Your baby is now 1 week old.
You are getting ready for your baby - start eating right
It takes about 40 weeks or 280 days after conception to have a baby. Your expected due date is determined by the first day of your last period, when you weren't even pregnant. (This explains why your baby's development is about two weeks behind.) And let's say something about that: only about 5% of babies are actually born on the date doctors or midwives calculate. Anywhere from 38 to 42 weeks is considered within the normal range of pregnancy. So don't get upset when that special day comes and goes. You are all right - and so is your baby.
Our tribal foremothers calculated their due dates by counting 10 full moons, but they weren't caught up in birth as an exact science. So 10 days or so on either side was considered a normal gestation period to them.
If you are planning to have a baby, this is the time to shed bad habits and start developing some healthy ones. A new medical specialty, known as preconception medicine, can help get you on the right track. Trained doctors can evaluate your health and advise you and your partner about ways to optimize your chances of conceiving.
Proper nutrition is very important now. Not only to keep your nutritional needs satisfied, but to make sure your baby develops and grows in the best possible environment. Start by replacing junk foods and empty calories with more wholesome foods. Eliminate carbonated sodas in favor of (unsweetened) fruit juices and water.
Include adequate amounts of vitamins, especially folic acid (400 micrograms a day) to reduce the risks of certain birth defects, such as spina bifida. You might start by taking a prenatal vitamin before you become pregnant to give your body a running start.
Bad habits like smoking (both firsthand and second hand smoke can cause birth defects), smokeless tobacco, alcohol, excessive amounts of caffeine (still a controversial topic) and recreational drugs should be avoided. Tell your doctor or midwife if you are taking any over-the-counter medications or prescription drugs because some of them might cause birth defects.
As your period ends and your cycle moves towards ovulation and conception, take care of yourself. Eat well, exercise and rest. Preparing yourself for pregnancy gives you and your baby the best possible advantage you can have.
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