Welcome to the Pregged pregnancy week-by-week series. Each week-by-week post is separated into three handy sections.
1. Mom – Section one covers the changes mom will experience and the things she may need to consider health-wise.
2. Baby – Section two looks at the development of the fetus and what’s going on with baby inside the womb.
3. Nutrition – Section three covers nutrition for each week of pregnancy so that you know what foods are important to include in your diet at each stage.
6 WEEKS PREGNANT – MOM
Shortness of breath can be very uncomfortable to you, but your baby is as happy as a clam because he or she is getting oxygen from the placenta as it connects to mother’s blood supply. It starts early from the hormones, and then the physical limitations add to the problem in later pregnancy.
That breathlessness gets better once the baby drops into the pelvis and is no longer floating above the pubic bone. Don’t forget to do daily kick counts.
Buying or registering for a crib set? Skip the crib bumpers – they pose a serious SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) risk—as do pillows, stuffed animals, and blankets.
Is your hospital bag packed? If not now’s an excellent time to get it ready, just in case.
Baby Development
When will baby move out from under your rib cage which is causing a burning sensation and difficulty breathing? Sorry, but most babies do not drop this early although they may be head down. Baby’s brain is getting wrinkles that account for all the grooves seen in an adult brain. Skin is filling out with fat underneath. The eyes and ears are getting ready to work outside of there. The grasping reflex occurs now where the baby can grab his finger and will grab yours and make your heart weak. Doctors report instruments being grabbed by the baby as it exits the birth canal or the abdomen during a cesarean. So, make sure your camera and video are charged up. Some people opt for a 3D/4D ultrasound to get a real portrait view of their baby where the features can be seen so clearly and facial expressions will be a delight.
Pregnancy Nutrition Week 6
Are you too stuffed for a full meal? As your stomach starts losing the competition for space in your increasingly cramped abdomen at 31 weeks pregnant, devouring the pasta or 10-ounce steak can definitely seem unappetizing and physically impossible. Fortunately, snacks can step in to save the day —
No matter where your journey leads you, take nutritious snacks with you. Stock your fridge and pantry with plenty of nutritious nibbles, sized to fit in your purse, briefcase, pocket, glove compartment, desk drawer:
- single serving of yogurt, smoothies, and cottage cheese
- individually wrapped cheese wedges and string cheese
- mini-tubs or cans of fruit packed in its own juice or ready-to-eat fruit salad
- granola bars (choose whole-grain, low-sugar varieties)
- mini-bags or boxes of raisins or nuts
- fresh fruit that travels well, nutritious drinks to wash it all down, single-serving-size bags of soy chips, baked corn chips, and whole-grain pretzels and crackers, precut carrots and celery sticks (some even come with dip)
- healthy soups-in-a-cup. Eating well during pregnancy will help you manage the changes and symptoms coming your way; it will also help you grow a healthy baby.