Pregnancy Calendar – Week Nineteen

The baby has grown to be six inches long, head to bottom, and weighs over seven ounces. The baby’s center of gravity has moved forward, which has changed the baby’s posture. The kidneys continue to make urine, and the hair on the scalp becomes apparent this week. In a baby boy at this stage, the testes are on their way to descending into the scrotum. If your baby is a girl, her uterus is starting to develop. The vernix, a waxy substance that covers the baby’s skin to protect it from the amniotic fluid, begins to form this week.

Pregnancy can change your immune system, as well as affect your heart and lungs. These changes may place pregnant women at increased risk for complications from minor illnesses, such as colds or the flu. But don’t worry, usually all you need is more rest. The majority of minor illnesses, such as colds or the flu, will resolve without complications. If you get a cold, you cannot use certain over-the-counter medicines, so check with your doctor before you take any medicines (this includes herbal remedies). Use saline for a stuffy nose, and have a humidifier on, especially at night. Drinking hot liquids (decaf tea, soup broth, etc.) can help you to feel better when you have a cold. Of course, anytime you are sick, the best thing you can do is to stay home, get extra rest, and drink plenty of fluids. (For more information about what you can and can’t take or do during pregnancy, see: “Pregnancy’s Limitations: What Can You Do?”)

Hot Topic:  Avoiding Illness

An ounce of prevention…Experts agree that there are steps you can take to avoid getting sick. One of the most important and easy things to do: wash your hands often! Avoid touching your mouth, eyes, or nose; cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when sneezing or coughing. When possible, avoid contact with people who are sick. Take care of yourself—eat healthy foods, exercise, and get enough sleep.

In 2004, the U.S. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended that women who will be pregnant during the flu season should receive a flu shot (check with your doctor). (For more information on germs, and avoiding illness, read: “The Age of the Superbug.”)

Fast Fact: No egg whites here—finally a good reason to eat eggs. According to a University of North Carolina study, an important chemical compound, choline, found in egg yolk, may aid in the memory development of a developing fetus.