Baby

Your baby has continued to grow over the past week. Now almost 2 inches long, your little one has been engaged in some heavy acrobatics, kicking and stretching inside your womb. Remember, though she is getting bigger, it will be some weeks before you feel her moving around.

Her skin, though still paper thin and transparent, is forming a protective barrier around her body. Her tiny fingers and toes have begun to separate into unique digits, and she's also begun to open and close her fists. The first signs of where her teeth will form appear this week, as tiny tooth buds begin to pop up under her gums. She may even have her first case of the hiccups as her diaphragm begins to develop.

Mom

Your symptoms of morning sickness and fatigue should begin to let up this week. If not, relief should be coming within the next couple of weeks. Don't worry if you haven't gained much weight yet, as the nausea continues to subside over the coming weeks you will have a healthy appetite again!

Did you know? Most women only gain between 2-5 lbs throughout their entire first trimester, but soon, in your second trimester, you'll be gaining about a pound a week!

Now that your appetite is back, it's important to be careful about what you eat. Below you will find a list of foods to avoid during pregnancy.

• Unpasteurized cheese and milk
• Cold deli meats (cold cuts)
• Raw or undercooked fish (including uncooked, smoked or pickled fish or shellfish)
• Shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and golden or white snapper (aka tilefish)
• Refrigerated pate
• Unwashed vegetables

Seafood is a good source of protein and the primary source of omega-3 fatty acids that may support the development of your baby's vision and brain. Luckily, there are many fish that are safe to eat during pregnancy. Some examples of "safe fish" include shrimp, crab, cod, clams, scallops, canned LIGHT tuna, canned salmon, pollock, and catfish.

You should only consume up to 12 ounces of commercially caught "safe fish" per week. But…this should include no more than 6 ounces of albacore (white) tuna or tuna steaks per week, because just like shark or king mackerel, their mercury content is too high and could harm your child's developing brain.

Make sure you’re taking “me-time” to center yourself and focus on your body’s interactions with your baby: listen to relaxing or inspiring music, read good books, think happy thoughts, you know, all the mentally stimulating stuff that puts you in a good mood and makes your pregnancy feel like a positive experience. In other words, watching international news isn't recommended. The better you treat your body and emotions now, the healthier and happier your child will be once “they’re on the outside.”