your baby

Your baby is continuing to grow and develop. After a growth spurt, your baby now measures just over half an inch (thirteen to seventeen millimeters) from crown to rump. The toe rays are beginning to have toes, and they are wiggling more. 

 If you were to look via ultrasound at your baby at this point, you would see the arms and legs and the baby moving. If you were to touch the outside of the uterus, your baby’s home, your baby would move away from the touch. 

 The organ systems are still growing, and the bones are still hardening. This work will continue for weeks to come.

Exercise for Two 

Exercise is incredibly important in pregnancy. Not only does it contribute to an easier pregnancy by keeping weight gain and side eff ects such as back pain at a minimum, but it also can provide benefi ts in labor. Women who have exercised during pregnancy tend to have faster and easier labors, not to mention shorter recoveries. This means you will bounce back from having a baby faster.

The following are a few simple rules to exercising when pregnant: 

• Stay well hydrated before, during, and after exercise. 

• Don’t do anything that hurts. 

• Continue doing most of your pre-pregnancy regimen, but talk to your practitioner before starting new exercises. 

• Avoid anything that could cause you to lose your balance or get kicked in the abdomen. • Stop immediately and call your practitioner if you have bleeding, shortness of breath, or pain. 

• Watch your heart rate. The general rule of thumb is to keep your heart rate from going higher than 140 beats per minute, but this may be diff erent for women who are extremely active. Ask your practitioner for the appropriate range for your fi tness level

Pregnancy may spur you to exercise in a way you haven’t before. Many women fi nd that pregnancy is a good time to start thinking about the optimal lifestyle habits that they want to instill in their kids. While you shouldn’t use pregnancy as a time to start something like running marathons, it can be a great time to explore low-impact forms of movement such as walking, prenatal yoga, and swimming.

With the help of your body’s signals, your practitioner, and your fi tness trainer or coach, you can fi nd an exercise plan to help both you and baby grow toward fi tness. The circumstances under which you would need to avoid exercise completely, even if only for a brief period, include the following:

• Bleeding 

• Threatened preterm labor, or a history of it 

• Some instances of multiple pregnancies 

• Intrauterine growth restriction, which is when fetal development slows beyond what is normal due to a physical restriction in growth or lack of nutrients

It’s important to fi nd something that you really enjoy so you’ll stick with it and reap all the benefi ts that exercising in pregnancy can off er you and your baby. This is also a wonderful time to get your husband and/or friends on board to do something you all can enjoy and feel good about together. If you start with group walks in the park now, once the baby arrives, you can bring your sling or stroller along as you continue a lifelong habit of health.

Look forward to Showing 

Few things are more thrilling than the protruding abdomen of a pregnant woman. It’s even better when that belly belongs to you. So you’re probably waiting to feel that expansion in your own body and clothes.

The problem is that it doesn’t happen soon enough for most women, and usually not in the fi rst trimester. This is because your uterus is still safely tucked into your pelvis. But don’t assume you’re crazy because your clothes seem to be fi tting diff erently than before and you swear you’re feeling something.

Some of your pregnancy symptoms, such as bloating, gas, and constipation, can make your intestines feel expanded, which can make your clothes feel tight or fi t diff erently. Plus as your uterus grows, while it’s still in the pelvis, your intestines have to move somewhere—so why not up and out? This may require some wardrobe alterations on your end, but it’s probably not enough to require maternity clothes.

Watch out for Weird Pregnancy Symptoms 

When you’re reviewing the list of common pregnancy symptoms, some tend to be familiar, such as morning sickness and heartburn. But there are others that may surprise you, such as nasal stuffi ness, sensitivity to smells, emotional highs and lows, and food aversions.

As the hormones begin their work of supporting your pregnancy and helping your baby grow, your body will change and react diff erently than you may have expected. The dance of the hormones is doing its job, and your body is taking part in the process.

The following are several lesser-known pregnancy symptoms and how you can best handle them:

NOSE TROUBLE: Nasal stuffi ness and nose bleeds are fairly common in pregnancy. Keeping your nasal passages well moisturized and snorting saline solution (store bought or homemade) can help alleviate these side eff ects 

BURPING AND BELCHING: The gastrointestinal tract takes a huge hit during pregnancy. Not only is it dealing with the infl ux of hormones, but it is also taking a beating as the uterus rises and displaces your intestines. Don’t be surprised if you frequently burping after a meal, often uncontrollably. If you are able to identify certain foods or drinks that seem to make matters worse, try avoiding them to see if the problem goes away

INSOMNIA: The inability to fall asleep or stay asleep is a major annoyance in pregnancy. The real problem arises when you’re exhausted and still can’t get the sleep you need. Try relaxation before bed time, practice yoga, do your exercises earlier in the day, and avoid heavy meals before bed. If you fi nd that you’re still having trouble, ask your practitioner to help you pinpoint what the issue is—whether it’s physical, mental, or emotional. Sometimes a racing mind or problems you’re having during the day can keep your mind ccupied all night.

Any other symptoms that you are experiencing may or may not be a normal part of a healthy pregnancy. Don’t forget to ask your midwife or doctor for advice for handling them. Your practitioner has lots of experience dealing with every possible pregnancy symptom and is likely to have some tried-and-true solutions for you. 

Figure Out If You’re Having Twins

A frequent question of women during early pregnancy is: How many babies are in there? You may fi nd yourself asking that question too. The following are the most common reasons that women believe that they may be having multiples: 

• History of multiple pregnancy personally or in the family 

• History of fertility treatments 

• Rate of expansion of their abdomens 

• A hunch or dreams  

All of these are valid reasons to believe that you might be the mother of more than one baby. Your practitioner will likely take a detailed family and personal history as it relates to multiple pregnancies and decide what needs to be done. Sometimes an ultrasound is ordered early on to verify if you are indeed expecting twins (or more). Other times, you and your practitioner might decide to wait until other clinical symptoms of a multiple gestation arise. These might include:

• Uterus measuring large for dates 

• Hearing more than one heartbeat during a routine exam 

• Mother feeling lots of movement or that the “baby is all over the place” 

• Abnormal numbers for certain blood work

Sometimes twins aren’t found until later in pregnancy following additional testing, such as a screening ultrasound conducted at mid-pregnancy

If you fi nd you are having twins, it will probably come as quite the shock to you and your family. Try to let the information sink in before making any big decisions such as changing doctors or hospitals or making major purchases. 

Joining a local Mother of Twins Club or other multiple birth organization is a good place to start. You can also talk to your practitioner about his or her ability to cope with the special needs of a multiple pregnancy. It may mean that you should invite another practitioner to assist in your care depending on the practitioner you have already employed.

Twins are most often diagnosed via early ultrasound. Talk to your practitioner about multiples if you are having symptoms.

