FIRST TRIMESTER
Date Posted: 30th April, 2014
Halo
yummy mummies, how are we all doing, hope we are all doing great and the
Tinnie-Winnies too and guess we are pushing on fine? I have been overwhelmed
these past weeks so I haven’t had time to come here but I have not forgotten
all you preggies, working out something real good for you.
I
decided to rush over the yummy mummy series instead of the weekly update I
promised to do before, now it’s a trimester thing so that we can move on to
other topics of interest. So this episode is d summary of the whole of the
first trimester from week 1 to 13. Enjoy.
How
Your Baby is growing?
@
Week 9: Your baby is starting to look more and more human, essential body parts
are being accounted for though they will still grow through some fine tuning in
the coming months, your baby’s heart finishes dividing into four chambers and
the valves start to form- as do the tiny teeth, the tail like something is
finally gone, the organs, muscles and nerves are kicking into gear, the
external sex organs are there but not distinguishable, eyes are fully formed
but the eyelids are still shut and won’t be opened until 27weeks thereabout,
there is evidence of tiny earlobes, mouth, nose and nostrils are more distinct.
The placenta is developed enough to take over most of the critical job of
producing hormones and baby gain rapid weight too from now onwards.
How
your Life is changing?
You
might not look pregnant now but if you are the working kind of mum like I am,
your colleagues would have start suspecting you, your waist is thickening but
definitely you do feel pregnant. Morning sickness is still so very evident for
most women and for some the Mood Swing syndrome has started to manifest.
@
Week 10: Your baby is a little over an inch long and weighs less than a quarter
of an ounce, baby has completed the most critical part of her development and
all the tissues and organs in his body will start developing rapidly now. He’s
swallowing fluid and kicking too. Vital organs- kidney, intestine, brain and
liver (now making red blood cells in place of the disappearing yolk sac) are in
place and starting to function but will still continue to develop all through
pregnancy. Nails are forming on the fingers and toes; hair too has started to
grow on the tender skin. Baby’s limbs can bend now, the outline of his spine is
clearly visible through translucent skin, spinal nerves are beginning to
stretch out from his spinal cord. From crown to toe your baby is 1 ¼ inches
long. In the coming weeks, baby will double his size to nearly 3inches. Baby’s
heartbeat can be heard now with the help of a Doppler stethoscope.
How
your life is changing?
Before
pregnancy your uterus was the size of a small pear, by this week it’s as big as
a grapefruit. Your mode of dressing has start to change too, because your
normal clothes will not be comfortable again that is if they are still your
size, your underwear, especially your bra too will need to be changed because
of your blossoming breasts. Depending on your level of fitness, you can still
participate in a number of activities but swimming and walking are excellent
choices for the whole of 9months. Exercise promotes muscle tones; strength and
endurance, there are 3 qualities that will help you carry through the weight
you gain and through the whole of pregnancy.
@Week
11: Baby is almost fully formed, her hands will soon open and close into fists,
tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under her gums and some of her bones
are beginning to harden. Baby can kick and stretch, her tiny movements are so effortless
they feel like water ballet, these movements will become more frequent as her
body grows and becomes more developed and functional.
How Your Life is changing?
You
are beginning to gain more energy as nausea is fading away or completely gone
but unfortunately you might be faced with constipation: this is caused by
hormonal changes, you might be experiencing heartburn (pele ehn) just remember
that all these discomforts are for a short while and for a very good cause,
always have the big picture in mind, when you will hold your tiny winy. You
might become picky and choosy when it comes to food, soap, perfumes, air
fresheners etc., everything irritates you, not to worry because everything will
soon return to normal, your appetite will be back soon. You will start gaining
weight about a pound a week.
“ You will hear a lot of things like don’t eat this don’t eat that, some are true but some are exaggerations, because some people have 2 or more they turn themselves to Doctor know all, don’t do this, don’t eat this, My take, I eat anything and everything healthy my system can take.”
“ You will hear a lot of things like don’t eat this don’t eat that, some are true but some are exaggerations, because some people have 2 or more they turn themselves to Doctor know all, don’t do this, don’t eat this, My take, I eat anything and everything healthy my system can take.”
