Your big juicy raspberry has an unusually BIG head at this point. d. It’s really big in proportion now since a lot of brain building activity is going on there. He appears like a bean on the ultrasound! This week, your baby's physical features are becoming more noticeable, body systems and organs are continuing to develop. Your pregnancy symptoms like nausea, fatigue and headaches might be peaking now. Hang in there, just a few more weeks before they start to dissipate.

Garbha Vriddhi

द्वितिये मासि घनः सम्पद्यते पिण्डः पेश्यबुर्दं वा। तत्र घनः पुरुषः , पेशी स्त्री , अर्बुदं नपुंसकम ॥ (चरक शारीरस्थान)

Ayurveda says the jelly-like mass is starting to change to GHANA (i.e. dense mass).

Your Baby's Development

Facial Features

A small but visible change is that the nose and upper lip are forming. Even tiny folds above the eyes are appearing that will go on to become proper eyelids. The eyes are sensitive organs and hence need these to form fast. While the small detailing of the ears is still happening inside the head, folds for ears are appearing on the sides. Behind the face, nerve cells are beginning to connect with one another and form what will eventually become complex neural pathways.

Reproductive Organs

The genitals are becoming ovaries or testes. They aren’t visible yet but they are forming.

Webby Baby

The little hands and feet have webbed fingers and toes. That means, they are still fused together.

Breathing tubes

A tiny but very significant development is the baby's breathing tubes are forming. They are developing to reach her lungs. The all-important aortic and pulmonary valves in her heart have formed, helping the muscle to beat at a brisk 150 pulses per minute.

Your Pregnancy Symptoms

Main Highlights

Cramps

Dizziness

Breast Changes

Bleeding gums

Cramps

The uterus is growing quite fast. It is around the size of a lemon which is double the size it was before you became pregnant. As it stretches, it can lead to some mild stretching and cramping pain. Occasional, mild twinges are usually not a concern. However, if cramps and pain are severe, happen often, or are constant, call your doctor or go to the emergency room to get it checked out.

Dizziness

Pregnancy hormones that cause your blood vessels to relax and widen can bring about low blood pressure and a feeling of dizziness. Another reason for dizziness is hormones affecting the inner ear. Since that fluid takes care of your balance, it could get confused with the hormones and make you unsteady.

Yet another reason could be low blood sugar from not eating, dehydration from not drinking enough fluids, moving suddenly from sitting or lying down to standing. Many pregnant women have low iron in the blood (anemia) and that also causes dizziness.

Breast Changes

Pregnancy hormones are already on the job to prepare your body for the arrival of your baby. The milk-making tissue in your breast is multiplying and that makes the breasts look larger. In addition, veins are appearing on the surface skin of your breasts as more blood flows to the area. The nipple and areola may get darker. Soreness could be a side-effect of these.

Bleeding gums

Bleeding gums are caused by plaque on the teeth, in pregnancy, this plaque formation increases. Hormonal changes lead to more plaque accumulation, leading to inflammation and bleeding. This is also called pregnancy gingivitis or gum disease.

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iMumz Wellness Tip

Include Amla/ Indian gooseberry (Amalaki) in your morning diet either in the form of powder, a fresh fruit or a homemade pickles or  dessert. This fruit acts as a natural antacid (pittashamak). It is also a good source of vitamin C, antioxidants and helps in tissue building. It is an awesome coolant for the body that helps to reduce heartburn and any burning during urination.  

Honey (Madhu) is the one ingredient which has a unique astringent quality (kashaya guna). This helps to prevent vomiting and headaches caused by hypoglycemia. Diabetics can also take 1 tsp of honey in a day as per Ayurveda. Honey is a super energy booster for fatigue in initial weeks of pregnancy.

Your Pregnancy check-ups

If this is your first visit, it will include measuring your blood pressure, height and weight, as well as a breast and pelvic exam, with a pap test if you haven't had one recently. They'll also likely take blood to test for your blood type, anaemia and other medical and genetic conditions.

An ultrasound will be done to detect the heartbeat. In some cases, a heartbeat may be detected as early as 6 weeks, in some this week is when it's confirmed. A transvaginal ultrasound in which a probe inserted into the vagina might be used to get a closer look at the baby.

The doctor might ask about:

• Your menstrual cycle, gynecological history and any past pregnancies
• Your personal and family medical history
• Your COVID vaccination.
• Exposure to potentially toxic substances
• Medicines and other supplements you are taking,
• Your lifestyle, including your use of tobacco, alcohol and caffeine
• Travel to areas where malaria, tuberculosis, the Zika virus or other infectious diseases are common
  

At this point, some women might start doubting the choice of their chosen doctor. Listen to your gut feeling, talk to others to take advice and change your doctor if you feel like. This is an important relationship that will last 9 months so it is crucial that you feel comfortable with your doctor.

What should you eat in this week of pregnancy?

Berries are little wonders of nutrition with water, healthy carbs, vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants. They have a relatively low glycemic index value, so they keep blood sugar well-regulated. Their freshness and taste makes them easy to consume during days on which you are suffering from nausea.

A Berry-good Srikhand

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Ingredients

• 3 tablespoon castor sugar (try a healthier sweetening agent if you wish to avoid sugar)
• 10 de seeded strawberry
• 2 teaspoon almonds
• 2 teaspoon walnuts
• 1 1/2 teaspoon cashews

• 3 cups curd
• 1/4 cup blueberry
• 2 tsps pistachios
• 2 tsps strawberry syrup
• 3 tbsps date syrup

Method

• In a bowl, take 5 deseeded strawberries and mash them. Pour date syrup and mash again to coat them well. Mix in chopped almonds and pistachios along with curd.
• In another bowl, mash blueberries with sugar and stir in finely chopped cashews. Now mix curd and chopped walnuts.
• Take the serving glasses and place some caster sugar at the base. Layer it with blueberry mixture and then strawberry mixture.
• Take some more curd and stir some sugar into it. Now put this sweetened curd on top of the strawberry mixture in each glass. Garnish with blueberries, strawberry syrup and chopped pistachios.

Enjoy it chilled!

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