Well done, mum! You are finishing the second trimester and beginning the third. The baby is looking like it would at birth, but is still skinny. He loves listening to your voice. Little jumps in your belly might be happening on account of the baby's hiccups. Even light physical activity may make you breathless so take it easy! Also, mind your posture: walk straight so that your lungs get space to expand. Since the baby is growing, your heartburn, weight gain, back pain, and swelling might increase.

Garbha Vriddhi

षष्ठेमासि गर्भस्य बलवर्णोपचयो भवत्यधिकमन्येभ्यो मासेभ्यः। (चरक् संहिता शारीरस्थान ४/२२)

Ayurveda says manifestation of स्नायु (ligaments), सिरा (vessels), रोम (hairs), नख (nails) and त्वचा (skin) takes place this month.

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Your Baby's Development

Ear is covered

The baby is listening to your stories. But, the sounds may be muffled, though, because the ears are still covered with vernix, the thick waxy coating that protects the skin from becoming chapped by the amniotic fluid.

Baby Fat

At this stage the baby has close to 15% fat on her body, but this will be closer to 30% by the time she is born. So, keep sending good nutrients to the baby with your diet.

Getting active

The baby is developing muscle tone from all that kicking, rolling and punching he's doing. The baby’s brain is also more active than ever. The neurons and synapses (where the brain cells meet) are forming and making a system of complex connections throughout the areas of the brain.

Smile

He’s also starting to smile, especially when he’s sleeping. If you are lucky, you might spot it on the ultrasound. After being fused shut for more than four months, your baby's eyelids can open again. He can see the lights and shadows around him.

Your Pregnancy Symptoms

Extra body hair

As you know by now, your facial and body hair grows faster when you're pregnant, possibly because of an increase in hormones called androgens. You might spot some growth. Don’t use any chemicals to get rid of it!

Sore or leaky breasts

Your growing breasts could be painful and also give you backache. You could also get stretch marks and big blue veins on them. As usual, your hormones are to blame, along with the extra blood that's now circulating around your body.

Normally, breast size is determined by the amount of fat tissue in the breast. When you're pregnant, it's the milk-making tissue that is growing in preparation for your baby.

Pelvic bone pain

During pregnancy, hormones cause certain joints and ligaments to loosen — this is your body preparing itself for labor. The joint connecting the two halves of your pelvis becomes more flexible around this time, and this can sometimes cause pelvic pain. Try to avoid standing for long periods of time, and don't do any heavy lifting.

Vivid dreams

It’s not uncommon to have weird dreams during pregnancy, especially in the third trimester. These can be entertaining but may sometimes interfere with getting a good night's sleep. To help you snooze more soundly, have a high-protein snack before bed to keep your blood sugar levels up.

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Fluid retention can cause the carpal tunnel in your wrist to swell, putting pressure on the nerves. Physiotherapy can be very effective, so can a wrist splint, especially, if you are working on a laptop.

iMumz Wellness Tip

Nutmeg Tip for Dreamy Zzzzzs

Add a pinch of nutmeg powder in a cup of warm milk and have it before bedtime.

As you reach the third trimester a lot of physical issues like muscle pain, sleep disturbances, anxiety, palpitations , digestion issues pop up.

Nutmeg has amazing properties to soothe the nerves and calm the system. It helps to improve digestion and reduces vata in the body relieving bloating and gas. An ingredient from this fruit is a natural sleep inducer.  

Careful- The quantity is very important here. Do NOT exceed it.  1/16-1/8th of the teaspoon /day

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Your Pregnancy check-ups

Your doctor’s appointments will increase in frequency toward the end of the third trimester, but at week 27 your appointments are still spaced out, probably around 4 to 5 weeks apart.

Call your doctor if you encounter the following symptoms in week 27:

• extreme swelling in the ankles, fingers, and face (this could be a sign of preeclampsia)
• vaginal bleeding or a sudden change in vaginal discharge
• severe pain or cramping in the abdomen or pelvis
• difficulty breathing
• decreased fetal movement

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What should you eat in this week of pregnancy?

Magnesium plays an important role in nerve and muscle function and helps to maintain normal blood pressure. It also helps your baby build strong teeth and bones. Magnesium also keeps your heart rhythm steady, blood sugar levels balanced, and your joint cartilage healthy. It helps your body make protein, bone, and DNA. Magnesium supports muscle relaxation and optimises blood pressure levels, thus making delivery less painful. It also prevents the possibility of premature contractions, and enables the growth of strong bones and teeth in your baby. Magnesium deficiency leads to chronic fatigue, muscle cramps, and even premature uterus contractions, thus affecting the delivery of the baby. Foetal development is also affected by magnesium deficiency, and muscle twitching is experienced by pregnant mothers due to a lack of sufficient magnesium in the blood. Here are the Magnesium requirements in Pregnancy Pregnant women 18 and under: 400 milligrams (mg) per day Pregnant women ages 19 to 30: 350 mg per day Pregnant women ages 31 to 50: 360 mg per day Breastfeeding women 18 and under: 360 mg per day Breastfeeding women ages 19 to 30: 310 mg per day Breastfeeding women ages 31 to 50: 320 mg per day Nonpregnant women ages 14 to 18: 360 mg per day Sources of Magnesium are roasted pumpkin seeds, cumin (jeera) seeds, chia seeds, roasted almonds, spinach, boiled, wheat cereal, sunflower seeds, coriander seeds, cashew nuts.

Crackling Spinach is an Indian Chinese dish of crisp fried spinach ribbons. Topped with sesame seeds, it is salty with a hint of sweet and pleasantly crunchy.

INGREDIENTS

• 45-50 spinach leaves
• 2 tbsp corn-starch
• Oil for deep frying
• 1 tsp powdered sugar
• salt to taste
• 1 tbsp chopped roasted almonds
• 1 tbsp roasted pumpkin seeds
• 1 tbsp roasted sesame seeds

METHOD

Wash the spinach leaves and pat them dry. Take 7 to 8leaves at a time and lay one over the other, roll and chop into fine strips/ ribbons. Separate the spinach strips/ ribbons with your fingers.Sprinkle the cornstarch over the spinach  and then toss well so the spinach is evenly and well coated. Ensure that it is not in a single clump but nicely separated.Fry the spinach in about 4 or 5 batches in a wok. When the oil is really hot,, drop the coated spinach and fry till crisp but not brown. This should not take more than 2 or 3 minutes.Drain on paper towels. While still hot, sprinkle salt, powdered sugar and roasted seeds and nuts. Toss lightly to mix well. Eat immediately.

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