Inside Your Body
Your baby continues to develop quickly. It is now the size of a lentil. This week is marked by the rapid development of a number of organs and systems:
1. Your baby’s eyes, ears, nose and mouth will begin to form, but for now, they will appear as depressions, bumps and spots on your baby’s disproportionately large head.
2. His/her limb buds will begin to form as small protrusions from the sides of the body.
3. Your baby’s heart will start to pump small amounts of blood, beating at a rate of about 100-160/min. It is a wonderful sight to see your baby’s tiny heart beating in an ultrasound.
4. The digestive system begins to develop. The intestines are forming but not yet functioning as they are not yet canalised and so no food can enter or leave these tubes.
5. The lungs formation begins with the formation of an outgrowth from the esophagus.
6. The baby’s neural tube has been formed.
Your Signs And Symptoms
In addition to the typical symptoms like morning sickness, fatigue, frequent urination, drooling, constipation, breast tenderness and darkening of the areoles, heartburn, dizziness, food aversion; you may experience changes in your hair . Your hair may either become oiler or drier, shinier or lacking in luster. Your face may glow or you may start getting acne or become dry. But don’t run for the acne cream without consulting your doctor as some are harmful to your baby.
You may also find blue veins around your breast, varicose veins, and spider veins across your legs. These are the results of your increased blood supply that nourishes your baby.
Watch out for signs of anemia e.g. paleness, dizziness, rapid heart beat, fatigue, shortness of breaths.
Should you be spotting or bleeding, contact your doctor immediately.
You may feel your clothes starting to get tighter around your waist. Your legs and breast may be getting bigger. Even your feet will swell up over time. Time to go shopping!
What Tests To Expect
There aren’t any specific tests required until week 28, other than the standard tests during each visit to your gynaecologist. However, you may be required to perform follow up tests if some of the prenatal tests turned up negative results. For example, you may be required to perform another blood test within the next few weeks to monitor your condition if you were diagnosed with anemia.
Anemia can be developed during pregnancy. If you are anemic, and if go untreated, it may cause a pre-term delivery or birth defects in the spine or brain and even post-partum depression. Anemia may be due to lack of iron, folic acid, or vitamin B12. Treatment is simply by increasing your intake of iron, folic acid, or vitamin B12 foods and supplements.
