The first trimester of your pregnancy is about to end, and you should know by now that your baby has improved a lot since its conception. By next week, you will be on the second trimester of your pregnancy and you should expect more substantial changes to come. For now, let’s focus on the changes that are happening this week.
What Happens Inside the Body
By this time, your baby is now as large as a big plum. His entire foetal system is now becoming functional while his bone marrow is now starting to produce white blood cells. The baby’s pituitary gland which is found at the base of the brain now starts producing hormones. The baby’s mouth is now making sucking movements, his toes begin to curl, and his fingers begin to open and close.
Almost all of the organs and structures in the baby’s body have now formed and as days pass by, they will continue to develop and become more functional. It weighs almost 14 grams with a length of 3 ½ inches. The placenta is now very active producing hormones which reduces your risk for miscarriage. By the end of this week, Nuchal translucency scan can now be administered.
What Can You Expect this Week
As days passed by, pregnancy symptoms are getting more intense though the need to urinate has reduced significantly now. Fatigue, flatulence, excessive saliva, increased vaginal discharge, occasional dizziness and increased smell sensitivity are still present during this week.
By this week, heartburn is more likely to occur. Also known as acid indigestion, heartburn is a burning sensation which normally extends from the lower throat to the bottom of the breastbone.
Healthy Lifestyle for Pregnant Women
Being pregnant is such an exciting endeavour. The baby’s health is highly dependent on the mother’s health. Whatever the mother takes is what the baby takes also. It is always important to remain careful about the lifestyle which pregnant women observe as it can greatly affect the baby’s health.
Alcohol avoidance should always be observed during this crucial stage. Furthermore, quitting smoking is beneficial not just for the mother but for the baby as well. Observing a healthy and balanced diet is also necessary in ensuring that the baby gets the best possible health. Pregnant women should be extra careful with their food choices as they can directly affect the baby’s health significantly.
Cabbage for Healthy Pregnancy
Pregnant women are often advised to take sufficient amount of fresh fruits and vegetables daily. Fresh produce gives ample amount of vitamins, minerals and nutrients which are very beneficial to both the mother and the baby. Cabbage is one of the highly recommended vegetable for pregnant women.
Aside from its cholesterol-lowering effects, cabbage is known for its anti-cancer properties. This cruciferous vegetable contains special compounds that are beneficial in promoting heart health. It even helps in enhancing the functions of the digestive tract and in treating stomach ulcer or peptic ulcer. This vegetable is also rich in sinigrin compound which are known to be effective at preventing the onset of certain types of cancer including colon, prostate and bladder cancer.
Cabbage contains antioxidant properties through its Vitamin C, polyphenol and anthocyanin contents and anti-inflammatory effects. According to research, insufficient intake of antioxidants can compromise oxygen metabolism and increase metabolic stress which can lead to cancer.
This cruciferous vegetable is actually an excellent source of Vitamin B1, calcium, potassium, tryptophan, fibre, molybdenum, manganese, Vitamin B6, Vitamin K and folate. Cabbage provides 30 mg of folic acid which is very important in pregnant women. In this crucial period, pregnant women need to have at least 800 mg of folic acid everyday. Folic acid is exceptionally essential in preventing the onset of neural tube defects such as spina bifida.
Meanwhile, its fibre content plays a vital role in preventing constipation which is a normal complaint in pregnant women during pregnancy. Fibre in cabbage promotes better digestive health and in increasing bowel movement during pregnancy. It also improves the overall metabolism and digestion in pregnant women. According to recent research, children born to mothers who take sufficient amount of cruciferous vegetables, such as cabbage, during their pregnancy have a reduced risk for lung cancer during their adult year and a reduced susceptibility to lymphoma and leukemia in their childhood.
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