What changes are occurring with your body?
Your total pregnancy weight gain to this point should be between 19 and 25 pounds. The top of your uterus can be felt somewhere between 3 ½ to 4 inches above your belly button.
Last week we began talking about a few of the discomforts that are associated with the later part of pregnancy. Constipation results in abdominal pain or discomfort, difficult infrequent bowel movements, and the passage of hard stools.
Here are a few things that you can do to help prevent constipation from occurring or treat it if you are already experiencing it:
Eat a high fiber diet including: fruits, vegetables, breakfast cereals, whole grain breads, prunes, and bran.
Drink a lot of fluids: Drink 10 to 12 cups of fluids each day.
Exercise routinely: Walking, swimming, and other moderate exercises three times a week for 20-30 minutes each can help stimulate the bowels.
Over-the-counter remedies such as Colace or Metamucil.
Reduce or eliminate iron supplements.
Laxative pills and mineral oils are NOT recommended for the treatment of constipation during pregnancy.*
How big is your baby?
Your baby now measures over 14 ½ inches and weighs 2 ¾ pounds.*
What is happening with your baby?
Your baby is rapidly growing at this point. Obviously your baby is continuing to gain weight, and his/her head is also growing. This is due to the rapid brain development that began in week 28. Muscles and lungs are also continuing to develop and mature.
Because there is so much development and maturing going on, it is incredibly important to ensure that you are getting plenty of nutrients and rest. Make sure that you are getting adequate amounts of protein, vitamin C, folic acid, iron, and calcium. A list of recommendations can be found at Essential Nutrients and Vitamins for pregnancy. If you still have questions regarding nutrition and appropriate amounts of vitamins and nutrients, contact your health care provider.*
Monday, August 24, 2009
Week 28 of Pregnancy
What changes are occurring with your body?
Each and every week your uterus continues to grow. The top of your uterus can now be felt significantly above your belly button, about 3 ½ inches or more. Most likely your weight gain is between 17 and 24 pounds. Discuss weight concerns with your healthcare provider at your next appointment.
Since you have entered the third trimester, you may notice that the symptoms of pregnancy are changing once again. Many women will begin experiencing leg cramps, constipation, insomnia, and hemorrhoids.
How big is your baby?
Your baby is about 14 ¼ inches long and weighs in at 2 ½ pounds. This still seems very small, but remember that during the last several weeks of pregnancy your baby will gain a significant amount of weight.*
What is happening with your baby?
Your baby’s brain is really beginning to develop into a more complex organ. Up until this point, your baby’s brain has been relatively smooth, but beginning this week his/her brain will develop grooves and indentions along its surface. The amount of brain tissue also begins to increase during the 28th week.
The development of hair also continues. Eyebrows and eyelashes are visible, while the hair on your baby’s head grows even longer. Your baby is also starting to look a little rounder as the fat storage under the skin continues to develop. This is an important part of development that will continue through the remainder of your pregnancy.*
Each and every week your uterus continues to grow. The top of your uterus can now be felt significantly above your belly button, about 3 ½ inches or more. Most likely your weight gain is between 17 and 24 pounds. Discuss weight concerns with your healthcare provider at your next appointment.
Since you have entered the third trimester, you may notice that the symptoms of pregnancy are changing once again. Many women will begin experiencing leg cramps, constipation, insomnia, and hemorrhoids.
How big is your baby?
Your baby is about 14 ¼ inches long and weighs in at 2 ½ pounds. This still seems very small, but remember that during the last several weeks of pregnancy your baby will gain a significant amount of weight.*
What is happening with your baby?
Your baby’s brain is really beginning to develop into a more complex organ. Up until this point, your baby’s brain has been relatively smooth, but beginning this week his/her brain will develop grooves and indentions along its surface. The amount of brain tissue also begins to increase during the 28th week.
The development of hair also continues. Eyebrows and eyelashes are visible, while the hair on your baby’s head grows even longer. Your baby is also starting to look a little rounder as the fat storage under the skin continues to develop. This is an important part of development that will continue through the remainder of your pregnancy.*
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Week 27 of Pregnancy
What changes are occurring with your body?
By this point in your pregnancy you are feeling your baby move quite a lot. Some of his/her movements could be due to hiccups, while others feel like he/she is participating in an aerobic workout. Many women find these movements very comforting, and these often help strengthen the bonding process between mother and child.
Many women ask questions concerning how often they should feel their baby move. Later in pregnancy you may be asked to calculate your baby’s kick count, but now you just want to make general comparisons. If your baby seems less active than normal, then you would want to discuss this with your healthcare provider.*
How big is your baby?
Your baby is now 13 ¾ inches long and weighs 2¼ pounds.*
What is happening with your baby?