@Week
12: Your baby’s fingers will soon begin to open and close, his toes will curl,
his eye muscles will clench and his mouth will make sucking movements. Try
this, if you hit or roughen your abdomen a little bit, your baby will respond
although you won’t be able to feel it. His intestine which have grown so fast
that they protrude into the umbilical cord, will start to move into his
abdominal cavity and his kidneys will begin to excrete urine into his
bladder. Nerve cells are multiplying
rapidly, so also are other layers of his brain developing too. His face looks
unquestionably human. The eyes have moved from the sides to the front of his
head and the ears are where they ought to be and baby is like 2inches long.
How Your Life is changing?
Your
uterus is more expanded now that it can be felt just above your pubic bone. You
may already be into maternity clothes, You may begin to feel heartburn, this
might go on throughout pregnancy period for some women and might not in some
case, all through my 2pregnancies, I never experienced heartburn, I eat beans
too which they say aggravates it but nothing happens to me. This might be
caused by different things: gastric acid seeping back into the pipe while lying
down or at the latter part of the pregnancy when baby is properly formed, and
starts pushing up on your stomach, this discomfort may range from mildly
annoying to intense and distracting. You can try a glass of milk to reduce this
discomfort.
@Week
13: Baby’s fingerprints have formed on the tiny fingertips, veins and organs
are clearly visible through her still see through skin and her body is starting
to catch up with her head, if you are having a girl she has more than 2million
eggs in her ovaries and baby is almost 3 inches long.
How Your Life is changing?
This
is the last week of the first trimester, risk of
miscarriage is lower, 2nd trimester is just few hours away, when you
will have enough energy, morning sickness and fatigue has subsided. Your breast
may have already started making colostrum, the nutrient rich fluid that feeds
your baby for the first few days after birth, before milk starts to flow.
Note: Every baby develops
differently even in the womb. And Please be informed that any information
shared on this blog is not intended to constitute professional medical advice
for treatment or spiritual advice, please consult your personal physician with
any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
A
Mother's Prayer:
Dear
Lord, thank you for this special person growing inside of me, I pray that this
time of rejoicing and gladness would also be a time of praising you for your
blessing of the miracle of life granted to my family. I pray that my baby grows
to be a man after your own heart, Give him or her a heart for what is pure,
right, lovely and good. Help me watch over my baby and bring up my child in the
way of the Lord. Father I commit my entire baby’s development in this trimester
unto you, let them develop perfectly and function well. When I feel tired or
overwhelmed, help me to remember that you are with me and strengthen me, I also
ask that you give my baby a sensitive and compassionate heart. Job 21:10 says their
bull gendereth and faileth not; their cow calveth and casteth not her calf, if
an animal (a calf) is not permitted to suffer a miscarriage, then I shall not
suffer a miscarriage in Jesus name. (Amen). Lay your hands on your womb and
prophesy great things to your baby.
ANTENATAL
Date Posted: 12th March, 2014
Antenatal care is
concerned with the care and treatment of the unborn child and of the pregnant
mother.Antenatal checkups prevent most medical problems in pregnancy, even if there is a problem, early detection helps to control the problem better. During pregnancy, you should not only take care of your own health but also go for regular checkups with your doctor.
Antenatal care is
absolutely necessary because it checks and makes sure you and the baby are fit
and well.
Checks carried out during
antenatal.
o
Periodic checks along with the blood and urinary
tests help in monitoring the pregnancy and ensure safety of mother and child.
o
Weight check : weight gain will be checked
regularly at each visits: if you notice you are losing weight in the first
trimester, it is expected because of the vomiting due to morning sickness
however if you gain a lot of weight suddenly, abeg shout am for doctor ear o.
o
Blood Pressure will be checked at every
visit from the time you are pregnant. Average BP during this time should be
120/70. This might vary depending on the age of the mother.
