On the 21st week of your pregnancy, you can expect a lot more changes to come. Everyday is a new experience. While some women are enjoying their pregnancy, there are others who struggle with the undesirable symptoms of their pregnancy.
What Happens on The 21st Week of Pregnancy?
Baby
By this time, your baby should be around 3/4; of a pound and is around 10 1/2 in length. The baby's fluttering movements inside your body become more evident. Her eyelids and eyebrows are now forming and if you are having a baby girl, her vagina is now developing.
This week, your baby begins to have a sense of taste. In fact, he can now swallow a bit of the amniotic fluid. This means that your baby also eats everything on your menu.
What Happens to the Mother's Body?
As the baby gets bigger everyday, pregnant women can now begin to notice the presence of stretch marks on their body. These purple, red and pink streaks are pretty normal during pregnancy because the tissues under the skin are torn due to the stretching skin. But of course, not all women have stretch marks. You can only have it if you have gained weight rapidly or your mom have it when she was also pregnant.
By this week, you can no longer mistake the baby's movements for gas. Your baby is actually making a lot of movements in your body. You can now feel the baby twisting, kicking and turning inside the womb. Symptoms such as bleeding gums, backaches, varicose veins, hearty appetites and flatulence are still present. You can also notice that your hair and nails are growing at such a rapid rate.
Being Pregnant...
It cannot be denied that mothers only want the best of health for their babies. Maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle is very important in every pregnancy. Pregnant women should be extra careful with the foods they take in during this very crucial stage. A special diet mostly composed of fruits and vegetables is very beneficial in optimizing the health and condition of the baby.
Lemons for Pregnancy
Lemons are probably one of the healthiest foods to eat during the early stages of pregnancy. This citrus fruits brings a lot of vitamins and nutrients which are very beneficial not just to the mother but to the baby as well.
According to research, aside from the nutrients which lemons give, this fruit is also helpful in warding off the undesirable symptoms of pregnancy such as morning sickness. According to the American Pregnancy Association, lemon is effective in easing nausea which is associated with pregnancy. Eating, sucking or sniffing lemons can help a lot in easing queasiness.
Lemons are excellent sources of nutrients such as copper, magnesium, phosphorus, folate, manganese, thiamine, niacin, Vitamin B6, riboflavin and panthothenic acid. Folates are known to be beneficial in preventing the development of neural tube defects in foetus. On the other hand, potassium is an essential mineral which helps in regulating the balance of chemicals and fluids in the body, most especially when the body is expanding in such a rapid rate. Lack of potassium usually results to leg and muscle cramps.
A tablespoon of lemon juice actually delivers 7 grams of Vitamin C, which is around 8% of the daily recommended Vitamin C intake in pregnant women. Lemons are great sources of Vitamin C which is useful in boosting the immune system of the body. Aside from its ability to ward off illnesses, Vitamin C also plays a vital role in promoting tissue repair. Furthermore, it assists the process of cartilage, collagen and mental development.
Lemons contain compounds which can help in reducing one's cravings for salt. When salt is taken excessively, it can result to blood pressure problems and swelling.
Lemons are also known for its antibiotic and antioxidant properties. Antioxidants play a vital role in inhibiting the division process of cancer cells. The fruit actually contains limonoid compounds which are scientifically proven to be effective in helping the body fight against cancers of the lung, colon, mouth, breast, stomach and skin.
Though lemon is beneficial in the body during pregnancy, pregnant women who are experience severe heartburn and gastrointestinal discomfort should avoid taking this fruit as it can exacerbate their condition.
Pregnancy Week 21 Development: What To Expect And One Beneficial Food
Find FREE expert information about the progress of your baby in the 21st week of your pregnancy, on the blog of Merrion Fetal Health. The ultrasound clinic in Dublin has long years of experience in providing state of the art pregnancy scans.