Wine glasses for drinking during pregnancy
 
Can you drink while pregnant? Drinking during pregnancy is a something of a grey area when it comes to prenatal health.
 
There is no well-defined limit for expectant mothers to follow, and so it can be difficult to establish how much alcohol - if any - is safe to consume while pregnant.
 

how much weight will i gain during pregnancy

One thing that almost every expectant mother thinks about at some point before or throughout their pregnancy is their weight.

Common questions include: how much weight should I gain during pregnancy? How will my post-baby body look? Can my pregnancy weight be easily lost?

More...

pregnancy foods to avoid
If you've recently become pregnant for the first time, you no doubt have a million and one questions to ask about the experience that lies ahead. However, if we had to guess the single most common query amongst mothers-to-be, it would probably be this:
 
Which foods should I avoid while I'm pregnant? 

pregnant women and coffee

When it comes to pregnancy, many questions are asked about what you can and can’t have, especially when it comes to food and drink. One of the most popular questions asked, however, is concerned with coffee intake. Can pregnant women drink coffee? How much caffeine can you have while pregnant? Is too much caffeine bad? So, let’s find out!

 

How much caffeine is in coffee?

With increased levels of fatigue experienced by many pregnant women, coffee may always seem like the easy go-to in order to keep energy levels up, whether it’s to complete day-to-day tasks or manage other children and toddlers. But is it okay to drink coffee when pregnant?

 

Can Pregnant Women Drink Coffee?

Well, the simple answer is yes, pregnant women can drink coffee, but in small amounts over the course of the day.

 

Is One Coffee A Day OK When Pregnant?

Experts recommend that pregnant women take in no more than 200mg daily, approximately 2 cups of coffee.

However, it is very important to note that not all coffee is caffeinated in equal measures. Caffeine content varies on the method of production and type. Drip coffee contains the highest levels (approximately 140-240mg per 240ml/8 oz) followed by brewed and then instant.

So, as a general guideline, mothers-to-be can have two small cups of brewed coffee a day, but it is important to note other sources of caffeine contribute to this amount, such as fizzy/energy drinks and chocolate.

 

How Does Caffeine Affect A Foetus?

Exposure to high amount of caffeine could have the potential to unsettle their stress hormones which can lead to heart disease, diabetes, rapid weight gain and later life obesity.

 

How to Reduce Your Caffeine Intake When Pregnant

If you are conscious about the levels of caffeine that you consume when pregnant and want to lower these, or if you think you’ve hit your daily amount and are in search for an alternative to help satisfy your cravings, try these drinks instead:

  • Water
  • Squash
  • Fruit juice
  • Caffeine-free herbal tea
  • Decaf coffee

These may not be the coffee that you know and love, but they will definitely go a long way when cravings start to kick in while giving you peace of mind that you are doing no harm to you or your baby!

*

For further information on what’s safe to eat or drink while pregnant, be sure to contact your doctor or midwife – for further advice on pregnancy cravings and how to curb them, click below!

Pregnancy Cravings Advice >

Book a Pregnancy Scan >

unborn baby size infographic

If you've had an ultrasound scan with First Encounters before, you may remember seeing the model that we keep in the clinic to show our visitors:

That is a model of a foetus at 20 weeks gestation. We often show it to the expectant parents who come to us for a scan, and almost without exception, they're always surprised to see how small the baby still is at that point. By 20 weeks, the mother's 'baby bump' is usually becoming fairly pronounced, and if you've ever been present during a 3D/4D scan, you'd be forgiven for thinking that babies are rather large indeed by that stage!
 
4D Scan Image
 
Watching your unborn baby on a big TV screen tends to make them seem larger than they actually are!
 
Many an expectant mother has asked us how big her baby is at X weeks, and so we thought we'd put together a handy guide to baby size  and how it changes from conception to birth. We hope that this will give you a clearer idea of your little darling's current size!
 

How big is my baby at...

  •  ...4 weeks? Less than a twentieth of an inch long and less than a twentieth of an ounce in weight. At this point, your unborn child is just a tiny embryo, no bigger than a poppy seed. 

  •  ...8 weeks? About 16mm (0.63 inches) long, or roughly the size of a single baked bean. That's more than fifteen times larger than the 4-week-old embryo, although the baby's weight has barely changed since then - we're still talking about a small fraction of an ounce at this stage. 

  •  ...12 weeks? 2-3 inches long and about half an ounce in weight. You're currently carrying a foetus that's more or less the same size as a lime.

  •  ...16 weeks? Just under 5 inches long and about 3.5 ounces in weight. You're now in your second trimester, and the baby is about as big as an avocado.

  • ...20 weeks? 6 and a half inches in length, 10 and half ounces in weight. At this stage, your foetus is a mite shorter than a carrot but weighs quite a bit more.

  • ...24 weeks? Roughly 12 inches in length and somewhat over 1 pound weight-wise. Your unborn baby is growing quite rapidly now, and their current size is roughly similar to that of a 500ml bottle of water.