Choose Your Practitioner  

The practitioner that you choose should be able to care for you throughout your pregnancy and postpartum period. This will be someone with whom you will need to build a great deal of trust and someone with whom you develop a bond over the course of your prenatal care. Today’s pregnant woman has many diff erent types of practitioners from which to choose.

Obstetrician/gynecologist: These surgical specialists have dedicated their lives to taking care of women’s issues, including pregnancy and birth. Many women choose to see an obstetrician for their pregnancy care. 

Most obstetricians work in hospitals, but a few do home births and work in birth centers. They usually work in groups of other obstetricians and may have a call schedule devised for doing births outside of offi ce hours.

MATERNAL FETAL MEDICINE (MFM) SPECIALIST (PERINATOLOGIST): The MFM specialist is an obstetrician who has completed a fellowship beyond medical school and residency to care for extremely sick mothers and babies. They are often used as consultants for other practitioners to help guide the care of pregnant women who fall into this category. 

You may be in the care of a midwife and be asked to do a genetic screening with an MFM, or your regular doctor fi nds out you are carrying twins and would like a second opinion or extra screening. Many high-risk women wind up seeing an MFM for their entire pregnancies. MFMs most always practice in hospitals with NICU capabilities because of the nature of their patient population.

FAMILY PRACTITIONER: These doctors have the care of the entire family at heart and may specialize in births or may run general practices. This could be someone with whom you already have a close relationship and that makes it easy to continue receiving care from this person. Another benefi t of using a family practitioner is that he or she can often continue on as your baby’s doctor after birth. Family practitioners work in all types of birth settings.

CERTIFIED NURSE-MIDWIFE: A nurse-midwife is a nurse and a midwife, a combined profession in the United States. These women care for low-risk pregnant women and do well woman care. While they are also trained in well newborn care for the fi rst year of life, the majority do not practice this skill, opting instead to defer to pediatricians. 

CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL MIDWIFE: This type of midwife has been trained and passed rigorous board examinations by the North American Registry of Midwives to be awarded this credential. They care only for low-risk pregnant women, usually in home birth or birth center settings. 

They are also trained in screening women for problems to ensure that they receive the care that they need from the right source, even if that means transferring care when appropriate. Most certifi ed professional midwives are affi liated with physicians or physicians groups or will work with a physician of your choosing.

 DIRECT ENTRY MIDWIFE: A direct entry midwife may or may not have formal training, and many train as apprentices to other midwives. She may be studying to be a certifi ed professional midwife. You will most often fi nd this type of provider in a home birth or birth center setting, caring for low-risk pregnant women.

Did you know that pregnancy even changes your eyes? The progesterone and fluid retention triggered by pregnancy has the ability to alter how you see, both by changing the shape of your eye and increasing dryness. 

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Eight Weeks Pregnant

Eighth Week of Pregnancy

Eight Weeks Pregnant

YOUR BABY

 Your baby is nearly a centimeter long crown to rump, around ⅓ inch (eight to eleven millimeters). This is when the gonads become specifi cally testes or ovaries. Last week, fi ngers were big; this week, it’s toes. In addition to toes, your baby’s bones are beginning to harden in spots, known as ossifi cation. Your baby is starting to develop elbows.

One of the most thrilling developments this week is that spontaneous movement begins. This means that your baby is beginning to use the joints and will try to wave, kick, and fl ip. An ultrasound now reveals quite the little acrobat— even when you can’t feel all that is going on inside your body—a very odd sensation indeed.

Monitor Your First Trimester Weight Gain

Most women don’t like to focus on weight gain during pregnancy. After all, when have you ever wanted to gain weight? But the fact of the matter is that weight gain in pregnancy is not only normal but also healthy and necessary. The good news is that the fi rst trimester is not a time of substantial weight gain.

 In fact, of the three trimesters, the fi rst is typically the time you will gain the least amount of weight. Some mothers even lose a little weight because of dietary changes and changes in their appetites. (It is important to note that purposely losing weight is to be avoided in pregnancy because of the potential risks of reducing the appropriate amount of nutrients to your baby.)

The average fi rst trimester weight gain is about four pounds—one pound more if you’re underweight and one pound less if you’re overweight. Remember that your baby and uterus haven’t grown very big yet. If you’ve experienced a bigger weight gain than this, you might talk to a nutritionist to evaluate your diet if you can’t pinpoint an obvious explanation such as a drastic change in exercise or food intake. Most health insurance will cover this as a benefi t; if your does not, look for someone at a local hospital who off ers this service as an out-reach program for pregnancy.

Don’t Worry about Being Vegetarian

In the past, pregnant women who didn’t eat meat were told that their diets was harmful to a growing baby. Today we know that vegetarians and vegans can enjoy healthy pregnancies. Still, many vegetarian women are concerned that a lack of meat will aff ect their pregnancies in a negative way. This is simply not true. While lean meats, for some, can be a good source of protein, many foods that supply you with protein are not meat based.

If you have been a vegetarian for numerous years and have maintained a healthy lifestyle, you will probably not need to make any changes in your pregnancy diet. If you choose to become a vegetarian during pregnancy, that’s fi ne, but you should seek guidance from your practitioner and possibly a nutritionist. 

Some women fi nd that during pregnancy the thought of meat makes them feel ill, and they wish to avoid it. Again, meat is not a necessary part of a healthy diet for pregnant women. Seeking the support of a nutritionist who has experience working with vegetarians is useful to many women.

Because protein is the building block of every cell, it is essential for a healthy pregnancy. Protein is available in many sources; in fact, almost everything has at least some protein in it. 

The main sources of protein for vegetarians include: 

• Nuts and nut butters, such as peanut and almond 

• Beans 

• Tofu 

• Meat replacement products, such as tofu and other soy products  

Nuts can be a great snack during pregnancy. They are fi lled with protein and good fats. They also store nicely in your purse or backpack for quick snacking.

My baby feels my presence

Eating a healthy diet without meat is not diffi cult. Maintaining a food log is highly recommended for all pregnant women to help them assess their diet, and for a new vegetarian, it is essential. Your practitioner or nutritionist can help you evaluate your diet for inadequacies and help make suggestions to guarantee that you and your baby are getting all the nutrition you need.

Be Familiar with the Signs of Miscarriage

The loss of a pregnancy prior to 20 weeks is known as a miscarriage. It is nothing you want to worry about, but most pregnant women will worry about it at some point. 

The following are signs to look for because they indicate the possibility of a miscarriage: 

• Bleeding 

• Cramping 

• Backache 

• Complete loss of pregnancy symptoms 

If you experience any of these signs, you should immediately call your midwife or doctor. Many times there is nothing that can be done. It is estimated that about 1 in 5 pregnancies will be lost to miscarriage, including many before a positive pregnancy test.

