Mom’s Tip of the Week 3
Did you know ... ?
Your prenatal supplement could be missing an important nutrient for your baby’s brain. When choosing a prenatal supplement, make sure it includes docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Not only is DHA good for you but it helps support your baby’s normal brain and visual development. The omega-3 fatty acid DHA is found naturally in fatty fish, but since many fish are tricky during pregnancy, due to mercury levels, getting DHA in a prenatal vitamin might a good call.
Being 3 Weeks Pregnant
What’s Happening in There
- The sperm and egg meet. Usually during week 2 or 3 of pregnancy, the strongest sperm makes its way through the cervix (the opening of the uterus) and travels up the fallopian tubes to meet the egg. When the egg is fertilized by the sperm, conception has occurred.
- Your baby is a single cell. The egg is called a zygote after it is fertilized. Although it is only a single cell, the zygote has all the DNA needed for life—23 chromosomes from the mother’s egg and 23 from the father’s sperm. These chromosomes help determine your baby’s sex; physical characteristics, like hair and eye color; and to some extent, personality.
- The zygote begins to divide. As the zygote travels down the fallopian tube, it divides into many more cells, resulting in a big ball of cells called a blastocyst. The hard outside shell (which will become the placenta) nourishes and protects the inner shell (which will become the embryo). Your baby is moving closer to a recognizable physical form—and a home in your uterus.
- You might be preparing for multiples. If your ovaries release more than one egg, there’s a chance you’ll carry more than one baby: You could have nonidentical twins, triplets, or more.
Baby Brain Waves
Your Baby’s Brain Development
Now is the critical time to shore up your nutrition, if you haven’t already. The healthful foods and prenatal supplement that you consume are the building blocks of your baby’s development in the next few weeks. Some nutrients that play an important role in your baby’s brain development: iron, zinc, iodine, copper, omega-3 fatty acids (DHA and EPA), selenium, vitamin A, choline, and folate. But the superstar just might be DHA. Make sure your prenatal supplement and your diet are supplying 200 milligrams of DHA per day.
Pregnancy Symptoms
Real Issues, Real Solutions
The issue: You’re expending a lot of energy in the direction of your baby’s development, which can bring on first-trimester fatigue.
The solution: Learn what’s causing your weariness and how to energize yourself healthfully.
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