Pregnancy Diary

Archive for the ‘Pregnancy Week 4’ Category

The Baby During Pregnancy Calendar Week 4

By the end of this week the round and pointy ends of your little pear-shaped baby will be slightly more exaggerated and their body will look more like that of a miniature manatee. Despite your baby not looking particularly human without any eyes, ears or mouth, the earliest developments of what will become the larynx, internal ear, and eye lens are already forming, although you’d have to be a trained expert to recognize them for what they’re going to be in the future. Likewise, tiny bumps are forming on your little embryo which will eventually be their cute little arms, elbows, fingers, legs, knees and toes. What’s more your little swimmer will have a teeny tiny tail by the end of this week– but don’t worry, it’s just the end of their developing spinal cord! A microscopic photo would reveal what seems to be their vertebrae filling out the spine and tail. Although they aren’t bones yet, but rather, the “bone seeds” that will give rise to your baby’s tiny vertebrae, ribs and sternum.

And how’s mom doing?

This week is not unlike the previous weeks; your pregnancy symptoms may be increasing, as expected. In fact, the earliest symptoms of morning sickness may set in for some women at this time. The not-so-lovely symptoms run the normal flu gamut including: nausea and vomiting. Although this typically occurs in the morning and resolves itself by midday, morning sickness can come at any time, day or night, so—for some of you, you’ll just have to make frequent stops throughout the day to kneel before the porcelain throne. In general, most pregnant women don’t experience morning sickness until their sixth week, but it never hurts to know what vomit-y fate may be awaiting you.

Morning sickness is due to several changes that are taking place in your body. First, you are now pumping out significantly larger amounts of estrogen and progesterone than normal, and your body is not used to this. Interactions between the hormones and your stomach result in the less-than-wonderful nausea. Also, your GI-tract is much more sensitive and some doctors theorize that this sensitivity is potentially the whole reason for morning sickness: to clear your system of any toxic food by-products which—although fine for your adult stomach, could cause considerable harm to your baby’s newly forming digestive tract and other body systems . If it helps, you could always think of the morning sickness as a baby-facilitated body cleanse.

What Not to Eat

There are numerous foods that you should avoid when you are pregnant. Try to avoid eating soft cheeses, pate and smoked or raw seafood. This is because many of these carry listeria, which is a bacteria that can cause fetal damage or lead to a miscarriage.

While eating a nutritious, balanced diet is essential during your pregnancy, numerous foods you should be avoided, including:

• Food additives such as monosodium glutamate (MSG);
• Unpasteurized foods, which may include:

fresh juices,
certain milk products including smoothies and yogurt,
soft cheeses, such as brie, feta, and some mozzarellas;

• Shellfish, swordfish, tilefish, shark, king mackerel, grouper, mahi mahi, amberjack, raw sushi, and sashimi;
• Limit self-caught freshwater fish to less than six ounces per week;
• Herbal teas that include slippery elm, ginseng, cohash and other herbs that may stimulate contractions;
• Alcoholic beverages and foods.

Time to Take A Pregnancy Test

A maternal blood or a urine test this week would show a positive result because the embryo is secreting human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG), the pregnancy hormone. Home pregnancy tests, which test for hCG in the urine, may show a positive result but are not as accurate as blood tests this early in pregnancy.

Early Signs of Pregnancy

Due to these new hormones, you may start to feel the first few pregnancy symptoms, which are similar to those that you would normally be feeling when expecting your period. These include tender or swollen breasts, cramping, mood swings and fatigue.

Don’t Forget Dad

Now that you know you are pregnant, pregnancy calendar week 4 is a good time to let dad in on the good news. Take the time to make the moment special; after all, without him, there would be no baby. Consider some of the following ways to clue him in on the big event:

• Take the pregnancy test as a couple, so he knows the results at the same time you do.
• Purchase a copy of What to Expect When You’re Expecting by Arlene Eisenberg, Heidi E. Murkoff, and Sandee E.
• Hathaway, B.S.N., wrap it up, and send it to him at work.
• Clear out a portion of his dresser drawer and fill it with disposable diapers.
• Take him out for a nice dinner and tell him over champagne glasses filled with milk.
• Send a picture of the pregnancy kit stick, showing the positive results to him via email.
• Whatever you do, do not forget he is an important part of your pregnancy and keep him involved.

Read Previous Week | Next Week

When you are pregnant, it is extremely important to avoid certain foods that you may have enjoyed pre-pregnancy. This is because many foods either contain harmful bacteria or environmental pollutants that negatively affect your baby. Listeria, salmonella, E. Coli and methyl mercury poisoning are among these harmful elements. Be sure to post a copy of our complete guide of foods to avoid during pregnancy on your refrigerator! Lastly, poor food safety preparation can also mean exposure to harmful substances.

Unpasteurized Products : Listeria
Unpasteurized products are made from raw milk; if the milk process was not performed properly and the milk is ‘dirty’, then it may be infected with listeria. It is therefore advised that pregnant women not consume the following unpasteurized products:

• raw milk
• soft cheeses : feta goat cheese, brie, camembert
• Mexican-style cheeses : queso blanco and queso fresco
• unpasteurized juice

Listeria is a serious threat: it has been responsible for 2,500 illnesses and up to 500 deaths a year. Some studies estimate that 30% of those deaths involve pregnant women and their fetuses. Listeriosis can cause miscarriage or premature birth.