  • ...28 weeks? By now, your baby should measure about 15 inches and weigh a little more than 2lbs. Picture an aubergine and you won't be too far off.

  • ...32 weeks? Nearly 17 inches, with a weight of around 3lbs 12oz. Remember how, at 24 weeks, your baby was about the size of a 500ml bottle of drink? Well, now he or she is closer to a 1.75 bottle.

  • ...36 weeks? 18.66 inches - that's just over 47cm - in length, and the best part of 6lbs in weight. By now, your baby is roughly the size of a melon.

  • ...40 weeks? Now that you're almost ready to give birth, your baby likely weighs 7-9lbs (although this varies quite a lot) and measures between 20 and 21 inches.
If you'd like to take a closer look at your unborn baby, click here to browse the 3D/4D scan packages available at our Cardiff First Encounters Ultrasound clinic.

Pregnancy Symptoms

If you've recently become pregnant, you're probably wondering what's in store for you over the next 9 months!

To make sure you have all the details you'll need throughout your pregnancy, we've made a week-by-week list of all the most common pregnancy symptoms. Please note that every pregnancy is different, and some people may experience certain symptoms earlier or later than others (if at all), so please don't worry if your own pregnancy doesn't perfectly match the list below.

 

5 Weeks Pregnant

This is a very common time for women to find out that they are pregnant. This is a very early stage, so don't be surprised if you aren't experiencing any pregnancy symptoms just yet.

However, you may experience:

  • Fatigue - Your body is embarking on a journey that requires a lot of energy, so even at 5 weeks, you may develop a sudden fondness for naps.

  • Frequent Urination - At 5 weeks, your kidneys are beginning to expand, so you might find yourself making more trips to the loo than usual!

 

7 Weeks Pregnant

You're almost two months in, and it's probably starting to feel a little more real. That being said, it's not unusual to have few (if any) symptoms at 7 weeks - remember, it's still relatively early in your pregnancy.

Some people experience the following symptoms around the 7-week mark:

  • Acne - Your hormones are all over the place right now, so breakouts are completely normal. Just make sure you check with your doctor before using any skin treatments to combat your spots.

  • Cravings - Are you craving foods that you wouldn't normally eat? Or perhaps an old favourite seems strangely unappealing all of a sudden? This is a normal pregnancy symptom, which usually comes paired with morning sickness. Speaking of which...

  • Nausea - The dreaded morning sickness! In spite of its common name, the feeling of nausea can sadly strike at any time of day. You may experience just a touch of nausea, or you may actually vomit - in either case, this is a common side effect of pregnancy at around 7 weeks and probably isn't anything to worry about.

 

9 Weeks Pregnant

After nine or ten weeks, you'll probably have experienced most of the pregnancy symptoms that tend to strike during the first trimester. In addition to the symptoms listed above, you may now notice:

  • Headaches - Your hormones are still surging, and this can lead to headaches (which can also be brought on by hunger, dehydration and exhaustion - so make sure you're getting plenty of food, water and rest).

  • Nasal Congestion - This is perhaps one of pregnancy's lesser-known side effects. By this stage, you may well notice an increase in your body's mucus production.

  • Breast Tenderness - Your body is prepping for breast feeding and blood flow to this area is increasing, often leading to breast tenderness.

 

12 Weeks Pregnant

Week twelve is the final week of your first trimester. Your baby has now grown from a tiny cluster of cells into a foetus, and your uterus will be starting to expand beyond your pelvic bones. In addition to all of the symptoms we've already discussed, you may now be experiencing:

  • Dizzy Spells - Those pesky hormones - particularly when coupled with changes in blood pressure - may cause you to feel dizzy. Make sure you sit down or rest during dizzy spells, and always eat/drink regularly to keep your energy up!

  • Pelvic Pain - As your uterus expands, you may experience some aches and pains. It is best to avoid any heavy exercise and be thoughtful about how you position yourself - you don't want to put any unnecessary stress on sensitive regions.

 

From Here on Out...

As you head into your second trimester, your pregnancy symptoms should become less erratic. Now you can look forward to your bump getting bigger and the baby starting to kick. You will probably continue to experience some aches and pains, and you should continue to go for regular check-ups to make sure that you and your baby-to-be are both healthy.

Here are a few milestone moments to look out for later in your pregnancy journey:

  • 13-15 Weeks Pregnant: This is generally the point at which you'll need to purchase maternity clothes. Of course, you may want to buy it earlier just for the comfort it provides!

  • 20-25 Weeks Pregnant: It's around this time that you'll start to feel your baby kicking. Again, every pregnancy is different, so don't worry too much if you have to wait a bit longer.

  • Approaching Due Date: Few women actually give birth on their exact due date. Nonetheless, it's an important date, and its passing signifies that your new baby will be with you very soon!

 

If you're 8-13 weeks pregnant, why not book an earlyAssure™ scan with First Encounters? We also offer 3D/4D scans for when you're a little further along and you're ready to see what your little one looks like!

Our clinics are located in Bristol and Cardiff.

Image from pixabay.com