 However, it is possible to have the signs of miscarriage and not actually miscarry. For instance, vaginal exams and vaginal ultrasounds can cause bleeding, which is a sign of miscarriage but doesn’t really pose a threat to the pregnancy. This is known as a threatened miscarriage. (Any bleeding from the vagina is called a threatened miscarriage because it may or may not cause a threat to the pregnancy. 

Other terms used to describe bleeding can be associated with other symptoms such as an open cervix, which is more ominous than simple spotting or bleeding that may be caused by other issues, including the sensitivity of the cervix to mere touch as with a vaginal exam, transvaginal ultrasound, or with sexual intercourse.)

Prepare for Wild and Weird Pregnancy Dreams 

Pregnant women will be quick to tell you that their dreams can be pretty wild. Wild can mean very vivid, realistic, weird, or thought-provoking. Dreams can provide insight into what you’re thinking or worried about—such as dreams about leaving your baby at the store or forgetting to feed her. Some women dream about babies that look like small animals or about having more babies than they are gestating, such as ten or twelve. 

Your dreams are a pleasant way to free your mind of things that are worrisome. This is true even if you are not consciously aware that you are worried about something. You might even enjoy these sneak peeks into something like the sex of your baby or even how many babies you have in your uterus. Mother’s intuition is usually spot on, even when it takes the form of dreams. So don’t be so quick to dismiss them as meaningless. 

Occasionally these dreams will become incredibly worrisome or keep you up at night to avoid returning to the dreams. If that is the case, you should talk to your doctor or midwife to get a referral to a counselor who can help reduce your rate of dreams and help you sleep more peacefully.

Lab work needn’t be worrisome. Be sure to know what blood work is being done, why, when, and how you can expect the results. This can prevent some concern later.

Learn about Common Lab Work in the First Trimester

Lab work or blood work is ordered at various stages of your pregnancy. At your fi rst prenatal visit, you may feel like you’ve been ordered to donate blood based on the number of vials that get fi lled. The following basic tests are ordered for almost everyone:

• BLOOD TYPE AND RHESUS FACTOR: This is to see what your blood type and rhesus factor are, so that your practitioner can know about potential complications should your partner be a diff erent rhesus factor, from you.

• RUBELLA TITER: This test is to see if you’re immune from this childhood illness that can cause problems with the pregnancy if contracted. If you are not immune, you will need to avoid people who have rubella and be immunized after giving birth.

• VDRL STATUS, SUCH AS SYPHILIS AND GONORRHEA: These are tests for various sexually transmitted infections (STIs) that can cause problems during pregnancy or birth.

• IRON LEVELS: This is to check for anemia, which is when your iron levels are lower than normal. This aff ects how much oxygen you get, causing you to feel tired, sluggish, and even short of breath. It is fairly common in pregnancy, particularly at certain points because of the large expansion of blood volume you go through to help nurture your baby inside the uterus. Low iron can potentially cause problems during your birth and postpartum as well.

You may also have more specifi c lab work done if you have chronic issues or other problems, which includes the following: 

• Liver function tests 

• Thyroid levels 

• HIV/AIDS status (This is mandatory in some states.) 

• hCG levels 

Be sure to discuss any blood test that’s been ordered with your doctor or midwife. It may be that they need information to adjust your current medications, or it may be that they are looking for something specifi c. They should always be willing to take the time to explain what is going on with your lab work.

You should also remember to ask not only what they are testing and why, but how the results will be given and when the results will be made available. Some practices have a special line you can call for lab results, or they may ask you to wait until your next appointment to discuss the results. Sometimes, however, an immediate answer is needed to treat you promptly. For example, if your thyroid hormone levels are low, you should start treatment as soon as possible. Waiting a month between appointments would be detrimental.

Watch out for Hyperemesis Gravidarium

Throwing up during pregnancy is awful, but it’s also fairly common, and you’re entitled to complain. An abnormal level of nausea and vomiting is called hyperemesis gravidarium. Technically this is defi ned as the loss of at least 5 percent of your body weight, and it aff ects only 1 out of 300 women.

If you have been diagnosed with hyperemesis, you will most likely be given a variety of treatments until one is found that works for you. While many cases of hyperemesis can be treated on an outpatient basis, some are severe enough to require treatment in the hospital. 

Treatments include the following:

• Alternative therapies, such as vitamins, talk therapy, and acupuncture 

• Various medications 

• IV hydration 

• Total parental nutrition (Using an IV to feed someone so she doesn’t have to worry about food or digestion) 

• Tube feedings

If you have reason to believe you might be suff ering from hyperemesis, be sure to bring it up with your doctor or midwife.

Consider Where You’ll Give Birth  

Where you give birth is a very important decision. There are a number of places available for you to give birth, including the following:

• Home 

• Free-standing birth center 

• Hospital birth center 

• Hospitals (various levels) 

Unfortunately not all communities will have the resources to fund or support each type of place of birth. You may have only one or two options where you live, or you may have the full range of options from which to choose. You need to understand the perks of each before deciding which appeals most to you.

HOME BIRTH: Women who choose to give birth at home do so for a variety of reasons, including a desire to avoid unnecessary interventions during labor and birth and a wish to control their environments. Home birth may be an option for you if you have practitioners who practice at home, and you meet their requirements, which usually include being healthy with a low-risk pregnancy. During your pregnancy, you will be screened constantly for signs of not being low risk, at which point you would transfer to the care of a diff erent birth place.

FREE-STANDING BIRTH CENTER: A freestanding birth center is not located within a hospital and is typically not on hospital grounds. A centralized location for care providers, it has very little medical equipment other than the basics for dealing with emergencies. It is a place for healthy women having low-risk pregnancies to safely have babies with practitioners who choose to practice there. Typically women giving birth here are choosing to minimize certain interventions in birth.

HOSPITAL BIRTH CENTER: A hospital birth center gives expectant mothers less autonomy than a free-standing birth center, and it may be housed on a separate fl oor of a hospital. Some hospitals may call their maternity wards “birth centers,” but they lack the philosophy that birth is normal. “Normal” is a term used to describe a birth that proceeds physiologically the way the body is meant to, free from routine interventions such as epidurals and Cesarean sections. A belief in and support for normal births is what tends to set birth centers of all kinds apart. Ask if your hospital’s birth center has separate staff trained to assist in helping you labor with minimal intervention.

HOSPITAL: The majority of women give birth in hospitals of all levels, from hospitals with only well newborn nurseries (for infants who are not ill) to hospitals with Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU). Each hospital will have its own philosophy of birth and care for a variety of women. Some hospitals see more high-risk patients than others, so be sure to ask if that matters to you. Hospitals have all sorts of interventions and medications available and are accustomed to using them. If you choose to give birth in a hospital and want to minimize the use of medication, be sure to plan ahead for pointers from the hospital on navigating that path.

