You are 13 Weeks and 3 Days 186 days to go…
Your waistline will
be increasing and your body shape changing but your belly is unlikely
to be very prominent for several weeks.
Your baby today
It is surprising how much detail is already present in your
baby’s body. This closeup of an ear shows that its helical pattern of
folds is nearly fully developed, although it is still too soon for your
baby to hear anything.
By week 14,
if you stand in your underwear in front of the mirror, you will see a
change in your body shape, but to the outside world you may not look
very different. Women who have previously been pregnant tend to show
earlier than those who are pregnant for the first time, because their
stomach muscles have already been stretched once and so stretch much
more quickly. Women often say that this is the time when they look as
though they have put on weight and feel fat, not pregnant! But it won’t
be long before your belly will be visible for the world to see.
If you’re feeling uncomfortable and heavy, make sure you choose the right clothes. See the section
Become a clothes cheat! for some tips on how to adapt your wardrobe without having to spend any money yet.
Sleep Problems
Now that you’re in the second trimester,
you may be sleeping better, since the urge to go to the bathroom
frequently may have subsided, allowing you to stay in bed all night long
once again. Or maybe not, since sleep-related problems can affect women
during the entire pregnancy. Here are some common problems and
solutions:
Heartburn
Lying down soon after a big meal can cause acid reflux, known as
heartburn, which can make it uncomfortable for you to sleep. To lessen
the possibility of disrupted sleep due to heartburn, avoid eating big
meals 2–3 hours before bed. If your heartburn is severe, discuss
over-the-counter medication options with your doctor.
Restless leg syndrome
This condition, which makes you feel the need to move your legs around
to relieve a creepy-crawly feeling while you’re lying in bed, is fairly
common in pregnancy. It’s a good idea to mention it to your doctor,
since it can sometimes be caused by a deficiency (like anemia) that can
be treated by taking supplements.
Napping
If pregnancy makes you tired, you may want to grab 40 winks in the
afternoon. But for some pregnant women, this extra shut-eye makes it
more difficult to fall asleep at night. If this happens to you, skip the
afternoon nap and go to bed at night a little earlier than you usually
do.
… Doctor
| Q: |
Is it safe to use complementary therapies?
|
| A: |
Check with your doctor before opting for complementary and
alternative medicine. This umbrella term covers medical practices and
products that are not considered part of conventional medicine, and
studies of their effects on pregnancy may not have been done. “Natural”
doesn’t mean “safe.”
|
Reflexology
is a complementary therapy that involves applying pressure to reflexes
on the hands and feet. It’s believed to help with morning sickness,
backaches, fluid retention, and swelling during pregnancy.
You are 13 Weeks and 4 Days 185 days to go…
Your baby’s central nervous system, including the brain and the spine, now has all its basic components.
Your baby today
Whether your baby’s legs are crossed or uncrossed, it is very
difficult to tell from an ultrasound at this stage whether your baby is a
boy or girl: male and female look too similar to reliably tell them
apart.
The core development of your baby’s central nervous system
has taken place, and it will now progress further using four
overlapping processes. The number of nerve cells increases and their
positions alter during migration—a process by which cells move to their
final locations and develop specific functions. The connections between
individual nerve cells become more organized, and the fibers become
insulated. The growth of the nervous system now enters its most active
phase. Reflecting this, the head accounts for half of the entire length
of the baby. Both the nerves and their supporting cells increase in
number. Although most of the nerve cells are produced during pregnancy,
the supporting cells continue to increase in number during your baby’s
first year. The supporting cells assist in the migration process, which
is largely completed by 22 weeks.
… Doctor
| Q: |
Can I continue jogging?
|
| A: |
There’s no reason why not if you were a regular runner before
you became pregnant, but take it easy—now is not the time to run a
marathon!
You need to
avoid becoming overheated so don’t run on hot days and drink plenty of
water, regardless of the temperature. Wear a good sports bra to support
your growing breasts. Whenever you can, run on soft surfaces, such as
grass, to reduce the stress on your joints, especially your knees.
|
Jogging is a good aerobic activity
during pregnancy in the early months, but is only advised if you’re
used to jogging. Don’t take it up as a new activity in pregnancy.
… Nutrition
Perfect pork
Pork is an excellent source of protein,
vitamin B6, and zinc—which are all essential nutrients for pregnancy.
Pork has a reputation as a fatty meat, but this is not deserved; it is
probably due to the fact that some cuts can be fatty, such as spare
ribs, bacon, and ham, but many cuts of pork have less saturated fat than
beef.
The key to eating
healthily is to look for the leanest cuts. These usually have the word
“loin” in the name, such as tenderloin or top loin chop. A serving of
pork should be approximately 3 oz (85 g).
Pork is healthy
and delicious, and quick and easy to prepare. Sprinkle some salt on lean
pork chops, grill, and serve with some apple sauce on the side; your
craving for something both salty and sweet can be met in a healthy way.
Always make sure that the pork is prepared on a separate cutting board
than other foods and thoroughly cooked to reduce your chances of getting
a food-borne illness .