While ‘dirty’ milk may be contaminated with listeria, there are many advocates of the health benefits of Grade A Certified raw milk. Talk to your doctor to find out more about the benefits of unpasteurized milk.

Raw Eggs : Salmonella
Any dish containing raw eggs is infected with Salmonella. Avoid:

• raw eggs
• Caesar dressing
• egg nog (unpasteurized)
• Hollandaise sauce
• cookie batter
• homemade ice cream

Undercooked Meats : Salmonella, E. Coli, Toxoplasmosis
Pregnant women should avoid all undercooked meats. Remember to take precautions when preparing meats: make sure your steak has an internal temperature of 170 degrees Fahrenheit and heat hamburger and pork to 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Hot dogs are safe to eat during pregnancy, just be sure to heat them until they are steaming. Avoid:

• deli meats
• sushi
• pates
• raw seafood, especially shellfish
• undercooked chicken or meat

Aspartame
Aspartame is a sweetener made by Monsanto found in many diet foods and available in packets to sweeten your foods. Be advised that aspartame has been linked to cancer as well as neuro- and immunotoxicity due to long term ingestion. Because of aspartame’s bad press, Monsanto has come up with a new sweetener, Neotame. Neotame has not been sufficiently tested and is thought to be more toxic than its predecessor, aspartame; it contains carcinogenic ingredients, such as formeldahyde. Because aspartame contains phenylalanine, it can be toxic for certain children. Make sure the foods you eat do not contain artificial sweeteners. When sweetening foods, opt for natural sweeteners like honey or fruit juice.

Certain Fish : Methyl Mercury
Fish is an excellent source of Omega-3 fatty acids, integral in the development of your baby’s brain and vision. Yet, because of coal plant pollution, most of the world’s fish population is contaminated with methyl mercury. Methyl mercury is a neurotoxin and causes neurological damage, developmental delays and learning deficits. Although the FDA has issued warnings on certain fish species, the US Public Interest Research Group (USPIRG) states that independent studies have shown a need for more rigorous limitation of certain fish species. The graph below is based on their findings.



Trying to get enough uncontaminated fish in your diet is understandably difficult; using a mercury calculator will help you figure how much mercury you’re ingesting with your fish. You can also get other sources of the nutrients found in fish. You may want to make up for Omega-3s by eating crushed flaxseed with your breakfast or snacking on walnuts. While flaxseed and walnuts have about a fifth of the Omega-3s, it may be the safer option until pressure is put on industries that contaminate our waters. Pregnancy diets deficient in Omega-3s will result in children with behavioral problems and abnormal vision.

Farm-Raised Fish : PCBs
As if you didn’t already have enough on your plate. Fish farming raises a number of health and environmental concerns. Farm-raised fish have significantly higher levels of PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, for a number of reasons. Because PCBs embed themselves in fat, ‘fatter’ farm-raised fish are rich in this cancer-causing toxin. And while you may think the nutrients of fish even out the dangerous effects of PCBs, farm-raised fish are considerably less nutritious than their wild counterparts. This is because farm-raised fish don’t have the opportunity to fulfill their natural and healthy diets. Therefore, stay away from farm-raised fish at the supermarket; farm-salmon is typically labeled “Atlantic” or “Icelandic”, while wild salmon is named “Alaskan” or simply “Wild”. Be sure to ask your fishmonger what waters your fish comes from.

Food Allergies
If you or your family has a history of food allergies, it is advised that you stay away from peanuts and products that may contain traces of peanuts. Your fetus can be exposed to food allergens and may develop peanut allergy if he has a predisposition.

Vitamin E and Pregnancy
A new research study points out some possibly harmful effects of Vitamin E, stating that high intake of Vitamin E (over 1,500 IU) promotes oxidative damage, which damages cells and speeds their aging process. This could lead to heart disase and cancer. Critics of the recent study say the study is “making something out of nothing for the sake of headlines”. Researchers behind the study say that you usually get enough Vitamin E in your diet and taking Vitamin E capsules may be more than you need.

Vitamin A and Pregnancy
Another vitamin that pregnant women shouldn’t overdue it on is vitamin A. In certain forms, this vitamin has been linked to an increased risk in birth defects. There are two forms of vitamin A – betacarotene and retinol. Retinol vitamin A, the type that is found in certain foods like liver, is thought to be dangerous during pregnancy and therefore should be limited to no more than 3,300micrograms per day. Vitamin A in betacarotene form is thought to be safe but discuss the issue with your health care provider to be sure. And if you are taking fish-oil supplements, pay attention to what part of the fish the supplement is produced from.

Any fish supplement that is made from a fish’s liver, like cod liver oil, contains vitamin A in retinol form and therefore should be limited. Supplements that are not derived from fish livers are less likely to have vitamin A in retinol form, but you may want to look for supplements that are specially made for pregnant women to be on the safe side.

Food Preparation Tips
Even food preparation needs to be handled carefully as improper handling of food can lead to infection or disease. Here are some tips to help you in the kitchen:

• avoid dented cans or jars that leak or don’t ‘pop’ when you open them
• completely defrost foods, especially meats, prior to cooking; thaw foods in the refrigerator or in a plastic bag submerged in cold water; never thaw foods at room temperature.
• do not freeze anything that has been defrosted
• reheat food only once, then toss it
• when food shopping, avoid fish, meat and eggs that are not well refrigerated or kept on ice
• always wash your hands after preparing food, between foods and after the restoom
• avoid contaminating foods with each other
• wash raw vegetables thoroughly, as unwashed vegetables can harbor toxoplasmosis