Resist the temptation to run out and buy maternity clothes. You will have plenty of time for that in later weeks, and it is considered a fashion faux pas to wear them too soon. Instead consider baby doll style tops and loosefi tting pants if you’re feeling bloated due to constipation or other gastrointestinal distress. 

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Seven weeks pregnant

Seventh week of pregnancy 

Seven Weeks Pregnant

YOUR BABY

Your baby is growing rapidly and developing organs. This week your baby is working on its kidneys along with other organs. The crown-torump length is about ¼ inch (7 to 9 millimeters). Finger rays (the equivalent of pre-fi ngers) are also forming. 

 While your baby is a girl or a boy from the moment of conception, you can’t physically distinguish the sex yet, even though the genital tubercle (what will become the penis or clitoris) is present. 

 Your baby’s face is not very baby-like yet. This week the nasal pits are developing, and the eyes are very large and lidless. The intestines are forming inside the umbilical cord and will move into your baby’s abdomen. 

 If you were to have an ultrasound at this point in your pregnancy and you were really in your 7th week, you should see a fetal pole with a heartbeat. If you don’t, chances are you are not as far along as you thought and a repeat ultrasound in a week’s time will tell a different story.

Watch What You Eat for Baby 

Pregnancy is often touted as the time that you get to eat for two. It’s probably better to think of it as the time in your life when what you eat is twice as important, but you don’t need to eat twice as much food. In fact, you probably only need an average of 300 extra calories a day when pregnant. 

 Three hundred calories is the equivalent of an extra snack. It’s always better to make sure that you’re eating something that is good for you than to waste those calories on a candy bar. This is where many moms go astray. They use the extra calories to fi ll their bodies with junk food rather than any number of healthy options. Good choices include fresh fruits and vegetables or protein such as peanut butter, nuts, or cheese.

Eating a variety of foods, choosing from many colors and families, will help you fulfi ll the nutrient requirements you and your baby have during pregnancy.

Being pregnant is a big change for you. are you up to the challenge?

There are also lists of things that you should avoid during your pregnancy. Some are no brainers such as alcoholic beverages, but there are other categories of foods that aren’t as commonly thought of as problematic including raw fruits and vegetables that haven’t been washed and soft, unpasteurized cheese, such as Gorgonzola or Brie.

The general rules are that all of your foods should be washed thoroughly before you eat them. Your meats should always be cooked medium to well done to ensure that all of the bacteria have been destroyed. Avoid raw fi sh such as sushi and sashimi. Not heeding these precautions can needlessly expose you and your baby to food borne illnesses. Talk to your practitioner about any specifi c food allergies you have prior to pregnancy.

Find Out What Takes Place during Prenatal Appointments

Prenatal visits are not only an opportunity for you to ask questions and to seek advice and support but also a chance for your practitioner to watch how your baby is growing and how your body responds to pregnancy. This is done by taking a series of measurements throughout the course of your pregnancy. Some measurements are external factors such as your weight or how large your uterus is growing, and others involve screening your urine for protein and checking your blood pressure. 

What happens at prenatal visits throughout your pregnancy varies only slightly. Typically they include the following: 

• Weight check 

• Blood pressure check 

• Urine screening 

• Lab work, as needed 

• Uterus measuring 

• Listening to your baby’s heart (after week 12) 

• Discussing your questions and concerns 

• Vaginal exams (rarely, because they can cause infection)

Your particular health profi le and the health of your baby may indicate that other screenings are appropriate or necessary. Be sure to ask if you have questions about what to expect from your prenatal care. 

Weight gain in the fi rst trimester is fairly limited. You should aim to gain weight slowly and steadily, avoiding large gains made quickly when possible.

Insomnia can be an early symptom of pregnancy. Various exercises and relaxation techniques can help, sometimes it’s just a passing issue.

Deal with Insomnia 

Most women will have difficulty sleeping at some point in their pregnancies. Insomnia generally takes two forms: not being able to fall asleep or waking up and not being able to get back to sleep. Either form can really disrupt your sleep schedule, and some women are unlucky enough to experience both forms.

While you’re not yet experiencing the extreme pregnancy sensations that will keep you awake in the later months, such as a large abdomen and a kicking baby, what you may feel is extreme fatigue without the relief of sleep, a racing mind that keeps you awake, or simply an unexplained inability to sleep.

To help relieve your insomnia, try some or all of the following: 

• Exercise during the day but not prior to bedtime. 

• Avoid caff einated beverages after mid-afternoon. 

• Do not eat just before going to bed.

• Practice relaxation or meditation before bedtime to clear your mind. 

• Drink warm milk before going to bed. 

• Take a warm bath before going to bed. 

• Read before you fall asleep. 

• Keep to a set bedtime. 

• Don’t take too many or overlong naps. 

If you find that you’re not able to get back to sleep or if the above strategies don’t help, you should avoid just lying in bed and stewing over the problem. Yes, you can’t sleep, and it’s not fair. But after about twenty minutes, you should get up and do something for a while.

 You might watch television, read, write a letter, or catch up on the mail. After twenty to thirty minutes, try to sleep again, and hopefully you will be more successful. Be sure to talk to your practitioner about sleeplessness if it becomes a common occurrence.

Decide When to Tell Others about the Pregnancy 

There is a huge diff erence between telling your husband that you’re pregnant and telling, say, your family. And beyond family and close friends, there is the question of when to tell the rest of the world. For starters, let’s think about your boss. 

Most experts agree that telling your boss you are pregnant in the fi rst trimester is probably not advisable unless your job needs to be adjusted because of your pregnancy, in which case it is imperative that you tell him or her immediately. In other cases, you should wait until your pregnancy is well established and you have mentally worked out some of the details of your maternity leave and how your work will be handled while you’re pregnant and while you’re gone.

Telling the rest of the world is a personal decision. You have to remember that telling anyone creates the possibility of a leak, so take that into consideration before confi ding in others, particularly people who aren’t that close to you.

This advice is especially recommended for kids who have trouble keeping secrets. Don’t tell your older kids until you’re ready for the announcement to be shared far and wide. In fact, this is a great way to spread the news if you aren’t interested in spreading it yourself.

Cope with Being Pregnant after a Previous Loss 

If you have been pregnant before, and your baby died either through miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant death, pregnancy may be a particularly diffi cult time for you. You may not feel all of the happy emotions that you felt with your previous pregnancy, and your concerns may be great. It is important that you fi nd a way to share these concerns with your spouse, with others in a support group, or with your practitioner so they don’t build up inside, which can lead to depression. They do not make you a bad parent.

While it may not be easy to view this pregnancy as separate from the past, try to fi nd diff erences when you can and celebrate milestones as they arrive. For example, if you had a miscarriage early in a prior pregnancy, celebrate when you pass that week. Try to rejoice in aspects of your new pregnancy, such as seeing your baby’s heartbeat or feeling your baby kick.

