Seventh Month Of Pregnancy: Expert Weighs In On Diet, Exercise, Baby's Growth And More

If you are in the seventh month of pregnancy, congratulations on entering into the third trimester of one of the most beautiful phases of your life. You have to be extra cautious now about your diet and exercise routine because your baby is growing at a rapid rate and the body requires more nutrition for the growth and development of the brain, bones, and other internal organs.

We connected with Dr Sujata Uday Rajput, senior consultant, obstetrician and gynaecology, Cloudnine Group of Hospitals, Pune. We bring you suggestions from an expert on choosing the right food and safe exercises for the last term of pregnancy. We will also tell you how much your baby has grown and what to expect in the seventh month of pregnancy.

Seventh Month Of Pregnancy: What To Expect And Baby’s Growth

The doctor said that the seventh month of pregnancy includes the stages between 25 to 28 weeks. At this stage, you will witness more noticeable changes in your body. The baby grows quickly and is almost the size of a coconut.

Around this time, the overall body of the baby is formed. The foetus has grown into a baby you are soon going to hold in your arms. Your belly will be constantly growing making it difficult for you to bend forward.

If you witness stretch marks, they will appear more evident at this stage. You will experience back pain, and everything together will affect your walk too. If you have been to your doctor for a regular check-up, they would have advised you to sleep on your left side and legs tucked towards your chin. This is considered the most comfortable position because it improves the blood supply to the baby and helps with proper growth and development.

At this stage, mood swings would become more frequent. You will feel more fatigued and tired. Braxton Hicks contractions will increase, and you will experience abdominal discomfort.

Your breasts would have definitely increased by now. The baby will also start responding to various stimuli such as light and touch.

Seventh Week Of Pregnancy: Diet For Expecting Women

After the 28th week, you should expect the baby’s weight to grow by 200-250 gms per week. Dr Rajput said that your diet should include protein-rich elements like soya beans, chicken, fish, yoghurt, tofu, etc.

Your meals should also include iron-rich foods like leafy vegetables, nuts, pomegranate, jaggery, citrus roots, nuts, and beetroot.

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Seventh Week Of Pregnancy: What Food To Avoid

Dr Rajput added a few things to the list that expecting women must avoid at any cost. This list includes:

• Smoking
• Drinking
• Outside food
• Processed meals
• Unpasteurised milk
• Excess intake of caffeine
• Raw meat
• Soda and carbonated drinks
• Canned food

Seventh Week Of Pregnancy: Tests And Exercise Routine

Image Courtesy: Instagram/ Disha Parmar

At this stage, the doctors will conduct regular check-ups to ensure that the baby is growing at the expected rate. They will monitor placental localisation, amniotic fluid volume, and maturity of pregnancy in comparison to the given date.

Experts also check your blood pressure, prescribe urine tests, and take haemoglobin levels into account. They want to ensure that there is no evidence of any kind of infection.

The doctor also suggested expecting women to continue with light exercises. You can indulge in prenatal yoga, swimming, and other activities only after consulting with your gynaecologist.