Week 10: Pregnancy Week by Week

Week 10: Prenatal testing, and how to have a better relationship with food

Birth goes best if it is not intruded upon by strange people and strange events. It goes best when a woman feels safe enough and free enough to abandon herself to the process.

-Penny Armstrong and Sheryl Feldman, A Midwife's Story

What's Happening in Your Body?

You may begin to see changes in your skin. Because of the pregnancy hormones that are flooding your body, your skin may appear tighter and small wrinkles may disappear. Your skin may appear to glow with health!

What's Happening with Your Baby?

Your baby is moving around now, although most likely you still cannot feel her movements. By the end of the third month your baby will be able to roll over in the amniotic fluid, open and close her mouth, and even swallow.

Prenatal Testing and Informed Consent

Even if you have not given birth before, you are probably already familiar with the terminology of prenatal testing. Words like sonogram and amniocentesis have become a familiar part of our vocabulary.

There is a good reason for that familiarity. It is because many of these prenatal tests, originally created to assess certain high-risk pregnancy situations, have become standard practice for all pregnant women. While you may think that these tests can do no harm, some of them have never been thoroughly studied for safety to mother and baby, and may present physical risks to both. Relying on prenatal tests to ease your concerns may also create an atmosphere of worry and anxiety, just what you had hoped to avoid by taking them. Results can sometimes be vague and, what's worse, misleading.

Follow this link to learn more about Prenatal Testing and Informed Consent.

Nourish Yourself

It's true that getting a good breakfast is important - and that is even more vital during pregnancy. Homemade Buckwheat Cereal is a cold breakfast cereal you can feel good about. It is easy to make in advance and will keep in your refrigerator for days. Buckwheat does not contain gluten and is a good source of calcium and lysine, as well as vitamin E and B. The nut butter adds protein.

Body Wise

Throughout pregnancy, it is important to be extra aware of your teeth and gums. Pregnancy hormones can cause gums to soften. They can also create more plaque for some women. This means that good dental hygiene is paramount for the rest of your pregnancy. It's a good idea to schedule an appointment for a cleaning now and ask your dentist if you should schedule extra cleanings throughout the rest of your pregnancy.

It's wise to avoid any unnecessary medical interventions during pregnancy, and that includes dental work (other than cleanings), especially X-rays. If you must have work done, avoid using amalgam (silver-colored) fillings. Mercury makes up about 50 percent of these fillings, and there is serious concern that this has been the cause of both short- and long-term health effects. Most dentists no longer use amalgam for fillings, but it is always smart to ask.

Natural Soothers

Baby Nog is a great drink to have at the beginning of your day. It's packed with protein for energy, and B vitamins to calm and sustain you. This recipe does contain the optional raw egg, so here's some information for the uncertain. According to the American Egg Board, the risk of encountering an egg contaminated with the salmonella bacteria is extremely rare - only one in 20,000 eggs will have even a trace of it, or another bacteria, inside. If you are concerned, however, you can make the recipe using an egg substitute, or no egg at all.

Higher Ground

Self-Demand Feeding
Pregnancy may be the first time in your life that you allow yourself to eat as you please. If you have turned to food to meet emotional needs in the past or if you just want to use your pregnancy as an opportunity to have a better relationship with food, try Self-Demand Feeding.

Image by Durga Yael Bernhard

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