Pregnancy Guide for Couples: Week 10
Can you believe you’re already at Week 10? If you’re experiencing food aversions, we’ll discuss why that happens in pregnancy, especially in the first trimester. But first, let’s talk about your growing baby.
What’s Going on with Baby
Week 10, your baby is the size of a paperclip!
Around this time of the pregnancy, baby’s head is becoming rounder and their toes and fingers are losing webbing. The umbilical cord is now visible and continues providing baby with the nutrients and oxygen they need. More things that are developing at Week 10 include:
The main parts of your baby’s eyes (cornea, iris, pupil, lens, and retina). Eyelids have already formed. Your little one’s eyes will stay closed for quite a while.
Baby’s brain is still developing and measures half the length of their body! Of course, this is temporary.
The baby’s spinal cord allows them to move their arms, legs, and fingers around.
What’s Going on with Mom
If you’ve been feeling nauseous this trimester, you probably have picked up a few food aversions. Many moms cannot stomach the taste of coffee, for example. Not every pregnant woman has the same aversions, but why does pregnancy cause food aversions? Here are a few reasons why this may be:
Hormone changes can alter taste and smell, making some foods smell and taste more potent than usual, often displeasing.
Some food aversions help keep Mom and baby safe from toxins and harmful substances.
Food aversions can also direct Mom away from certain foods like raw meat, grease, and other things that aren’t nutritional.
If you’re not already starting to show a baby bump, you may wonder when this will occur. First-time mothers may not start showing until the second trimester or later. Of course, factors such as body shape and size, position of the uterus, and whether Mom has had a baby in the past or not influence when the baby bump will become noticeable.
What’s going on with Partner
If Mom is dealing with food aversions, it can be challenging to find foods that she actually wants to eat. To help with this, find out what she definitely doesn’t want to eat and also what sounds good to eat. Keep in mind: what Mom wants to eat might change day-to-day. Prepping meals that she loves will help Mom get the nutrition she needs. If you need some guidance, here are some recommendations:
Smaller meals help manage nausea
Complex carbs (whole grains)
Lean proteins (beans, poultry)
Fruits and vegetables (smoothies)
Healthy fats (avocados, nuts)
Folate-rich food (leafy greens, fortified cereals)
RESOURCE OF THE WEEK
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