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
Can you tie your shoes now? Good luck bending over without feeling a big pinch and pressure. Time for slip-ons that are wide and comfortable. Skip the heels because your are more at risk for falls due to your balance issues. You’ve probably noticed that your shoes no longer fit. That’s because the feet grow almost a full-size during pregnancy as a result of the hormone relaxin. They don’t shrink back either. The bones and ligaments of your feet loosen up just like the pelvic bones. Personally, I think that the longer you live and walk on this earth, the bigger the feet get, anyhow. I noticed that 20 years later after my last child, that my shoe size went up another half size. Weight and gravity must play a role.
Baby Development
Baby is not yet a pound but is getting close depending on other factors such as diet, obesity, and diabetes. You are probably feeling the baby’s movements more regularly now, but it depends on the position of the baby and the placenta. Baby is still only 1% body fat but will start to add a type of fat known as brown fat that is the same fat you are gaining during pregnancy. Brown fat converts fast into energy. It helps keep baby insulated and a ready supply of food in between mama’s meals. The arms and legs continue to grow, and full formed eyebrows are present which means your baby can frown or furrow them especially when you eat those nasty foods like garlic and asparagus. Do not stop eating a variety of vegetables because he or she will have to get used to them one of these days—take note; food aversions start now. Ever wonder if picky eaters are that way because of what mama fed them? Of course, mother’s are blamed for everything, and it starts long before entry into the new world. Here’s an idea, have your partner read to junior while you are sleeping—that way he or she can get used to their voice, too — finally, some needed relief.
Pregnancy Nutrition Week 6
Do you feel like a hot-air balloon? – Lots of women meet that bloated, gurgly, gassy, full-of-it feeling during pregnancy. It almost that you can’t button your pants as soon as you learn you are pregnant—all thanks to progesterone–the puffy hormone.( it’s called pro-gestation for obvious reasons), it also triggers that oh-so-delightful trio: bloating, burping, and farting. To strike it you can: Drink plenty of water. This helps prevent constipation that leads to hemorrhoids. Fit in fiber. Whole grains, oats, vegetables, and fruits but go slow, so you don’t have too much gas and stool coming out. Opt for smaller meals. Fueling up on six small meals a day or three moderate ones and a couple of snacks will not only keep your nutrition levels constant to nourish your baby better, but they’ll also prevent your digestive system from getting overloaded. Try to relax. It prevents air swallowing that leads to gas and bloat. So don’t eat your meal with a side of stress. Stop and take a few deep breaths to calm yourself before and during your meal—lunch breaks should be for refueling literally.