o
Urine test, this is done at every antenatal
checkup in most hospitals. This is done to examine a few things --
·
Sugar (for evidence of diabetes)
·
Protein (for evidence of pre-enclampsia or
urinary tract infection)
·
Pus Cells (to rule out urinary tract
infection)
o
Blood test:
a standard routine of prenatal blood tests are carried out on all
pregnant women, blood samples are taken and tested.
o
Height: if you are small usually it may
mean that your pelvic inlet and outlet are small. But generally your baby will
match your physical build. However this info is necessary to help with the
planning of the delivery.
o
Breasts: Breasts are checked for formation
of any lumps and the condition of the nipple inspected, this isn’t always done
in the hospital by the medical people but you can and must do it on your own,
especially the nipple so that we prepare the nipple for breastfeeding. It is
very important for preggie mums to care for their breast, we should clean it
with cotton wool and warm water with mild soap after which you can apply shea
butter, Vaseline or olive oil to the nipple so that it is not dry and doesn’t
cracked, it is better to do the cleaning while pregnant than to leave it and
let it get clogged with dirt and leave for baby to come do the clearing, it
will be more painful, you can also use a breast cream. “Lasinoh breast Cream”
is good.
o
Ultrasound scan: Ultrasound scan of the
uterus can show the progress of baby’s development. This will be done at
various stages of the pregnancy, at least 3times. The first one can be between
12/13weeks, 2nd between 18/20 weeks and the 3rd one at
36/38weeks. It is also a routine antenatal check, essential to check on your baby’s
position and general wellbeing. It can also detect abnormalities, particularly
of the head and spine; to know the baby weight to know if the mother’s cervix
is wide enough to take the baby.
The scan can also be used to detect the sex of
the baby, doctors’ advice that to get the accurate sex, preggies should wait
till 6months, by that time your baby is fully formed.
o
Cervical Smear test: this is done by 36weeks,
it is to check the cervix for any abnormalities, and otherwise it can be done
during the postnatal check.
o
Lectures/health talks are given and you can
ask questions about everything and anything.
o
How often would you attend antenatal: as the pregnancy advances the frequency of
your antenatal visits too increases, 12 weeks -24weeks==once a month, 25weeks -32weeks==twice
a month, 33weeks-40 weeks==weekly.
My take on antenatal
classes, it is a very integral part of every pregnancy, we should attend always
and see a doctor, let the nurses do their work, let them take your vital signs
and always use your prescribed drugs, take enough water (fluid: it can be a
glass of milk or juice, do not allow yourself be dehydrated) take enough rest
too, sleep well, eat balanced diet: enough fruits and veggies, overall be
prayerful.
Anyone has any question,
comment or suggestions please feel free to let me know.
Enjoy...
PREGNANCY
LESSONS
Date Posted: 04th February, 2014
Halo yummy mummies, how are we all doing, hope we
are all doing great and the Tinnie-Winnies too and guess we are pushing on
fine?
Here is a little something about what is going on in
our body at the 8th week. Plus there will be a little change as to
how this series will run, I was supposed to do a weekly update but I want to
run through everything so that we can talk about other things, so I will do a
Trimester-by- Trimester series instead of the weekly which I proposed before.
How your
baby is growing:
Fingers and toes are poking out from your baby’s
tiny hands and feet, eyelids are also growing, breathing tubes extended from
the throat to the branches of his developing lungs. In his brain, nerve cells
are branching out to connect with one another, forming primitive neural
pathways. You may be daydreaming about your baby as one sex or the other, but
the external genitals still haven’t developed enough to reveal whether he is a
boy or a girl. Either way your baby is about the size of a kidney bean,
he’s constantly shifting and moving though you can’t feel the movement yet but
the feeling you can get now is like butterfly flusters.
Note:
Every baby develops differently even in the womb. And Please be informed that
any information shared on this blog is not intended to constitute professional
medical advice for treatment or spiritual advice, please consult your personal
physician with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
How your
Life is changing:
You might notice your bra is a little tight for you,
no fears, your breast is in growing too due to rising levels of hormones in
preparation for lactation and you will need a larger bra to give you adequate
support. Your breasts may continue to grow throughout pregnancy, don’t be
surprised if you add a cup or 2, especially if it’s your first baby. I remember
I used to be scared of my breast growing sooo big but God normally hears my
silent whispers as the breast naw dey grow out of proportion.
