Pregnancy Week By Week (Week 2)

Week 2 Fetus

Must-ask Questions this Week (Week 2)

Is there anything I can do to increase the odds of conceiving a baby of a particular gender?

In a word, nothing. While you may have read or heard from someone about some low-tech methods of conceiving the preferred gender, there is no hard evidence suggesting that this really works. So, while for some of you this can be a fun experiment, don't bank on it for results. Another point to consider: in your bid to have a particular sex baby, you end up limiting your sexual activity to some days or timings, thereby decreasing your odds of conceiving. So if you want to conduct such experiments, be prepared to wait a little longer to hit the reproductive goalpost.

What does gestational age and fetal age mean?

These terms are used to date your pregnancy. Gestational age refers to the length of time since your first day of your last menstrual period. If your gestational age is 5 weeks, this simply means it has been 5 weeks since the first day of your last period. Fetal age refers to the age of your baby, counting from the estimated date of conception. The gestational age is 2 weeks ahead of the fetal age. However doctors tend to rely on ultrasound reports and fundal measurements (measuring the height of your uterus done routinely at your prenatal visits) to cross-check the accuracy of your due date as well as ensuring your baby is developing on target. Most women prefer using gestational age over fetal age to keep track of their pregnancy.

Some Basic Pointers (Week 2)

Facts in a Gist

• Eat lots of small meals instead of one or two large ones

• Make sure you follow a balanced diet, especially if you are a vegetarian

• Get plenty of sleep

• Avoid sources of environmental pollution


If your immune system is weak..

If your immunity is low or weak, you are likely to suffer from coughs and colds often, wounds that heal slowly, greater fatigue than normal and bacterial, viral and fungal infections. Bacterial infections affect mucous membranes and this may be accompanied by fever and swollen lymph glands; this includes boils and impetigo. Viral infections invade the cells where they grow in number; colds, influenza, warts, herpes and gastroenteritis are some examples of viral infections. Common fungal infections are athlete's foot and ringworm. There are certain factors that are attributive to a weaker system or is simply damaging for your immunity.

• Stress and anxiety depresses the immune system

• Inadequate sleep (less than 8 hours of night time rest) can weaken the system

• Food allergies exhaust the system's defenses

• Diet affects the immunity. Consuming just 80g (3 oz) of sugar results in 50% reduction in the activity of white blood cells for between one and five hours. Poor diet generally leads to deprivation of important nutrients your body is dependant on

• Alcohol consumed reduces mobilization of white blood cells

• Air pollution damages mucous membranes

• Chronic antibiotic use causes general immune impairment

Your Nutrition (Week 2)

Key Nutrients in a gist..

Nutrition prior to conception is very important since many women do not realize they are pregnant until they are 4-5 weeks into pregnancy. By that time many essential developments would have already taken place in the embryo. By the end of the first trimester, a baby is fully formed and basic framework for all the organs, limbs, muscles and bones is already in place.During pregnancy Protein is needed in good amounts for building and repair of tissues, cells, muscles, organs and hair and for enzyme production in the mother.


Half of the calories should come from carbohydrates, mainly starch. Folate and iron are vitally important nutrients. Folate ( Folic acid) which is from the vitamin B family is used for cell division, red blood cell formation and to develop baby's nervous system. Since the neural tube forms in the fourth week of gestation, the mother should be taking folic acid before conceiving to prevent birth defects such as spina bifida. You would need to take folic acid supplement since folate cannot be derived from food alone. Iron is found in hemoglobin and is needed to transport oxygen and carbon dioxide, for enzyme and energy creation. The demand for iron increases to cater to the development of the placenta and the rise in blood volume of the expectant mum.

Nutrient	Protective Role	Food Sources
Vitamin A	Strengthens tissues, cells and mucous membranes	Fish oils, egg yolks, cheese, yoghurt, carrots, spinach, broccoli, tomatoes
Vitamin C	Fights infections, increases resistance to toxins and viruses	Most fruits especially citrus, berries, potatoes and parsley
Vitamin E	Protects against free radicals and infections	Fresh nuts, seeds, cold pressed oils
Zinc	Fights infections, maintains healthy system	Ginger, sunflower seeds, cold pressed oils
Selenium	Boosts immunity, fights infections, anti-oxidant	Tuna, herring, wheat-germ, seafood, seeds
Green foods	Enhances immune system, protects against bacterial and viral attacks	Vegetables containing chlorophyll, the green pigment in plants