19 Weeks Pregnant

Around the nineteenth week of pregnancy, your baby’s brain is taking shape at a phenomenal rate. His brain is making millions of neurons – the tiny transmitters that connect baby’s brain to his muscles.

This new and ongoing development means that your baby can make purposeful and involuntary movements. You’ll probably start feeling them as he sucks his thumb and moves his head, and tries out new moves.

• Your baby's hearing is even more developed. He can probably hear external sounds and conversation. He can hear you talk, hum, and sing.
• A white, waxy protective coating called vernix covers your baby’s skin.
• Under the vernix, the fine hair called lanugo continues to cover the skin.
• At 19 weeks, your baby’s kidneys function. Her urine is excreted into your amniotic sac – the bag of fluid in your uterus that surrounds the baby.

Fats are an essential part of your baby’s growth and development during your pregnancy at 19 weeks.No changes are recommended in the fat intake for pregnant woman with respect to non-pregnant state so they should still receive 20% - 35% of total calories from fats. But how do you know which fats to eat and which to avoid?

The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends cutting back on saturated and trans fats. These include foods high in solid fats (solid at room temperature) like butter, high-fat meats (such as ribs, sausage, and hot dogs), coconut oil and palm oil.

Avoid also foods high in trans fat. These include margarines, processed snack foods like chips and pretzels, and prepared desserts, such as cookies, cakes, and donuts.

Unsaturated fats are not only preferable — they’re an important part of a healthy diet. Omega-3 fats fall into this category and are particularly important during pregnancy. They support your baby’s brain development and they help cell membranes and other tissues grow.

Avoid saturated and trans fats by trying these healthier options instead:

Foods containing unsaturated fats include:

• Plant-based fats: olive oil, canola oil, and corn oil, nuts and seeds and avocado
• Walnuts: Walnuts contain alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an essential omega-3 fatty acid
• Wild salmon: while it contains high levels of DHA, it’s recommended that pregnant women limit their total amount of fish intake to 340 grams per week

Remember to always talk to your physician before making changes to your diet during pregnancy.

When hunger strikes, it’s easy to fall prey to trans fats. They’re lurking in all of those ready-made, grab-and-go snacks like processed cookies, pastries, chips, and other snack foods.

These processed foods often have fats that have been changed through a process called hydrogenation. These changed fats become what are commonly known as trans-fatty acids (TFAs). This type of fat may not only affect the cardiovascular health of the mother but also may increase the risk for developing metabolic diseases throughout life in the infant .. .

Stock up with plenty of healthy snack options. Keep some in your handbag, at work, or any place you might be tempted by trans fat-filled snacks.