Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Pregnancy Week 4 Development

What Is Happening Inside the Body
By this time, the journey of the zygote from the fallopian tube to the uterus should have been completed. On the fourth week, the uterus begins to thicken and it continues until the 4th month of your pregnancy. The zygote settles into the uterine lining and divides into two. The first half becomes the embryo and the second half forms a placenta which serves as the baby's lifeline until the delivery.
During this period, the embryo begins to develop. The inner layer develops into the baby's liver, lungs and the digestive system. This layer is known as the endoderm. Also known as the mesoderm, the second layer develops into the baby's kidneys, sex organ, bones, muscles and heart. On the other hand, the outer layer, which is known as ectoderm, forms into the baby's nervous system as well as the eyes, hair, skin. The growth and development of the organs at this stage is impressively rapid.
What Should You Expect During This Period
By this time, the signs and symptoms of pregnancy of your pregnancy might have become more evident. Just like the major changes taking place inside the body, you should also anticipate some changes outside the body. You may begin experiencing some PMS like symptoms. You probably have complained about dizziness, light-headedness, abdominal cramps, pains, morning sickness and feelings of fainting.
Early pregnancy symptoms such as mood swings and cramping may begin to manifest. Bloating should also be expected at this point in time. Blame it to the progesterone. This hormone slows down your digestion in order to allow nutrients to enter into your bloodstream. Your constantly changing mood should also be blamed to hormones. You might have a slight bleeding due to the implantation of zygote into your uterus.
You might even notice a little pressure on your stomach but this shouldn't cause you to worry. It is pretty normal during this stage. Your breasts may become more tender and appear bigger, and as time passes by, you will notice significant change in their size. Also, the breast becomes sore, tingly and fuller. This is due to the surge of hormones such as progesterone and estrogen in your system.
By this time, your heart should be beating more rapidly. In fact, you might have an additional 15 beats per minute. And you feel tired most of the time which causes you to fall asleep frequently. By the end of the 4th week of your pregnancy, your baby should be 1/25 inches long which is equivalent to a period (dot).
Appropriate Lifestyle for Pregnant Women
Observing a healthy diet and lifestyle is very important during this stage. Pregnant women are eating and breathing for two, therefore they should be careful in choosing the kinds of foods to take. They should take adequate amount of essential nutrients to optimize their baby's growth and development.
Limit your intake of softdrinks, teas, colas and cocoas, and prefer decaffeinated sodas and brews. Pregnant women are normally prescribed with health supplements during this period. You need to take plenty of iron, calcium and folic acid. Iron is best obtained from cereals, pulses, breads, meat and green leafy vegetables. Folic acid is important in preventing the onset of spina bifida and other neural tube defects.
Some pregnant are prescribed with Vitamin C, Vitamin D, zinc, Vitamin B6, Vitamin A, thiamine, riboflavin, potassium, phosphorus, pantothenic acid, manganese, magnesium, iodine, copper, chromium and choline.
Oranges for You and Your Baby's Health
Oranges are probably one of the best fruits to eat during this early stage of pregnancy. Oranges are citrus fruits which provide additional protection to pregnant women. According to research, taking at least one orange in a day makes the body less prone to infections. It offers plenty of vitamin C which provides additional protection and resistance against diseases such as cancer and osteoporosis.
Furthermore, oranges are packed with massive amount of Vitamin B6 which is beneficial during the process of hemoglobin production. In effect, pregnant women are less likely to suffer from hemoglobin deficiency during this very crucial stage.
Oranges are also beneficial to the baby. This citrus fruit contains ample amount of folic acid and Vitamin B which are beneficial in the baby's brain development. The fruit also contains high level of potassium and iron which ply vital roles in protecting the cardiovascular system of the body, especially the heart. Though this citrus fruit is beneficial to the body, pregnant women should not eat more than 2-3 regular size oranges, as it can cause stomach acidity, stomach cramps and heartburn.

No comments:

Post a Comment