You are 29 Weeks Pregnant!
WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH YOU
Welcome to your third trimester. Aches and pains may become bothersome as your uterus grows and the joints of the pelvis begin to loosen in preparation for delivery. It’s easy to acquire back problems if you allow yourself to slump when sitting or standing. Don’t stop exercising. Walking (or swimming) is important and can make you feel more energetic. Exercises designed for strengthening the abdominal muscles, which support the back, can help. After the fourth month of pregnancy, you should avoid exercising while lying on your back, according to recent guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH YOUR BABY
Your baby may be up all night and asleep all day. This may mean less uninterrupted snooze time for you during the next 11 weeks, but doesn’t necessarily mean your baby will be a night owl after birth. Your baby now weighs two pounds, nine ounces and is 13 1/2 inches long. The crown-to-rump measurement, which may be slightly more accurate than length estimates, is about 26 centimeters.
EATING FOR TWO
Melissa, a ParentsPlace.com community member, offers this healthy recipe that boosts nutrients and fiber … all before lunch!
Four Grain Pancakes
3/4 cup whole-wheat flour
1/2 cup all-purpose unbleached flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
1/3 cup quick-cooking oats
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoons salt
2 cups buttermilk*
1/3 cup margarine or butter, melted
2 eggs, beaten (or egg substitute)
Lightly spoon flour into measuring cup and level off. In large bowl, combine all ingredients. Mix until large lumps disappear. Batter will be thick. For thinner pancakes, add a little water. Heat skillet or griddle to 375 degrees. Grease lightly with oil, (or spray if preferred). For each pancake, pour about 1/4 cup batter into hot skillet. Cook two-and-one-half to three minutes. Turn when edges look cooked and bubbles begin to break on surface. Continue to cook two to two-and-one-half minutes or until golden brown. (Whole-grain batters are thicker and take a little longer to cook. Make sure you accurately gauge pan temperature and check the middle for doneness.) Serve with syrup(yogurt or applesauce are healthful alternatives) and garnish with fresh fruit of choice. ALso good with berries and whipped cream!
This recipe makes 16 (four-inch) pancakes or eight (five-inch) waffles.
* To substitute for buttermilk, use 2 tablespoons vinegar or lemon juice plus milk to equal two cups.
FACT OF THE WEEK
Pitocin, a drug used to help speed up labor, is used in one-third of all births. Pitocin has a reputation of causing hard labor from the onset. Why is this? Pitocin causes regular, frequent contractions from the start, so, unlike natural labor, a woman has no “warm-up.” It’s important that a doctor, midwife or nurse be with you at all times to monitor your reaction to the drug. Since it is administered through an IV drip, the amount can be altered depending upon your response.