Written By: Debjani Arora | Updated : December 14, 2014 5:28 PM IST
Soon you would be entering the final phase of your pregnancy. Now there are just a few more months to go before you reach the labour room. Till then it is imperative to take the best care, in terms of diet and health, for the sake of your baby.
Here is what you can expect during this week of your pregnancy
Swelling on your hands and feet: It is common during the later stages of pregnancy to experience this annoying symptom. However, there is no escape from this. Water retention coupled with excessive blood flow and pressure of the uterus on the vena cava, the vein that gets blood back from the lower limbs to the heart, results in the swelling of the feet and at times the hands. This harmless condition is called edema. Sometimes it can be so severe that even your face and other parts may start to swell. However, many women might not experience this symptom at all. Though edemais harmless during pregnancy, it is a good idea to check with your doctor to be on the safer side, as swelling on the hands and feet can also be indicative of pre-eclampsia. Here are few tips to counter edema during pregnancy.
Craving for comfort food: As you approach your due date, you may experience excessive hunger. This is quite obvious as your body is craving for more energy and needs the right nutrients for proper growth and development of your baby. But be sure that you don t overeat and put on excessive weight during this phase, as it can lead to complications during labour. Keep in mind that you need just 300 to 500 calories extra to meet the additional nutritional requirements. So eat healthy and choose foods that are nutritionally dense. Here are ten super foods for pregnant women.
Shortness of breath: With your uterus stretching out a little more with every passing day as your baby grows, it might put pressure on the upper chest area which could lead to shortness of breath or result in breathlessness at times. To counter this, go easy with your daily chores and practise corrective breathing for better oxygen intake. Regular exercise can also help to a great extent. Here are few breathing exercises for pregnant woman.
Consistent weight gain: This is no news now and remember, weight gain during this phase indicates good health of both,you and your baby. You may put on two to three kilos each month from now. To prevent excessive weight gain, ensure that you eat healthy and exercise regularly to avoid any complications.
Development of your baby
Here is what happens to your baby during this week:
Your baby starts to experience hiccups: Your baby is already breathing in amniotic fluid through the nostrils, this action results in hiccups in your baby, at times. Be rest assured that it isn't stressful for your baby to experience those hiccups, in fact it is just another sensation that your child is getting used to. If you are very attentive, you might feel those hiccups as well.
Your baby s brain goes through some final stages of development: This week your baby s brain development takes an upward step as new brain tissues would be added. Many experts believe that babies might also begin to dream from this week, however there isn t any conclusive proof of this theory.
Your baby s vision and hearing improves: Your baby s eyes continue to develop as layers of retina are still forming and the membrane that covers the eyes, separates from the eyelids. Apart from this, auditory senses also develop as the network of tissues in the ears mature. Your baby can now recognize your and your partner s voice. However, the voice can be muffled as the ears still have the wax coating called vernix on them.
Your baby develops the sense of taste: This week your baby s taste buds also develop and your baby becomes more aware about various tastes. Many expectant mothers say that baby responds with kicks when they consume spicy foods. It isn't a sign of worry if your baby decides not to respond with kicks. Nevertheless, the development is still in process.
Image source: Getty Images
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