You might be feeling fatigued too, this is due to
hormonal changes; the dramatic rise in progesterone may be contributing to your
sluggishness. Nausea and vomiting can certainly cost you some energy too.
Trouble getting enough good night sleep at this point
especially if you are uncomfortable or you need to get up to pee regularly.
Reasons why sleep might not be interesting anymore:
Most yummy mummies hope to get enough sleep and be
well rested before baby arrives but nature has a way of playing a fast trick on
us because just when you need the rest you just can’t get it because of one
complain or the other, frequent urination, back aches, big belly, you are
thinking about your baby, here are some reasons why you are not getting sleep
and what you can do to get relief:
Frequent Urination: Your bladder capacity has shrunk
because of your growing uterus, drinking as little fluid as possible 1 or 2
hours before bedtime, this might reduce the frequent trips to the bathroom at
night.
Indigestion or heartburn: Avoid overloading your
tummy by eating in small portions instead of large portions. Eat meals at least
3 to 4 hours before bedtime. Boycott the citrus, deeply fried foods for the
time been because they can irritate the esophagus.
Leg Cramps: Many pregnant women are occasionally
awakened at night by leg cramps. Try stretching and flexing your foot, gently
massaging your leg, placing a hot water bottle on the cramped area or simply
getting up and walking around. I experience this quite often, what I simply do
is to rub the affected area and get off the bed and walk, and it happens
usually when I am sleeping.
Insomnia: this is very common in pregnancy, to
always be filled with excitement and anxiety as to how will my baby look, will it
be a HE or a SHE and also as the due date approaches. You can try a warm bath
before bedtime, I do this a lot and I remember on an instance I was on a trip
to Dubai, after the whole day shopping, I decided to lay in my hot bath, just
for me to sleep off, I woke up due to the coldness of the water (as my warm
water turned cold) that is to tell you how relaxing and effective this
technique can be. Some try exercise during the day and it helps them sleep well
at night. I remember when I complained to the doctor about not being able
to sleep because I wasn’t comfortable, he told me to sit balanced on the couch,
place my legs on the stool in front of me, and watch cartoon (something that
will calm me, not AMAG) it worked too, I watched Tom & Jerry series, after
laughing and smiling, I noticed I began to doze and that was it, I also like to
arrange my babies clothes too, it makes me happy and keeps me calm. No matter
technique we use, try as much as possible not to get too stressed, don’t panic,
close your eyes and concentrate on your breathing don’t be surprised that the
next thing, you are in dreamland already.
Worrying about your baby’s well-being: this is
always caused by what I call parenting fear of the unknown, what having a baby
entails, to ease up on this we can go online, read books, attend childbirth
preparation classes (antenatal Classes). Talk to your spouse who might also be
feeling same way to, and discussing your fears help you get over them.
Queasiness/Dizziness: Nausea might lead to an empty
stomach, eat snacks rich in high carbohydrate before going to bed and also keep
crackers biscuits near you, where you can reach for it first thing in the
morning.
A mother’s prayer for week 8:
Dear Lord, I pray for my baby’s hands and fingers,
feet and toes, they will grow and develop properly. Bless my baby’s hands
and use them for the good of your kingdom. Bless my baby’s feet and help my
child to always walk with you. Bless the works of my child’s hands, Help my
child to be diligent in all that he does and make him to be of goodly and godly
character, Bless my child’s feet that they may go where you want them to go for
your ministry, let him never walk into sickness or destruction but into your
abundant Grace I pray, Amen.
I hope this week’s piece will be useful to someone
and please feel free to comment, add suggestions, ask questions.
Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PREGNANCY
LESSONS
Date Posted: 04th February, 2014
Halo yummy mummies, I am going to start a series on this column that will
highlight what happens to our body, how we can take care of our body and take
care of the bundle growing inside of us too, right from week 1 of pregnancy to
week 40.
