Today we're back with an update on the pregnancy process - after all, we're already in the third month! Well, if we do the maths, we're at 9-13 weeks and we're coming to the end of the first trimester. Wow, it's gone by fast.
They say that the end of the first trimester brings an end to the nausea and we can't wait to finally see the baby at the first ultrasound scan.
As always, we went to find out about this third month of pregnancy, some particularities, how the baby is growing and developing, how the mum is doing and some curiosities about the month.
From what we can see, it's another month full of small changes. The first thing that caught our attention was that the little one's heart is already starting to find its regular rhythm. It could be between 110 and 160 beats per minute in a normal situation, but it could be even faster in a more stressful situation. The ideal is to remain relaxed.
Our baby's face is becoming more and more defined, the lips and eyebrows are already shaped and the eyes are covered by eyelids. Nerve cells continue to multiply at an impressive rate, which can trigger the so-called reflexes, moving an arm, a leg or even the head. We can see that energy is always there, but these may be movements that are not yet perceptible.
One final new development is that, from the age of nine weeks, taste buds are already there on the baby's tongue. In addition, they can open and close their mouths and can swallow amniotic fluid, which is quickly eliminated by the kidneys.
After describing all these developments, we have to make sure that we provide enough energy so that our little ones continue to grow and develop in the best possible way. This includes good eating habits.
During our research, we realised that growth tends to accelerate and that protein is therefore essential. In a balanced and healthy way, there should be enough protein in the baby's diet. Even if you're a vegetarian or your meat consumption is reduced, you'll always have other sources of protein, such as fish, eggs, some dairy products and pulses combined with cereals (e.g. rice and beans).
Another essential nutrient is calcium. Daily consumption of dairy products and milk is essential (e.g. yoghurt or cheese). Fruit and vegetables such as spinach or broccoli are also great sources of calcium. However, we always consider it necessary to seek the doctor's advice to ensure that we are providing all the nutrients that are sufficient and necessary for mum and baby, as well as any specific characteristics of each case.
One curiosity that came up during our research was the fact that during the first trimester there can be several food aversions. The repulsion to certain foods is perfectly natural, as the hormones are there. This oscillation causes a hypersensitivity of smell and taste. As an example, eating fish is a great source of protein, so we can let our imagination run wild and try to cook it in different ways to ‘trick’ our taste buds with other flavours. Another solution is to try to vary it as much as possible with other sources of protein, such as eggs or chicken.
One thing to remember is that this feeling of repulsion is temporary. Towards the end of the third month, these small, typical annoyances will disappear, so that we feel more peaceful and content. At this stage, the ideal is to start the good days by getting some fresh air and going for a walk. Making the most of every moment of your pregnancy is undoubtedly the advice we take from this end of the first trimester.
Wow, another month full of new things and experiences. Pregnancy really does have its peculiarities, making it a unique adventure with very specific features. Seeing your little one grow and develop is great, and especially when everything is going as expected, it's incredible.
We wish all mums and dads the best of luck and we're sure that pregnancy will be an incredible experience. Let's enjoy it, we've just finished the third month of pregnancy and we're already one foot into the fourth.
What about you? Mums out there, do you identify with any of the contexts we've discussed here today? What are the first things you remember about the first trimester? Any particularities you'd like to add to the examples we've given in today's post? We want to know your experiences. We want to know your opinion.