Be sure to talk with your practitioner about getting support and help from him or her and from others as well. Your doctor or midwife should provide suggestions for what you can do to help ease your fears. But he or she can only help if you open up and talk honestly about your feelings.

While you may be leery of joining a support group, many couples find them very beneficial. They offer a place where it’s okay not to be excited simply about being pregnant and a chance to talk to others who have been in the same place as you, even if they are further along in their journeys. If you can’t find a local group to join, look for an online community on the Internet.

Brushing your teeth may trigger gagging in early pregnancy, but that doesn’t mean you should skip oral hygiene. The following tips can make toothbrush time less traumatic: 

• Buy a new toothbrush with soft bristles. 

• Switch from a mint-fl avored toothpaste to something that doesn’t nauseate you. 

• Go easy on the back of your tongue and use less pressure. 

• Adjust the water temperature to make sure it’s comfortable for your stomach.

GO to The The eighth week of Pregnant from here

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 Sixth Week Of Pregnancy

YOU ARE 5 WEEKS AND 1 DAY 

244 days to go...

YOUR BABY TODAY 

The embryo now has 14 somites—the building blocks of your baby’s muscular system. The first nine pairs are shown here. The upper part of the image shows the open end of the neural tube, which, along with the opening at the base of the spine, has closed.

If you’ve had no symptoms as you enter your 6th week, you may be on the lookout for signs that you are in fact pregnant. 

You and your partner are probably the only people who know you’re pregnant, and you may still be wondering if it’s real. At this stage you may not have any symptoms at all, despite the rapidly changing and growing embryo inside you. 

This absence of pregnancy signs is completely normal and is not a cause for concern. Try to remember that the majority of pregnancies are without any complications. It’s normal for a healthy pregnant woman to have a wide range of side effects or none at all. So don’t worry if you’re feeling great—in fact count yourself lucky!

ASK A... NUTRITIONIST 

Since being pregnant, I don’t seem to have much of an appetite. Is this normal?

 It is common to not especially want food if you have morning sickness. You may no longer be able to stomach your favorite foods. If you’re not eating much, it’s important that what you do eat is nutritious. Choose nutrient-rich dark green leafy vegetables and legumes, and fish  since it contains essential fatty acids.

 

YOU ARE 5 WEEKS AND 2 DAYS 

243 days to go...

YOUR BABY TODAY 

The center of this image shows the baby’s developing heart(darker gray), a very primitive structure at this stage. The baby’s head is to the right of the image. The embryo is almost completely transparent.

There won’t be any visible signs of pregnancy on the outside for some time, but there are many changes taking place inside.

At this early stage, all your unborn baby’s needs will be met by the yolk sac. Attached to the embryo by a connecting stalk, this essential balloonlike structure indicates the site of your pregnancy and can usually be seen as early as this week as a sphere 0.1–0.2 in (3–4 mm) across. At first the yolk sac is as large as the disk of embryonic cells that will eventually become your baby. 

Containing cells that perform a similar function to the liver, the yolk sac releases several pregnancy hormones and produces the embryo’s first red blood cells. After week 9 the liver will take over these functions as the yolk sac gradually disappears and the placenta takes over, by around the 10th week of pregnancy. 

Over the next seven days, a primitive circulatory system develops, well before any blood circulates to the placenta in the 10th week. And, by the end of this week, using the highest quality ultrasound equipment, it is just possible to see the embryo’s heartbeat. At this early stage, the heart is simply a tube.

AS A MATTER OF FACT 

You should continue to take a 400 mcg folic acid supplement daily until the 12th week of pregnancy. 

This supplementation is in addition to a well-balanced diet that includes green vegetables and legumes. Many fortified cereals also contain folic acid, as do some fruits, such as oranges, papaya, and bananas.

Should I be eating for two?

Unfortunately, pregnancy is by no means a licence to eat anything and everything you’d like. “Eating for two” is a myth, and if you do so, you’ll end up consuming too many calories and gaining too much weight. The best advice is to use your common sense. Studies show that pregnant women who eat according to their appetite naturally eat the proper amount and gain a healthy amount of weight. 

Caloric needs in pregnancy vary greatly from woman to woman, depending upon pre-pregnancy weight and physical activity. In general, energy needs increase by approximately 300–500 calories per day during pregnancy. In the first trimester, caloric needs are a bit less, more at the lower end of the range. 

In the first trimester, when up to 80 percent of women are nauseous or vomiting, getting enough calories can sometimes be a challenge. Like many pregnant women, you may feel most nauseous when your stomach is empty. One good trick is snacking. Eating five small meals rather than three large ones can be soothing to a nauseous stomach, while at the same time giving you the calories you need.

YOU ARE 5 WEEKS AND 3 DAYS 

242 days to go... 

YOUR BABY TODAY

A front view of the embryo: the head region is bent downward so that the central nervous system can be seen. The tubelike structure in the head region is the developing spinal cord. The tail of the embryo is curving upward.

Morning sickness is one of the most common and least welcome symptoms of pregnancy.

FOCUS ON... HEALTH 

Ease the nausea Unfortunately there is no definitive cure-all for morning sickness, though you could try the following natural remedies: 

• Eat little and often—having low blood-sugar levels may make the nausea worse so even if you feel sick, eating small snacks may help. 
• Try eating a plain cookie or cracker first thing in the morning before you get out of bed. 
• Stick to bland foods such as cereal or toast and avoid eating fatty and oily foods. 
• Try having foods and drinks that contain ginger such as gingersnaps or ginger tea. 
• Drink plenty if you are vomiting, to avoid becoming dehydrated. Put a bottle of water in the fridge and sip it gradually throughout the day. If you feel you are getting dehydrated, for example if your urine is getting very concentrated, you may need to see a doctor. 
• If the nausea or vomiting is too much to bear, then consult your doctor, who will be able to prescribe anti-nausea medications.

Feeling sick and vomiting are common symptoms of early pregnancy. There are various theories to explain why morning sickness occurs; one is that it’s due to the rising levels of hCG (human chorionic gonadotrophin) hormone during the first trimester. Morning sickness, unfortunately, doesn’t only happen before breakfast; in fact it can happen at any time of day and more than once in 24 hours. 

One of the greatest challenges of early pregnancy is keeping it a secret from colleagues. If you have to keep rushing to the bathroom to vomit, people are likely to become suspicious. They may also notice that you look unwell or are more tired than usual. To help you handle this, you may want to tell one or two colleagues or your boss. You could ask them to keep it a secret for the time being. It’s a good idea to keep some face wipes, toothpaste, and a toothbrush in your drawer, together with any snacks that you have found help to ease your nausea. 

