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Welcome to month three, Mom! You’re 9 weeks pregnant and you’re probably feeling pretty tired. Here’s what’s going on with your body and your baby this week.
How Big is Baby?
By this week, little babe has reached the one-inch mark!
What’s New with Baby?
Baby is starting to look more like a baby this week, as the little embryonic tail they started out with is gone. And baby can move a little too, with their wrist, knee, shoulder, and ankle joints all in working order.
What’s New with Mom?
Feeling a lot of the same? Wondering when it will end? It’s normal for women to experience weeks of the same uncomfortable symptoms in this early stage of pregnancy, says Dr. Joanna Forbes, an Ob/Gyn at UT Southwestern Medical Center. “The first trimester, patients usually have the same symptoms—fatigue, nausea and vomiting, etc. It doesn’t really vary much week by week.” You can add moodiness, bloating and perhaps some heartburn to those common first trimester symptoms.
Joanna Forbes, M.D., is an assistant professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at UT Southwestern Medical Center. She specializes in all aspects of general Ob/Gyn, including well-woman exams and minimally invasive Ob/Gyn surgery.
Fun Fact
This week baby has eyelids! They’re fused shut for now, but baby will be able to open those eyes later in the third trimester.
Your Diet During Pregnancy
Eating a healthy diet is always important, but when you’re pregnant it’s not just for you—it’s to support your growing baby too. Plus, eating well will help your body handle all the extra demands pregnancy puts on it.
In the first trimester, your baby doesn’t need you to consume any additional calories. In the second and third trimester, women with a healthy BMI—and carrying a single baby—should eat additional 340 and 450 calories a day, respectively, or a total of between 2200 and 2900 a day, says Forbes. This will vary for women who are underweight or overweight or carrying multiples.
You still should make it a priority to eat from the main food groups: vegetables, fruits, whole grains, protein foods and dairy. It’s important to include foods that contain calcium, iron, choline, vitamin C, omega-3 fatty acids while pregnant. You’ll find these in dairy products, leafy greens, lean red meat, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, peanuts and soy products. That’s quite the menu!
So what shouldn’t you eat? Here are a few foods you need to be careful with while pregnant:
• Uncooked meat and seafood: Raw or undercooked beef, poultry or seafood should be avoided during pregnancy because of the risk of contamination with coliform bacteria, toxoplasmosis, and salmonella.
• Deli meats, soft cheeses and unpasteurized milk: Be careful with ready-to-eat refrigerated meats including hot dogs and cold cuts, along with cheeses that don’t specify they were made from pasteurized milk. These could be contaminated with listeria, and pregnant women are higher risk than other healthy adults to get listeriosis. If you have a hankering for a turkey sandwich, heat the meat until steaming to kill any potential bacteria.
• Unwashed veggies and fruits: Thoroughly wash your produce, even if you are going to peel it before eating. This will remove any bacteria from the surface.
• Fish with mercury: Avoid fish with high levels of mercury including shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish. According to the American Pregnancy Association, canned, chunk light tuna generally has a lower amount of mercury than other tuna, but still should only be eaten in moderation.
• Caffeine: Moderate caffeine consumption (less than 200 milligrams per day) does not cause miscarriage or preterm birth, according to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. That’s the amount in one 12-ounce cup of coffee.
• Alcohol: Experts advise pregnant women to avoid alcohol altogether while pregnant.
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This blog is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute the provision of medical advice or professional services. This blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
The above article was written by DFWChild editor Amanda Collins Bernier with information provided by UT Southwestern Medical Center as part of their sponsored content.
