Your baby bump has become bigger, shifting your centre of gravity and making you wobbly. You might find yourself being clumsier than usual thanks to the above and also the fact that your joints are looser now because of the hormone ‘relaxin’. It is a golden period though backaches, pains, itchiness and nasal congestion may trouble some mums-to-be. Stretch marks - pink, red, purple, reddish-brown or dark brown streaks - the colour depending on your skin colour will be making statements on your belly. You will be feeling more movement in your uterus. You may also be feeling the effects of extra fluid in your body.

Garbha Vriddhi

पंचमे मासि गर्भस्य मांसशोणितपचयो भवति अधिकं अन्येभ्यो मासेभ्यः। (चरक शारीरस्थान)

Ayurveda says there is an increase  in anabolism of the blood (शोणित)  and flesh(मांस)  in foetus this week. This makes the foetus more active.

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Your Baby's Development

Artistic Little Mover

Your baby's arms and legs are in proportion this week and his movements are now much more coordinated. With the neurons now connecting the brain to the muscles, and cartilage throughout the body is turning to bone, the limb movements can appear like that of a trained gymnast! These are solid upgrades to the little one and he’s loving those moves, it seems.

Red Blood Cells

Your baby is now heavier than the placenta. Up until this point, your baby's liver made most of the red blood cells. But now, their bone marrow is starting to take over as the primary contributor. By 24 weeks, the bone marrow will take over as the primary producer of the baby's red blood cells. Eventually, the liver and spleen will stop producing these blood cells before birth.

Eyebrows and Eyelids

Your baby's eyelids, which closed and sealed together around week 11, are now beginning to separate. Your baby's eyebrows have grown in. Behind her eyelids, her irises still lack pigment, though.

Your Pregnancy Symptoms

Spider veins

You may also notice so-called spider veins (a group of tiny blood vessels near the surface of your skin), particularly on your ankles, legs, or face. They may have a spider- or sunburst-like pattern with little branches radiating from the center, they may look like the branches of a tree, or they may be a group of separate thin lines with no particular pattern.

Feeling Hot

Your pregnancy hormones and your increased metabolism can leave you feeling hot and sweaty. Make sure you stay cool by wearing loose clothing and drinking plenty of water. Don’t feel awkward telling your family if you are not able to sit in a stuffy room.

Constipation

Hormonal activity and your growing baby pushing against your intestines can lead to constipation. Although this condition can be uncomfortable, drinking more water and eating more fibre can help get things moving. S for ‘Salads’ is the word!

Forgetfulness

You may be having a hard time concentrating as well as you used to, and you may find that you’re forgetting small things. Use the phone for reminders. Sticky notes and telling your spouse to take on some of the reminders you need is also a good idea. Do mindfulness exercises to build concentration. And, make sure to take some extra breaks while doing tasks that require your concentration.

iMumz Wellness Tip

Does Yoga really work? Do I really have the time for it? These questions do bother a lot of pregnant women. We’d just gently request you to give it a shot.

This week, try Virabhadrasana or the warrior pose. Do it consistently, everyday for the entire trimester.

The benefits will be really noticeable. You will find your muscles --  the back, ankles, knees,  and shoulders -- strengthening nicely.

You will also experience a boost in confidence as you conquer the wobbliness of the pregnancy gait.

We have curated several pregnancy lifestyle sessions and expert-led webinars to help mums to build flexibility and to prepare their bodies for delivery.

Every moment, we are accumulating toxins in the body.  Simple home-remedies to rid the body of toxins are so powerful! Moreso, for pregnant women. Here are some tried and tested remedies with the goodness of traditions and a solid certificate from science!

Useful for all pregnant women, with special benefits in cases of urinary tract infection.

Dhanyaka Udaka - Soak a spoonful of dhaniya (coriander) seeds overnight. In the morning, remove the seeds and drink the infused water for a clean and healthy urinary tract.

Narikel Udaka - Tender coconut water is a natural diuretic that helps flush out bacteria from your body. Cooling properties help in reducing the burning sensation of the urine.

Your Pregnancy check-ups

In the second trimester and definitely not after this week, your doctor may do the Quadruple test. Also known as the Quad screen, it is a prenatal test that measures levels of four hormones in a pregnant woman’s blood:

The quad screen is done to evaluate your risk of carrying a baby who has any of the following conditions: Down syndrome (trisomy 21), Edwards syndrome (trisomy 18), Spina bifida, and Anencephaly.

The quad screen is optional. Test results only indicate whether you have an increased risk of carrying a baby who has Down syndrome, not whether your baby actually has the condition. If your risk level is moderate or high, you might choose to follow the quad screen with another test that’s more definitive such as amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling.

What should you eat in this week of pregnancy?

In the second trimester, swelling of feet is common because of the hormones. It can be reduced by eating foods that are high in potassium, such as bananas, sweet potatoes, bok choy, and spinach. Here is a simple recipe packed with big potassium benefits:

Panchamrita means five amruthams or amrtas which basically consists of milk, honey, sugar, yogurt and ghee.

‍Ingredients

Banana – 1

Dates – 4

Dried Figs – 2

Raisins – 12-15

Grated Jaggery (Gur) – 1 tbsp

Honey – 1 tbsp

Cardamom Powder – ¼ tsp,

Rock sugar or Mishri – 2 tsps

Ghee – 1 tsp

Pachai Karpooram or Edible Camphor– 1/8 tsp or a pinch

Method

Chop the banana, dates and figs. Add all the ingredients, except rock sugar and ghee. Give it a nice mash!

Now, add the ghee and rock sugar.

According to Ayurveda, this recipe balances the Pitta Dosha, improves immunity, enhances brain function, memory and creative abilities. It clears complexion and keeps hair healthy. It also nourishes the Sapta Dhatu - the seven bodily tissues, Shukra Dhatu (reproductive tissues), Majja Dhatu (bone marrow and nervous tissues), Asthi Dhatu (bone, teeth), Medas Dhatu (fatty tissues), Mamsa Dhatu (muscle tissues), Rakta Dhatu ( blood ) and Rasa Dhatu (plasma for strength, immunity and vitality).

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