If you’re finding it difficult to handle your vomiting, or are worried you are vomiting too much, seek advice from your doctor. Rarely, the sickness can become more serious and require medical treatment

AS A MATTER OF FACT 

Ginger has been shown in studies to help with pregnancy-induced nausea. One study found that the decrease in nausea happened four days after including ginger in the diet daily; so don’t give up if you don’t get relief right away. Try crystallized ginger chews or tasty ginger cookies; drink soothing ginger tea; and try cooking with fresh ginger. Be aware that most ginger ale does not contain real ginger, so is unlikely to ease nausea

YOU ARE 5 WEEKS AND 4 DAYS 
241 days to go... 

YOUR BABY TODAY 

This image shows just how curled up the embryo is at this stage. The head end of the embryo is on the left. The embryo now has 22 pairs of somites (building blocks of the musculoskeletal system) running along the back.

This is a crucial time for your developing baby as the neural tube, which will become the brain and spinal cord, is forming.

This week your baby begins to grow rapidly and will become much more recognizable as a baby over the next five weeks. There are three types of cell, each committed to a separate function. The first will form the skin and nervous system; the second forms blood vessels, muscles, and bones; the third forms the entire digestive system. 

At this stage, it is the cells responsible for the spine and nervous system that are at work. Changing shape from a flat disk, the embryo starts to curl up. The edges of the groove that has already partially formed along the back gradually start to meet, closing and fusing to form a tube, which will become the brain and spinal cord. The last parts of the tube to close are at the very top of the head and then the base of the spine, two days later. 

Being careful to get an adequate intake of folic acid in early pregnancy is essential to ensure the neural tube closes completely, with no gaps. 

YOU ARE 5 WEEKS AND 5 DAYS 
240 days to go... 

YOUR BABY TODAY

 This is a view of the right side of an embryo with the fronds of the chorionic villi in the background. The curled shape of the embryo is clearly demonstrated. The umbilical cord attachment to the early placenta can just be seen.

Are you feeling up one minute and down the next? Be reassured that this is a perfectly normal response to pregnancy hormones. 

It may not happen quite yet, but be forewarned that you may become very emotional or irrational during pregnancy and suffer from mood swings. You may cry at things that had previously not affected you. This is due to a combination of your rapidly fluctuating hormones and the fact that pregnancy is a major life change. 

Mood swings can be difficult for both you and your partner—try to keep communicating with each other and explain how you are feeling, no matter how irrational it may seem. 

FOCUS ON...YOUR HEALTH 

Fatigue is a common pregnancy complaint and you might find you have a sudden loss of energy in the early stages as your body adapts to the changes caused by pregnancy. This often lasts throughout the first trimester, but after about week 13 you should start to feel more energized. When you’re not resting, try to stay active. 

Another cause of fatigue is anemia. When you see your doctor you will be offered a blood test to check your iron levels, and if these are found to be low you will be offered supplements. To avoid anemia, eat iron-rich foods, such as dark green leafy vegetables, red meat, whole-grain cereals, and legumes, and drink prune juice. Vitamin C helps your body absorb iron so try drinking fresh orange juice with meals. Limit caffeine intake since it inhibits iron absorption.

YOU ARE 5 WEEKS AND 6 DAYS 
239 days to go...

YOUR BABY TODAY

Development in the upper body usually precedes that in the lower body—this image shows the bulge containing the heart and liver, and the very earliest sign of development of the upper limb buds, but as yet there is no sign of the lower limb buds.

You may notice a marked increase in your breast size, even at this early stage of pregnancy.

The first part of your body to change shape is likely to be your chest. Your breasts may increase in size quite rapidly, looking bigger and feeling heavier. They may become quite tender to touch. 

The nipples will change, the areola (the darker skin around the nipple) may become darker in color and your nipples may tingle. As your breasts get bigger, you might notice blue veins appearing. All these breast changes are due to the hormone estrogen.

YOU ARE 6 WEEKS EXACTLY 
238 days to go...  

YOUR BABY TODAY

Here the back of the embryo can be seen lying over the yolk sac. The opening overlying the developing brain has now closed (left side of image) and this will be followed two days later by closure of the opening at the base of the spine (out of view). 

By the end of this sixth week, one of your baby’s major organs— the heart—is rapidly developing and circulating blood.

Your developing embryo may still be tiny, but is undergoing rapid and complex development. 

The heartbeat is now more easily recognized on an ultrasound scan. The heart continues to form from a simple smooth tube which, as it becomes more muscular, loops, folds, and divides to form four chambers. On the left side the upper chamber (left atrium) takes in blood from the lungs. From here blood passes through a one-way valve (the mitral valve) into the main left pumping chamber (the left ventricle). 

This then pumps blood out of the heart to the It’s at an early stage of development, but the developing heart can be seen here as the dark red area. It lies just above the larger, slightly paler red area, which is the liver. Below the liver is the umbilicial cord. 5 weeks body along the main artery (the aorta). On the right-hand side of the heart, the upper chamber (right atrium) collects blood returning from the body and passes it through a one-way valve (tricuspid valve) into the right main pumping chamber (right ventricle). This pumps blood to the lungs and the cycle continues.

 At this stage of development, the circulation is very basic with the heart tube simply sending blood around the length of your baby. No blood travels from your baby’s circulation to the placenta 

GO to The seventh Weeks of Pregnant from here

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 fifth week of pregnancy

YOU ARE 4 WEEKS AND 1 DAY 
251 days to go... 

YOUR BABY TODAY

This is a microscope view of the amniotic cavity with the cells that will become the baby in a close-up. These cells will repeatedly divide and multiply, becoming more and more specialized at each stage of their development.

The waiting is over. If your period hasn’t started, take a home pregnancy test to find out whether you’ve conceived.

If you’ve missed your period (assuming that your normal cycle is no more than 28 days and that your period is therefore late), you may want to do a home pregnancy test today. 

A home pregnancy test, available at pharmacists and most supermarkets, contains a chemical that reacts if your urine contains the hormone hCG (human chorionic gonadotrophin). This is produced by an implanting embryo and will be found in your urine if you are pregnant. Levels of hCG are likely to be over 50 mIU/ml on the day your period is due. With between 97 and 99 percent accuracy, the majority of over-the-counter tests are sensitive enough to detect this amount, so they can be used on the first day of your missed period; some can be used earlier. 

The tests only turn positive once there is a certain level of the hCG hormone present in your urine: if you test too early, the result might be negative even though you are pregnant. Therefore, if you don’t get your period but you had a negative result, test again after two to three days. If you are pregnant, the levels of hCG will have risen, giving a positive result. 

If you get a positive result but your period starts anyway, it may be that you have suffered a very early miscarriage.

