Pregnancy Week 8 Development

Being pregnant is probably one of the most exciting stages in a woman's life. As time progresses by, you are becoming aware of the changes which are happening inside and outside of your body.

What Happens In the Uterus

Your baby has improved a lot since conception. In fact, his size increases by around a millimetre everyday. He's about the size of a kidney bean now and he moves a lot but you can barely feel it. His legs, lips, nose and eyelids continue to take its forms as well.

By this time, your baby's webbed toes and fingers are now poking out from his feet and hands. His tail is almost gone and his nerve cells now begin to connect with each other. His genital is not yet full developed at this point in time. The heart has already divided into four chambers and it is beating around an impressive rate of 150 beats per minute. The elbows are now present and the legs and arms have become longer.

What Happens To Your Body

At this point in time, your doctor may have commented that your uterus is pretty larger than normal. Before your pregnancy, it takes the size of your fist but today, it can be as large as a grapefruit. Morning sickness should be well expected this time. But there's nothing to worry about. Morning sickness is a good indication that your pregnancy is going along well.

Aside from the usual morning sickness, some pregnant women may complain about the pain sensation or cramping in the lower abdomen. There are others who can feel the contractions or tightening of uterus. This shouldn't alarm you since it caused by the growing size of the uterus.

By this time, you might be in need for a larger bra to support your growing breasts. Your waistline is expanding as well. The most common pregnancy symptoms which you are more likely to experience this week include fatigue, vomiting, nausea, flatulence, food cravings and food aversions.

You might also have occasional headaches, increased smell sensitivity, bloating, constipation, and occasional dizziness or faintness. There is an increased vaginal discharge due to the surge of oestrogen which introduced leucorrhoea. It is a thin and milky vaginal discharge which helps in protecting the vaginal canal against infections by maintaining a healthy and balance of good bacteria.

A Healthy Lifestyle for Pregnant Women

Avoiding alcohol and quitting cigarette smoking are essential components of a healthy lifestyle for pregnant women. When paired with adequate amount of sleep, appropriate exercise and healthy diet, it would surely bring highly satisfactory results to the health of the mother as well as the baby.

A diet for pregnant women should contain healthy foods which are primarily composed of fruits and vegetables. Eating these fresh farm produce are beneficial to the body as they contain high levels of substances and chemicals that play vital roles in optimizing the health and development of the foetus inside the uterus. Mango is one of the best fruits to take during pregnancy.

Go For Mango!

Just like most tropical fruits, mangoes are lucky to contain loads of nutritional benefits for the human body. Aside from its Vitamin C content, mangoes contain pectin and other B Vitamins which are beneficial in addressing certain health issues including indigestion and constipation. It also helps in cleansing the intestines and clearing off indigestion.

It's Vitamins E and A content help in enhancing hormonal system. Aside from its ability to ward off scurvy, mangoes are fortified with antioxidants and phenolic compounds which are known to have anti-cancer properties. Mangoes, through its mangiferin content, are known to contain anti-inflammatory, chloretic, cardiotonic, diuretic and antibacterial effects to the body.

Mangoes are also rich in potassium, copper, magnesium, beta-carotene, astragalin, quercetin, riboflavin, niacin, panthothenic acid, thiamine, folate, Vitamin K, selenium and calcium, and each has its own profound benefits to the body.

The fruit contains Vitamin A which is beneficial in preventing the development of Xerophthalmia and measles. Since the fruit is rich in fibre, pregnant women are less likely to suffer from constipation, spastic colon, piles, cancer, heart ailments and some degenerative diseases.

Mangoes And Its Benefits to Pregnant Women

Worried about morning sickness? Mangoes can be a great solution to your problem. These fruits are said to be an excellent remedy for debilitating morning sickness. It actually helps in addressing nausea in pregnant women. Its iron content also helps women during pregnancy. At this crucial stage, a woman's iron requirement is very essential, thus mango helps in preventing the onset of anaemia.

Mangoes are fortified with Vitamin A which performs an essential role in the development of the foetus and the placenta. It actually exerts a great influence on the growth of the mucus membranes, retina and teeth as well as skin metabolism.