Pregnancy Week 11 - Tiny Kicks, Tight Clothes and Changing Hormones

Dear Baby,

Even though you are still really small, you look a lot like a real baby, with fully formed fingers and toes. You are moving or rather floating around in the amniotic fluid, while I’m feeling more and more of a sloth with each passing day. I guess I can blame my hormones for that!

My skirts, jeans, trousers and other clothes are getting tight. So I went shopping and finally managed to locate a little shop that sells maternity clothes. But since I’m extra small, I found it difficult to find maternity wear of my size. Hence from now on I will have to stick to salwars and saris or Nikhil’s t-shirts and joggers or his kurta-pyjamas.

I am trying to persuade your father to stop smoking. If I don’t succeed, then the first sentence I’m going to teach you to say is, ‘Papa, no smoking.’

I have started doing some light exercises and going for long walks every day.

Good night baby. I’ve been feeling exhausted and sick all day today, so I’d better make it an early night.

Your loving mumma.

BABY NOTES

How do hormones affect you during pregnancy?

Hormones are chemical messengers that play an important role during pregnancy and labour. They are responsible for several changes that take place in your body during this time. It is the hormones that are partly responsible for making you feel nauseous, emotional or tired during the first trimester.

Some of the main pregnancy hormones are human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), progesterone and oestrogen. hCG rises rapidly in early pregnancy and is associated with nausea and vomiting, while progesterone helps support the pregnancy and can contribute to tiredness. Oestrogen also rises throughout pregnancy and helps support your baby's development and prepare your body for birth.

In later pregnancy, hormones also help prepare your body for labour and play an important part in starting and progressing it.

Do you need to buy maternity clothes?

Maternity clothes are now widely available in shops and online. However, don’t be tempted to splurge on a whole new wardrobe, as you will wear maternity clothes only for a few months. You may not even need dedicated maternity wear – comfortable, roomy clothes you already own, or ordinary clothes in a larger size, can work just as well. Look for clothes with stretchy or adjustable waistbands that don’t feel restrictive as your body changes. A few loose salwar suits, wrap-around skirts and your husband’s joggers and T-shirts should be able to see you through much of your pregnancy.

How can smoking affect your baby during pregnancy?

Smoking is bad for your baby. Harmful chemicals from cigarette smoke can cross the placenta and reach your baby, while carbon monoxide reduces the amount of oxygen available to your baby. Smoking during pregnancy can increase the risk of complications such as preterm labour and birth, placental abruption – when the placenta separates from the wall of the womb too early, low birth weight and stillbirth.

Passive smoking can also be harmful. There is no safe level of exposure to second-hand smoke during pregnancy, and exposure can increase the risk of preterm birth and low birth weight. After birth, babies exposed to second-hand smoke are at greater risk of respiratory infections, asthma and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

So if your husband smokes, try to persuade him to give up. Keep your home and car completely smoke-free and do not let anyone smoke around you or your baby. Smokeless tobacco is not a safe alternative during pregnancy either.

If you smoke, stopping at any stage of pregnancy will benefit you and your baby. Ask your doctor or antenatal healthcare provider for help if you need support to quit.

How much exercise do you need, and what makes a safe pregnancy workout?

Regular exercise during pregnancy has many benefits and can help keep your body fit and supple. Staying active can help you cope with the physical demands of pregnancy and labour, and may mean fewer aches and pains and less chance of getting constipated. Pelvic-floor exercises can also help reduce the risk of stress incontinence during and after pregnancy.

If your pregnancy is uncomplicated, aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity spread throughout the week. If you are not used to exercising, start gently, perhaps with ten minutes at a time, and gradually build up. Walking, swimming and pregnancy-appropriate yoga are excellent forms of exercise when pregnant. Gentle muscle-strengthening exercises can also be included.

Exercise at a level that feels comfortable for you. As your pregnancy progresses, avoid exercising for prolonged periods while lying flat on your back. Stop exercising and seek medical advice if you experience vaginal bleeding, dizziness or faintness, chest pain, significant shortness of breath, painful contractions or fluid leaking from the vagina.

If you have a medical condition or pregnancy complication, or are unsure what exercise is suitable for you, consult your doctor or antenatal healthcare provider.

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