HOW TO USE A HOME PREGNANCY TEST 

Always read the instructions, but most tests work as follows: 

• You urinate on the stick and leave it for a specified number of minutes. 
• A symbol will appear in the control window to indicate the test is working (if this does not appear, the test is faulty). If a symbol then appears in the results window, you are pregnant. 
• It is advisable to do the test first thing in the morning when your urine is most concentrated. By doing this, the hCG levels are likely to be detected more easily 
• The results symbol gradually fades, so read it after the specified time, not later. Do another test the next morning if you’re unsure of the result 

You can find out within minutes whether you are expecting a baby, but as you await this life-changing result it can seem like a lifetime for the symbol to appear.

YOU ARE 4 WEEKS AND 2 DAYS 
250 days to go...

YOUR BABY TODAY

The embryo until this stage of development has consisted of two layers of cells. Now, a third layer starts to become visible as a “bulge” between the two—this bulge can be seen in the center of this image.

In this third week since conception, the cells that will become the embryo move to form the basis of the central nervous system.

While you’re busy coming to terms with being pregnant, there are incredible changes taking place inside you. The group of cells, that will become your baby is currently shaped as a flat disk and undergoing significant development. A narrow groove begins to form down the middle of the cells. The leading edge of the groove is slightly wider forming a circular “node.” The outer edges of the node and groove are slightly raised. 

The cells move from the rolled edges of these structures downward into the groove to lie between the original two layers of cells. This creates three layers of cells, those on each outer disk surface and those sandwiched between them. The node and groove do not extend along the entire length of the disk. 

At the head end, a separate groove forms. Called the neural groove, this ultimately forms the brain and spinal cord (the central nervous system). In four days time, the disk will lengthen and widen at the end that will form your baby’s head. In six days time, the neural groove has folds on either side that will later meet to form the neural tube.

Shown here is the neural tube of an embryo in the early stages of pregnancy. The brain and spinal cord will develop from the neural tube. If the tube does not fully close, it can lead to birth defects, most commonly spina bifida.

ASK A... DOCTOR

I’ve been having difficulty getting pregnant and have now been diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome. What is this? This condition causes the ovaries to be bigger than normal and they produce a large number of small follicles that never grow to full maturity. Therefore an egg is not released to be fertilized and periods are very irregular. 

The condition is a common cause of fertility problems and treatments are aimed at stimulating ovulation and also reducing some of the symptoms, such as increased body hair. Polycystic ovary syndrome appears to run in families. 

FOCUS ON... RELATIONSHIPS

“You’re going to be a dad!”  

It’s the positive result you’ve been waiting for—hopefully!—but how do you share it with your partner? You could present him with an envelope containing your positive pregnancy test, or explain that you have a “special gift” for him but it won’t be ready until about, oh, nine months. It shouldn’t take him long to figure it out! Ideally, choose a time when you are both alone and feeling relaxed so that it can be a special moment. You may want to do another test with your partner just to make sure and also so that he feels involved. 

Even if you’re excited, and even if you can’t get in touch with your partner for a day, don’t be tempted to tell your mom and close friends first Your partner may be upset, understandably, if others know he’s going to be a dad before he does.

YOU ARE 4 WEEKS AND 3 DAYS 
249 days to go... 

YOUR BABY TODAY 

As the embryo transforms from two cell layers into three, a groove develops along the back of the embryo. This groove (the dark area in the center of this image) will develop in the embryo’s neural tube—the forerunner of the brain and spinal cord. 

Happy? Excited? But a little nervous? There is no greater lifechanging event than finding out you’re going to be parents.

In the few days since you conceived, you may have experienced a whole host of different feelings. Even if you planned to get pregnant, it’s perfectly normal for the initial elation to be replaced with some anxiety as the reality hits you that you are going to be a mom. You might also doubt the result of the test you’ve taken and not actually believe it until you begin to have some of the early symptoms of pregnancy. 

Your partner may react differently than you. If he doesn’t appear as excited, don’t interpret this as meaning that he is not happy about the news; not everyone deals with big events in the same way, and it might be some time before the reality of becoming a dad hits him. Withdrawing into himself may be his way of giving himself some time to process the information. Conversely, you may find he’s actually more excited about the news than you! 

Handling your feelings might be made more difficult by trying to keep the pregnancy a secret, for the time being. Most couples decide not to tell people until after the 12-week scan when the miscarriage risk is significantly decreased, but you may find that confiding in a few close relatives and friends will give you a much-needed outlet to talk about your feelings.

SURPRISED TO BE PREGNANT?

If you’re one of the few women who has become pregnant while using contraception, it is unlikely to have done your baby any harm, but depending on what you were using, here’s what you should do:

• Contraceptive pill: stop taking it. 
• Contraceptive patch: remove it. 
• Contraceptive implant: see your doctor to have it removed. 
• IUD or IUS (intrauterine device or intrauterine system): visit your doctor without delay if you’re using either since there’s a small risk that the pregnancy could be ectopic. Even if a scan shows that the pregnancy is not ectopic, the IUD or IUS should be removed: the risk of miscarriage is greater if it is left in place. 
• Contraceptive injection (DepoProvera): see your doctor if you conceive while using this. Research indicates that it won’t affect the unborn baby, but you should not have any more injections. 
• Morning-after pill: once an egg has implanted, the morning-after pill has no effect so it won’t harm your baby. Do, however, see your doctor if you’re concerned. 

Discovering that you’re going to be parents is a momentous occasion, and you and your partner are likely to experience a renewed closeness as a result.

AS A MATTER OF FACT

Pregnant women often try to connect with their baby through dreams.

You may find it difficult to fully bond with your baby and believe you’re actually pregnant. A common dream in pregnancy is that you’re swimming; it is thought to be a way of trying to “reach” the baby, who will soon be bathed in water (fluid) inside you. 

YOU ARE 4 WEEKS AND 4 DAYS 
248 days to go...

YOUR BABY TODAY

The embryo seen from above now has a subtle groove (the primitive groove) and a small central depression (the primitive node), both seen here in white. These changes start at what will become the base of the spine and progress toward the head.

You’re probably eager to know when your baby will be born. The chart below will tell you the expected date of delivery.

Until you have an ultrasound in a few weeks’ time, your baby’s due date will be calculated by counting 280 days from the first day of your last menstrual period—see chart, below. At the dating scan, your baby will be measured and his age calculated. The scan date will then be used since it is considered to be accurate. 

While you’re bound to want to know the due date, try not to get too fixated on it. Most babies are born within about two weeks of their due dates but your baby will be considered to be born at term if you give birth between 37 and 42 weeks. So your estimated delivery date is just that, an estimate; your baby may be born earlier or later.

YOU ARE 4 WEEKS AND 5 DAYS 
247 days to go...

YOUR BABY TODAY 

The embryo, still less than 3 mm long, now has a deep and narrow groove extending along its entire length. This groove will soon become so deep and its edges will curl over so much that it forms into a tube running along the length of the embryo.

Although there’s lots of information to take in, try to enjoy this time and remember pregnancy is a natural process.

