Pregnancy Week By Week (Week 8)

Some Basic Pointers (Week 8)

Facts in a Gist

• To calculate your due date add 266 days or 38 weeks to the date when you conceived or assuming your menstrual cycles are 28 days in length, you add 280 days or 40 weeks to the first day of your last menstrual period

• You may be eating for two but that doesn't mean you need twice as much food when you are carrying. All that most women require to support a pregnancy is an extra 100 calories per day during the first trimester and an extra 300 calories per day during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters

• Most women can count on gaining 25-35 pounds during pregnancy. Underweight women may be advised to gain more while overweight women may be told to gain less

• When it comes to prenatal fitness, your best bets are walking, swimming, riding a stationary bicycle and joining a prenatal fitness class that emphasizes on low impact aerobics

• Hormones are responsible for the number of pregnancy discomforts including headaches, constipation, breast tenderness, skin changes and morning sickness



The top 12 warning signs every pregnant woman should know -

CALL YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY IF YOU EXPERIENCE ANY ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:

• Heavy vaginal bleeding or clotting (If it happens in the first trimester, it could be an indication of a miscarriage; if it happens in the 2nd or 3rd trimesters, there could be some sort of a problem with the placenta).

• Lighter bleeding that lasts for more than one day (If it happens in the first trimester, it could be an indication that you are going to have a miscarriage; if it happens in the 2nd or 3rd trimesters, there could be some sort of a problem with the placenta).

• The passage of grayish or pinkish tissue or any amount of bleeding that is accompanied by cramps, fever, chills or dizziness (This could be a sign that you are having a miscarriage).

• Severe pain in the abdomen or shoulder area (This could be a symptom of ectopic pregnancy).

• Severe persistent headache, particularly one that is accompanied by dizziness, faintness or blurry vision (This is a possible symptom of high blood pressure or preeclampsia - a serious medical condition that is characterized by high blood pressure).


Dehydration

(e.g. dry mouth, thirst, reduced urine output, low grade fever) This is a sign of illness or something as simple as an indication that you have not been consuming sufficient fluids on a hot day.
Fever of more than 101°F (This is a possible symptom of an infection that may require treatment). Note. Even if you don't have an infection, your doctor would want to bring your temperature down because, depending on the stage of pregnancy, an elevated core body temperature can be harmful to the developing baby and may trigger premature labor.


Painful urination

• (This is a possible sign of urinary tract infection - UTI - something that can trigger premature labor and / or lead to a kidney infection).

• A watery discharge from the vagina (This is a sign that your membranes have ruptured).

• A sudden swelling of the face, hands or feet (This is a sign that you may be developing preeclampsia).

• Uterine contractions, vaginal bleeding or discharge, vaginal pressure in the pelvic area, menstrual like cramping, a dull backache, stomach or intestinal cramping and gas pains, and a general feeling of unwellness (These are symptoms of premature labor).

• A significant drop in fetal movement after week 24 of pregnancy (This is a possible sign your baby may be running into difficulty).

Your Nutrition (Week 8)

Dairy products are important to you during your pregnancy as they contain calcium and also vitamin D which aids in calcium absorption. Calcium helps keep your bones healthy, and your baby needs it to develop strong bones and teeth. During pregnancy you need at least 1200 mg-1500 mg of calcium a day. That is equivalent to 3-4 glasses of skim milk. Calcium also helps prevent high blood pressure and may lower your risk of pre-eclampsia.


In addition your body stores calcium in the latter part of pregnancy to draw on if you breastfeed. Milk, yoghurt, cheese and ice cream are good sources of calcium. Other foods include broccoli, bok-choy, spinach, salmon, sardines, chickpeas, sesame seeds, almonds, cooked dried beans, and tofu. Some foods are now calcium fortified such as orange juice, breads, cereals and grains. Check with at your grocer. If you plan to keep your calorie intake in check, choose low fat dairy products. Some choices include skim milk, low fat yoghurt and cheese and ice cream. Calcium content remains unaffected in low fat dairy products. You can increase the amount of calcium in your diet in other ways. Add powdered nonfat milk to soups. Make fruit shakes with fresh fruit and milk. Cook rice and oats in skim or low-fat milk. Some foods interfere with calcium absorption such as tea, coffee. For the lactose intolerant, you can still get your calcium from other sources outlined above. Some dairy products you may choose and their serving sizes outlined below: 

Cottage cheese (Paneer) ¾cup

Hard cheese 1 oz

Custard or pudding 1 cup

Milk 8 oz

Natural cheese 1½ oz

Yoghurt 1 cup

Integrated test - Ultrasound and Blood sample testing   What Now If I..? During Pregnancy   Vitamins and Minerals during Pregnancy   Soy During Pregnancy   Your Baby's Zodiac Sign

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