Welcome to the world of parenting!
An exciting journey is about to start and Mothercare, through this journal, is going to be by your side and advise you throughout your pregnancy weeks.
Get informed about everything that parents need to know such as pregnancy, baby growth, body and psychology changes, doctor examinations and appointments and of course parturition, breastfeeding and baby care.
Our midwife and lactation consultant IBCLC Ms Georgia Leze every week is going to show you a special path to a healthy and happy baby.
As your pregnancy progresses week by week, your morning sickness and exhaustion will ease off.
They might, however, be replaced by baby brain. It's all worth it though, because your little one is growing into a fully formed tiny human. What you should not forget is to close the appointment for the nuchal translucency test.
This week you'll be getting ready for this ultrasound, and to tell friends and family about your upcoming arrival!
Say goodbye to morning sickness and exhaustion: say hello to baby brain!
It's a good idea to pop a pad and pen in your handbag so you can jot things down, as many mums-to-be find their brains get a little fuzzy at this stage especially if you’re not sleeping too well.
Now that your placenta is fully formed, your body needs to send more oxygen to your womb. You might find yourself getting a bit breathless walking up stairs.
This week might be a good time to go shopping for maternity bras, as your boobs may grow up to three cup sizes.
Your baby is now looking more and more like a fully formed little human.
They now have all the bones in their face, their ears are nearer where they're going to be, and they've developed a tongue and nasal passages. They're still tiny (about the size of a fig) so you won't feel them turning somersaults in your tummy just yet. Your baby's tiny heart is well on its way to being finished, and their little lungs are starting to form (divide) now, too.
Now is a good time to organise your dating scan, which tells you when to expect mini-me's grand entrance and the real age of your pregnancy.
This scan can also tell you whether you're expecting one baby or more. Some women are offered a nuchal translucency scan at 11 weeks; this special scan can identify whether or not your little one has Down's syndrome. The nuchal translucency test along with the PAPP A blood test give us sufficient results to detect the Down syndrome, Trisomy 13 and 18 (gene abnormalities) and the chances of eclampsia in pregnancy. This is a screening examination that is based on the chances of chromosomal abnormalities on the basis of the characteristics of the foetus that observed at this age compared to the general population. It is not diagnostic. Your doctor or midwife may discuss with you about the choice or not of taking a trophoblast or amniocentesis or the new NIPT blood test, in non-interventional and modern control of chromosomal abnormalities.
It's normal to feel a bit tired (you're a one-woman baby-making machine, after all) so don't be shy about taking a break when you want one.
Mothercare & Early Learning Centre has over 61 years experience in all baby related products, from Prams and Pushchairs to Maternity Clothes ,Baby Clothes and Toys. With this experience comes a wealth of parenting and pregnancy advice, all of which we love to share with you. So whether you need inspiration for your nursery ,are stuck on which of our car seats to choose from, don't know what clothes to buy for your baby or even what toys to select we know we have the expertise and information to help you make these important choices. We hope you find what you are looking for and enjoy your time on mothercare.gr.