No sooner than you found out you were pregnant, like most expectant women, you may have begun to worry about all aspects of your lifestyle and your unborn baby’s health. To put things in perspective, remember that in generations gone by pregnancy was considered to be a natural event, and few women made lifestyle changes to accommodate the condition. So in the past, pregnant women were likely to continue eating unhealthy foods, drinking alcohol, and smoking. 

Furthermore, pregnancy tests tended to be much less accurate or sensitive, meaning that many pregnancies ended in early miscarriage without anyone being aware. For this reason, many of the problems now known to be risk factors for pregnancy complications or miscarriage were not analyzed or addressed, or worried about. 

Today, with the benefit of a great deal of research, and precise monitoring of ovulation, conception, and pregnancy, women are very aware of what is happening inside their bodies, and are informed about the potential pitfalls. This is a mixed blessing: while it is important to avoid anything known to adversely affect your unborn baby, it is equally important to relax and enjoy the pregnancy, because stress is not good for you or your baby.

ASK A... DOCTOR 

I’m 40 and in great shape. Will the doctors still see my pregnancy as potentially high-risk? Yes, any woman over 35 is categorized as high risk, regardless of her health status. Although this can be frustrating, the reason for the close monitoring is that, statistically, women over 35 are more likely to suffer from complications during pregnancy, such as high blood pressure, miscarriage, and gestational diabetes; there is also an increased risk of having a baby with a genetic disorder, such as Down syndrome. 

Your doctor will simply want to keep an eye on you to be sure that your pregnancy progresses normally, and that both you and your baby remain healthy. By having regular monitoring, any potential problems can be addressed and hopefully rectified at an early stage. 

Try not to see it as an intrusion. It’s great that you’re in good shape already, and if you continue to take care of your health and exercise regularly, you will reduce the risks of complications from occurring. 

As an older expectant mom, you are likely to have more prenatal checkups. High blood pressure can be a sign of preeclampsia, which is a more significant risk for first-time pregnant women over 40. 

AS A MATTER OF FACT 

Pregnant women used to be advised to drink dark beer because it’s a good source of iron. 

Sadly, this is an old wives’ tale as the iron content of beer is negligible. So, even though they’re not as interesting, stick to your leafy green vegetables! 

YOU ARE 4 WEEKS AND 6 DAYS 
246 days to go...

YOUR BABY TODAY 

The upper part of the embryo is shown. There is still a wide opening along the back of the embryo that will gradually close over the next few days. The head and lower spine portions are the last to close.

The placenta—the structure that will become your unborn baby’s lifeline—is forming.

Your pregnancy test result may be the only sign that you’re pregnant, but there are many fascinating changes taking place inside you. The basic structures that will form the placenta are now in place. The outer layer of cells that originally entered the lining of the uterus are now coated with projections of placental tissue. It is the outer cells that are in direct contact with small lakes of your blood. The inner placental projections or fronds are termed “villi.” 

Some villi anchor the pregnancy to your tissues and, from these, smaller freefloating villi arise. Later, more branches will appear and ultimately resemble the branching pattern of a fern leaf. The villi are still immature and have not established a blood supply of their own. It will be several weeks before the placenta is mature enough to supply all the oxygen and nutrients that your developing baby needs.

If you have any doubts while you’re pregnant, try talking to a close female relative—perhaps your mom—or a friend. You’re likely to find they, at times, had similar doubts, but went on to enjoy their pregnancy and being a mother

ASK A... MOM 

I really wanted a baby, but now that I have a positive pregnancy test result, I’m suddenly not so sure. Is this normal? I felt exactly the same at first and after talking to friends discovered that lots of them had mixed feelings, especially at the beginning. I found a good way to overcome this was to focus on the reasons why I wanted the baby. 

I wrote these down. Then I tried to figure out what I was really worrying about. Was it the thought of giving up some freedom? Financial worries? Concerns that I wouldn’t be a good parent? This helped me get things in perspective and realize I really did want the baby

TIME TO THINK ABOUT 

Seeing your doctor 

If you’ve had a positive pregnancy test, call your doctor’s office to schedule your first prenatal visit, which will be between 8 and 12 weeks. The receptionist will likely ask the date of your last menstrual period to properly time the appointment.

• At the appointment, your doctor will confirm your home pregnancy test results with urine and blood tests and possibly an ultrasound, as well. She will also determine your estimated due date based on the date of your last menstrual period. 
• This first visit will typically be your longest appointment, since the doctor will give you a thorough physical examination, take your family and personal health history, and answer any of your pregnancyrelated questions or concerns. 
• You will be weighed and have your blood pressure checked. 
• You’ll also have blood drawn for several tests, including your blood type, Rh status, and a variety of sexually transmitted diseases.

YOU ARE 5 WEEKS EXACTLY 
245 days to go...  

YOUR BABY TODAY 

The bulge at the lower part of this image will eventually become the baby’s head. Segments called somites (seen as bright, round areas running down one side of the embryo), which will form the baby’s spine, have started to develop.

At this important stage of development, the building blocks of your baby’s spine are being laid down.

By the end of this 5th week, individual elements that will form the embryo have begun to develop.

 Starting at what will become the head end, individual segments, called “somites,” form. Roughly three new pairs of somites appear every day and each forms part of your baby’s spine as well as the muscles associated with each segment of the body. Eventually there will be four somites at the head, eight in the region of the neck, 12 at chest level, five in the lumbar region, and five in the pelvic area. 

More somites develop in the baby below the pelvis but most disappear. In other mammals, these develop to form the tail.  

Doing moderate aerobic exercise during pregnancy—such as walking or running— regularly will burn excess fat, but won’t affect your baby’s development.

FOCUS ON... YOUR BODY

Your metabolism 

Regular exercise will increase your base metabolic rate, which is the rate at which your body burns calories. During pregnancy your metabolism will already be slightly elevated. When exercising your body will be encouraged to use up excess energy and fat reserves, but will always keep enough reserve energy to facilitate the growth of your baby. 

Exercise will also help your body regulate blood sugar and energy levels.

ASK A... NUTRITIONIST 

I’m underweight. Could this affect my pregnancy? You may be more likely to suffer from nutritional deficiencies, which could affect the baby’s health; you are also more likely to give birth prematurely, and have a smallerthan-usual baby, who is more vulnerable to health problems. 

To gain weight, eat bigger portions and choose healthy foods that have plenty of protein, goodquality fats, and unrefined carbohydrates. Opt for nutrient- and calorie-dense foods, such as avocados and whole-milk dairy products; eat lots of leafy greens to ensure you are getting key vitamins and minerals. Eat healthy snacks, such as nuts, fruit, and seeds, and don’t skip breakfast. Your doctor will refer you to a dietician, if necessary 

ACTUAL SIZE OF YOUR BABY

At 5 weeks of pregnancy, the embryo is 0.09 in (2.5 mm) long. 

 

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