(Please be informed that any information shared on this blog is not
intended to constitute professional medical advice for treatment or spiritual
advice, please consult your personal physician with any questions you may have
regarding a medical condition).
I am starting a series on this space, on the week to week development and
activities that happen to your baby and yourself, we are starting this journey
from week 6: I am starting from here because this is probably the time most
preggies know and go to confirm that they are pregnant.
How your baby’s growing:
This week’s major development: The nose, mouth and ears are beginning to
take shape. There is the presence of an oversize head and dark spots where the
baby’s eyes and nostrils are also forming. The ears are marked by some small
depressions on the sides of the head, his arms and legs are also forming. His
heart beat is beating between 100 to 160 times a minute-almost twice as fast as
yours, blood is starting to flow through his body, his intestines are
developing, the bud of tissue that will give rise to his lungs has appeared,
his pituitary gland is forming as well as the rest of his brain, muscles and
bones.
NOTE:
Every baby develops a little differently, even in the womb.
How your life is changing:
You will find out that you are not used to this new status; your hormones
are still acting up, morning sickness, dizziness, mood swings, and body
weakness. Unsettling as this may be, what you are going through is normal. But
note too, that some women do not go through this, they are strong, either ways,
we should always bless God for the opportunity to experience and go through
this lovely 9months course or 40weeks as the case may be.
To make the journey bearable: For too much saliva; you can always
have dry crackers biscuits (water crackers) in bed with you so that when you
wake up you can chew on 1 or 2 sticks before leaving he bed, it helps keep
vomiting out of your way. There are other things you can use to forestall
salivating, Carrot (very good for your baby’s eye), bitter kola, ginger, etc.
For dizziness in the morning, always get out of bed slowly and ensure you
get enough rest and anytime you feel like you are tired, please rest.
Sleeping position: we should try to always sleep on our sides and not lie
on the stomach or lay flat on your back, I am emphasizing this because of its
importance which I will tell us later.
A mother’s prayer for week 6:
Dear Lord, I am so amazed at the miracle of life that’s growing inside
me, I ask that you watch over my baby and cause his development to go just the
way it should. Lord I pray for my baby’s face- the eye, nose, mouth, ear and
nose, let the face grow perfectly, just the way it is supposed to. And form
those features in a way that it will reveal inner strength and outer love. And
I pray for the internal parts- the stomach, lungs, brain and heart, let them
develop into strong, healthy parts for my baby, I pray for the arms and legs,
let them grow just right and bless my baby in every way.
I hope I have answered someone’s question or questions today, if yes stay
connected, if no, you can reach me through your comments or send an email. You
can also share your experience with the house.
Enjoy!!!!!
WHAT
HAPPENS TO YOUR HAIR DURING PREGNANCY
To understand postpartum shedding it is important to know the background
and some of the changes your body goes through as you take care of your little
bundle for nine months.
Normally we have on average around 95% of our hair growing at any
given time, the rest of our hair is enjoying a resting period and after the
rest is over, the hair falls out.
We all have heard that we tend to lose about 100 hairs per day, most of
that is from manipulation and normal shedding after the resting phase is over.
The hair that is released is then replaced with a new hair that sprouts from
the same follicle and the cycle continues.
During pregnancy things move away from normal and our hair growth cycle
changes. One of the most significant changes is the increased levels of the
hormone estrogen in our system which not only contributes to the sudden
cravings for panmo on top of a huge bowl of ice-cream but the hormone also
prolongs the growing phase of our hair.
Have you ever wondered how long your hair would be if you were an
elephant? End crazy thought here. During your pregnancy you will notice
that your hair is thicker from all the extra hair you are holding on to and
also shinier contributing to that gorgeous pregnancy glow we all tend to
experience. During pregnancy my hair grows thick and full this happens because
with pregnancy we tend to eat right, take prenatal supplements, fruits, veggies
et al, which is supposed to be the norm but don't know why we don't like to do things
right sha, may be we think its too much work.
