Category: 11 weeks

Your Pregnancy journey

Here is when most of the morning sickness and nauseatic feeling subsides as you are now approaching your second trimester

You should look at joining a Pe natal class at this point in time. The classes will have different sessions that will guide you through the coming months of pregnancy, on various important topics like breastfeeding and lactation, labour and delivery, post natal care, child care, exercise sessions and much more. You should also involve you partner in the same as it will help him to be more connected to the pregnancy.

There are many pregnancy classes that are available for moms to be and parents to be. Let’s start with a basic classification – classes which offer only pregnancy exercises and classes which offer the complete pregnancy program. Within exercise classes there could be yoga or a prenatal workout program. These are very helpful as they allow moms to work out. Most of them will be in groups and there is a certified trainer who will supervise the class. You could also look at hiring a personal trainer who will then work with you individually. Group classes are of course more fun as you get to meet other moms and there is a higher level of motivation.

A complete program would then be again further divided – classes which focus only on birth preparation and classes which also cover pregnancy and post delivery information in addition to birth preparation. Additionally some classes will allow the spouse to attend all sessions whereas some will restrict spouse attendance to only the birth class. Choice of the class will depend on your own needs and preferences.

A pregnancy class will provide you with customised information which is relevant to your stage of pregnancy as well as your own requirements. Additionally you will be meeting other parents and that will help you to discuss your concerns and understand that most of what you are going thru is very normal and other parents are also going thru the same. Some of the things that a typical class will cover is nutrition, pregnancy information, safe exercises, labor preparation, breathing exercises, child care and breast feeding.

These trainers are counsellors and they will not provide medical advice but can help you to understand medical information and help you to understand your choices better.

Some classes may also be available on the online platform which means that you can take them from the comfort of your home.

Contact us at Awww and let us take you through the different options available for these classes as per your convenience.

Your baby’s growth

Congratulations!! The baby’s head is almost half the size of the body at this stage. The baby also starts to straighten up a little at this stage. The baby’s testicles in case of a boy or ovaries on case of a girl have formed so it is possible to determine the sex of the baby. In India it is however considered a crime to determine the sex of an unborn fetus and is punishable by law. All major organs like liver, kidney etc have been formed and will continue to grow over further over the next few weeks in your uterus along with you.

Think you are exhausted and tired all the time? If yes its only cause you are going through a very normal phase in the initial stages of your pregnancy. Your body is going through a lot of changes and exhaustion is only a very natural outcome of it. Moms will also feel very sleepy and tired in this phase. After all your body is doing the mammoth task of making a new baby. Try and find time to power nap during the day time if possible. Do not behave like you are a super woman. Listen to your body. If you feel like resting then take some time off and rest.

It’s also ok to continue your normal routine during this time so that you stay active. There is no need to rest extra or avoid activities that you are normally used to as long as they are safe for pregnancy. For eg: If you were going to work you can continue to do so. However if you were scuba diving or playing tennis then you should avoid these activities.

Do not start a new exercise routine but if there was a routine that you were following and it is safe for pregnancy then it is ok to continue the same.

If you are not sure what to do then you can surely continue going for a walk. It is considered safe and will keep you active.

To help you relax invest in a good pregnancy body pillow that will provide comfort and support and will help you sleep better. In the first trimester you can also sleep in any position you find comfortable. Many moms can even sleep on their stomach.

Headaches in Pregnancy are very common especially in the 1st trimester of your pregnancy. These could be related to various causes.  Headaches during pregnancy can arise out of stress, hormonal changes, not eating properly, acidity, insufficient water intake, fatigue etc.

If these are sudden and have no explanation and are splitting then they must be reported to the doctor.  If the mom can explain the cause like not having eaten, not slept well or been out in the sun then rest, and maybe a mild dose of medication can help to relieve the same. Do not take medications without consulting the doctor. Asprin is contraindicated during pregnancy.

You can also try deep breathing and meditating to help relieve headaches during pregnancy. Adequate intake of fluids and eating on time can also help in headaches during pregnancy. Exercising and walking can also help in some cases. You could also get help from a professional pre natal pregnancy masseuse that can help soothe some of your pressure points and provide relief to headaches in Pregnancy. Call Awww and let us help you with our professional pregnancy massage therapists today.

Myth

During pregnancy you must eat for two –

Yes you do have a small baby growing inside you. But a good well balanced diet is sufficient for you and your baby. You do not need to eat twice the proportions. You just need to eat right and increase of an additional of 500 calories a day through the right combination of food is enough for your body Think about it – The second person that you are eating for is so small. The foetus is less than 1/20th of our body weight.

You really don’t have to double your food intake.

Follow the chart below to ensure you have a balanced diet

Note: Additional servings especially in the post partum period can be a vegetable soup or a fruit juice which should be pulpy and not strained.

 

Awww Yummy Mummy, Grace is so excited that she just can’t stop smiling at her baby shower function held at home.

Awww-some Times Indeed! Looking at a baby shower decor kit for a small get together at home? Contact us at Awww and let us send you our home baby shower decor kit today.

Not an Awww Mom yet? Join the family today!

 

Myth

Iron tablets will make your baby dark.

Fact

Most doctors advise pregnant moms to take iron supplements and other forms of iron intake through food which is considered important for the mom and baby’s health and growth. Iron does make the stool dark but it does not have any effect on the baby’s skin colour.

The colour of a baby’s skin depends upon the content of melanin in the skin and this is purely genetic and does not depend upon the food or the supplement that the mother eats.

It is important that one focuses on the health of the mom so that that the baby turns out healthy and happy

If you are a first time mum, you are probably wondering what the right amount of additional calorie intake is in order to ensure that you and your baby are healthy and get the essential nutrients and vitamins

Pregnant Moms need to eat every 2-3 hours which means six meals. Let’s look at the combination of different food categories that should make your every meal. These would be your main meals. Each of your main meals must contain all the five food groups – Carbohydrates, Vegetables/Fruits, Protein, Milk Protein and Fats. All of these nutrients work in tandem with each other and hence there is maximum nutrient absorption. Imagine if my hand was missing one finger, the hand would not be fully functional right ? The same way if any food group is missing from the meal then the absorption of nutrients is not optimum.

It is important to take note however that in the first trimester the mother does not need additional calories. If she is unable to eat too much she should not worry as the baby is taking small portions only. If she has excessive vomitting then she should consult the doctor i.e. if she is unable to retain anything.

You can also do a few things yourself to help with the nausea:

1. Eat small meals and make sure you stay away from fried and processed foods. Also stay away from sugary foods.

2. If this is a morning affliction for you, then don’t just jump out of bed raring to go. Keep a jar of dry crackers or plain biscuits next to your bed. Reach for one as soon as you wake up and nibble on it. Lie back and snooze for an additional 15 minutes and then get started.

3. If it is “Anytime” affliction then I would recommend snacking on a dry toast or a plain biscuit every couple of hours. These are carbohydrates and will help settle the stomach acids.

4. Run an inventory of smells which trigger off the nausea. For some it may be the toothpaste and for others it may be certain foods. Try and keep away from the smells which irritate you.

5. Ginger plays a great role in helping you handle this condition. Nibbling on a tiny sliver of ginger or mixing ginger juice with a little honey and consuming a teaspoon when you feel uncomfortable can give relief.

6. You could also avoid spicy foods and make sure you eat your high protein foods with enough fibre in the form of fresh fruits of vegetables

Here’ s the diet charge to follow in the first trimester of your pregnancy