Around week 11 your baby’s eye lids became fused, but around the 27th to 28th week babies can open and close their eyes. Your baby has also developed a regular wake and sleep cycle. Unfortunately, it may not be the same as yours. You may also begin to feel rhythmic movements in your uterus and wonder what is going on. It is likely that your baby is experiencing a case of the hiccups. This is completely normal and may occur quite frequently during this last part of your pregnancy as your baby’s lungs continue to mature. *
The kick count has begun as well as child birthing classes. The kick count is where I take out two hours to monitor the babies movements. During those two hours he's supposed to move at least 10 times. Well Emmett is super active most of the time so all I need is about 5 minutes to get his 10 kick counts in for the day. If he's maintaining that level of activity then all is well in his world. I can pick any two hours I want it doesn't matter as long as it's a time that he's normally active. Pretty much when I wake up and when I eat and when I get ready for bed he's active.
I'm super excited about the child birthing classes. I'll get to learn all the things I didn't know about when I was pregnant with Alexis and Steven gets to be a part of it too! We did find out though at our first class this past Tuesday that we are the most prepared couple in there even though most of them are due to have there babies in September. Our homework this week is for me to track 3-4 what all I eat in a day to make sure I'm getting all the servings I need of everything, and to give each other massages. Personally I'm looking forward to the massages ;)
By this point in your pregnancy you are feeling your baby move quite a lot. Some of his/her movements could be due to hiccups, while others feel like he/she is participating in an aerobic workout. Many women find these movements very comforting, and these often help strengthen the bonding process between mother and child.
Many women ask questions concerning how often they should feel their baby move. Later in pregnancy you may be asked to calculate your baby’s kick count, but now you just want to make general comparisons. If your baby seems less active than normal, then you would want to discuss this with your healthcare provider.*
How big is your baby?
Your baby is now 13 ¾ inches long and weighs 2¼ pounds.*
What is happening with your baby?
Around week 11 your baby’s eye lids became fused, but around the 27th to 28th week babies can open and close their eyes. Your baby has also developed a regular wake and sleep cycle. Unfortunately, it may not be the same as yours. You may also begin to feel rhythmic movements in your uterus and wonder what is going on. It is likely that your baby is experiencing a case of the hiccups. This is completely normal and may occur quite frequently during this last part of your pregnancy as your baby’s lungs continue to mature. *
The kick count has begun as well as child birthing classes. The kick count is where I take out two hours to monitor the babies movements. During those two hours he's supposed to move at least 10 times. Well Emmett is super active most of the time so all I need is about 5 minutes to get his 10 kick counts in for the day. If he's maintaining that level of activity then all is well in his world. I can pick any two hours I want it doesn't matter as long as it's a time that he's normally active. Pretty much when I wake up and when I eat and when I get ready for bed he's active.
I'm super excited about the child birthing classes. I'll get to learn all the things I didn't know about when I was pregnant with Alexis and Steven gets to be a part of it too! We did find out though at our first class this past Tuesday that we are the most prepared couple in there even though most of them are due to have there babies in September. Our homework this week is for me to track 3-4 what all I eat in a day to make sure I'm getting all the servings I need of everything, and to give each other massages. Personally I'm looking forward to the massages ;)
Monday, August 3, 2009
Week 26 of Pregnancy
What changes are occurring with your body?
The top of your uterus can now be felt about 2 ½ inches above your belly button. During the remainder of your pregnancy you will grow about a ½ inch per week. If you have been watching your weight throughout your pregnancy and have been sticking to a balanced diet, your weight gain should be between 16 and 22 pounds. *
How big is your baby?
Your baby is approximately 13.38 inches long and weighs 2 pounds.*
What is happening with your baby?
The development that is occurring at this stage may seem small and insignificant, but it is very important as your baby begins to prepare for his/her entry into the world. The nerves in the ears are developing and allowing your baby to respond more consistently to the sounds that he/she hears. Your baby is also continuing to swallow amniotic fluid which is causing his/her lungs to develop. If you are having a little boy, his testicles have begun their descent into his scrotum.
The top of your uterus can now be felt about 2 ½ inches above your belly button. During the remainder of your pregnancy you will grow about a ½ inch per week. If you have been watching your weight throughout your pregnancy and have been sticking to a balanced diet, your weight gain should be between 16 and 22 pounds. *
How big is your baby?
Your baby is approximately 13.38 inches long and weighs 2 pounds.*
What is happening with your baby?
The development that is occurring at this stage may seem small and insignificant, but it is very important as your baby begins to prepare for his/her entry into the world. The nerves in the ears are developing and allowing your baby to respond more consistently to the sounds that he/she hears. Your baby is also continuing to swallow amniotic fluid which is causing his/her lungs to develop. If you are having a little boy, his testicles have begun their descent into his scrotum.
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