Pregnancy Diary Week 23: How Is Your Baby Growing?

 This week, your baby begins to gain some pounds. She is over a pound now with a length of more than 11 inches. Also, his bones and organs are very visible through the skin. By this time, you are probably getting used to your baby’s movements.

Cherish these gentle movements because as weeks pass by, they can be more pronounced and painful at times.

Your baby’s ears are now fully functional. In fact, when she is born loud noises which she often hears in the uterus like barking dogs won’t bother her anymore. Also, her lungs are now developing. 

Plums For Pregnancy Nutrition

 With the significant changes that are taking in and outside of your body, it is very important to give your body a sufficient amount of healthy nutrients. As you may already know, pregnant women are more prone to suffer from infections during pregnancy because of their weakened immune system. One of the best ways to keep your body the best of health is to eat healthy fruits and vegetables which are packed with a variety of vitamins and minerals.

Plums come from the family of nectarines, almonds and peaches – plums are one of the most nutritious fruits to eat when pregnant. When dried, plums are referred to as prunes.

Scientific research has revealed that plums are very beneficial to the health of human beings. They contain high levels of antioxidants which are known for their anti-cancer effects. It also contains flavonoids that help in protecting flavonoids against oxidation.

Plums are also known for their ability to promote healthier and sharper eyesight. In fact, it prevents the onset of macular degeneration and other eye infections. Aside from its ability to promote healthy vision, plums are also excellent sources of potassium, dietary fibre, Vitamin A and Vitamin C.

Constipation is very normal during pregnancy. Since plum is a good source of dietary, it can be a good solution to constipation. Aside from its dietary fibre content, plums contain isatin and sorbitol compounds that are known to be effective at regulating the body’s digestive functions, thereby preventing the occurrence of constipation.

Plums can also be good sources of other nutrients such as potassium, iron and fluoride. As widely known, iron is very important in pregnant women especially those suffering from anaemia. During pregnancy, women need extra iron for the baby’s optimum growth and development. Plum can be a good source of iron which is vital in the formation of red blood cells.

On the other hand, potassium is vital in regulating body fluids, which significantly affect the heart rate as well as the blood pressure of the mother. When left uncontrolled, high blood pressure can lead to a number of complications such as pre-eclampsia which can put the health of both the mother and the baby at risk.