Learn these tips and tricks!
Description
Don't you want to know whether your unborn baby can breathe already? As for you, mum, your immunity is now lower. But don't fret. While you will need to exert additional effort to stay healthy, the lowered immunity has its purpose--and it's a good one! Find out what it is.
Your Baby’s Development
In this week by week pregnancy guide, you'll learn that:
- Your baby has finally stared to shed his lanugo (or downy fur) to acquire baby fat, which is also known as “brown fat”.
- Eyebrows and hair start to appear this week.
- He can hiccup, which, believe it or not, happens before he can even breathe. At this stage, your little one doesn't make any sound because his windpipe is filled with amniotic fluid and not air.
- His body is a bit more proportionate now.
- By the end of this week, he will be able to make a fist.
Pregnancy Symptoms
- You may be finding that you are more prone to colds and coughs, perhaps even a touch of flu. And it is not because you aren't caring for yourself. At this stage of your pregnancy, your body's lowered immunity ensures that it does not reject the fetus.
- The extra amount of blood circulating in your body make the capillaries in your nose and gums swell. This could lead to nosebleeds and bleeding of the gums.
- You may have gained between 2.2-4.5 kg. Do keep an eye on the weighing scale.
Pregnancy Care
- Since your immunity is lowered, you must not falter with your hygiene.
- The most important takeaway in this week by week pregnancy guide is: feel free to say "no" to visitors who are unwell. You need to protect yourself from harmful bacteria and virus.
Your Checklist
- Your libido may be on an increase. You and your partner should look at sexual positions that are safe and comfortable.
- Now is the time for you to book yourself in for a multiple marker screening or a triple test. Typically conducted between 15 to 18 weeks of pregnancy, these simple blood tests that can determine whether your baby is at an increased risk for Down Syndrome and trisomy 18 (both chromosomal abnormalities), as well as neural tube defects such as spina bifida.
Tips
Keep an eye on your weight gain and make sure you're gaining enough (but not too much) weight! Read more
Reminders
It's important to track your blood pressure to check signs of preeclampsia. If you're at high risk for preeclampsia, try eating food bars containing the amino acid L-arginine and antioxidant vitamins and never skip any prenatal visits!
Book yourself in for a multiple marker screening or a triple test, usually done between weeks 15-18. This finds out if your baby is at higher risk of Down Syndrome and trisomy 18 and other neural tube defects.