After the Baby is
Born
Once you deliver your baby the estrogen levels will take a nose
dive and an influx of hair follicles will enter the resting stage of the hair
cycle. The dreaded shedding known as postpartum shedding will begin
shortly thereafter. It is not specific on when shedding will start because it
varies from one woman to the next but usually it will start between 3-8 months
after giving birth.
You will notice a lot more hair in your hair tools, on wash day in the
bath or if the shedding is really terrible, you will be able to pull out clumps
of hair with without any effort.
Even though seeing clumps of hair everywhere can be scary, the unusual
shedding should taper off as your baby gets a little older and at around
12 months it should stop.
The way the hair falls is also interesting and varies from head to
head. For example there are women who have reported hair falling
out in patches all over their head, and other women might just lose the
hair around their hairline but either way, the good news is you will not go
bald and the hair does eventually return to its luxurious self. For my
ist baby postpartum shedding started after.I Resumed work after martenity
leave, didn't know about postpartum shedding then so.I Kept saying it was the
kinky attachment that chopped my edges, now I Know its hormones, ummmph! Sorry
Oº°˚˚°º kinky attachment for pointing accusing fingers at you
How to Deal With
Postpartum Shedding
Patience
Honestly I could suggest going out and purchasing a bunch of thickening
creams and other products that create illusions of volume and they are
worth mentioning but the number one way to deal with shedding is by exercising
a lot of patience with your hair.
Understand that your hair is going through a time of renewal after the
baby was born so the best thing to do is nurture it and help it along by
reducing excessive manipulation, keeping it moisturized and free of tangles.
A Haircut
Have you noticed that after some women have a baby they do something
drastic like cut all their hair off? This might not be directly related to
postpartum shedding but it is a great way to stay within the theme of renewal.
New baby, new life changes, new needs and new hair! Getting a hair cut
might be just what the doctor ordered after successfully adding to the human
race.
Change your Hair Style
If you are losing the hair on your hairline, it helps to part your hair
on a different side or style your hair in a different manner to cover-up the
thinner spots. It may be time to get those bangs you have been thinking about
getting for years.
Additionally if you are natural, it might be time to start wearing your
hair in its curly state full time because it is a lot easier to mask
thinning hair with curly hair than it is with straight sleek styles.
If you have a relaxer you are not exempt from curly styles, try perm
rods, roller sets or flexi rods which help your hair to appear thicker. –
Try Color
Coloring your hair or getting highlights adds dimension to it and makes
your hair appear thicker and fuller. A healthy color option is henna, never
tried this before but hears it works.
Cover it Up
Sometimes accessories can be the simplest way to get through postpartum
shedding, utilize scarves, beanies, cute hats or head bands, and just find cute
stylish ways to disguise this temporary hair loss.
This solution might not be practical for those working in formal office
environments but it can really help on those days where you just don’t want to
deal with the hassle of finding yet another way to disguise your missing
patches of hair. A wig could be of help too.
Volumise and Moisturize
There are a few drugstore brands of mousses and thickening agents that
you can use to give the illusion of fullness but beyond that make sure that
your hair remains very moisturized and healthy during this time.
If you want to find products geared towards volume, look for mousses or
products that say ‘volumizing’ or ‘thickening’ and ensure that you follow the
directions on the labels.
Be aware however that some of these products contain agents that ‘rough
up’ the cuticle to prevent your hair from laying flat hence creating the
illusion of volume. While they may not cause lasting damage as a one off
solution if you have a special event to attend, bear in mind that their
continued use could cause problems with length retention.
Make sure you do your research on these products so that you know what
you are getting yourself into.
Exercise
This is for overall health and wellness really, because after the baby is
born lack of sleep amongst other things will increase stress levels which is not
good for you, the baby or your falling hair.
Exercise can really help to alleviate some of the stress and have you
feeling much like your old self faster than you would if you just sat and
worried about it all day.
Ensure that you start working out only when you receive final clearance
from your doctor and do not hesitate to bring up any further concerns you might
have about shedding with your physician.
Did you experience postpartum shedding? How did you handle it? Please
comment below.
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ReplyDeleteGood job. Filled with information that's valuable and educative....
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