Diet Tips To Increase Fetal Weight In Third Trimester
For 28 weeks, you’ve dealt with morning sickness, swollen legs, and uncomfortable nights. Over the next three months, your baby’s final developments will cause your bump to grow larger, and your body will get ready for childbirth. The third trimester of your pregnancy are most crucial for your baby’s health and well-being. To better understand what’s going on during this time, let’s take a look at the developments that will increase your baby’s weight week by week over the next 12 weeks with the help of this baby weight chart during pregnancy in grams:
| Week of pregnancy | Developments | Baby weight chart during pregnancy in grams | Baby height chart during pregnancy in centimetres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 28 | At this point, your baby can partially open its eyes and its central nervous system controls body temperature and rhythmic breathing. | 1,000 grams | 37.6 centimetres |
| Week 29 | You will start to feel your baby’s kicks and movements as your little one starts to make grasping motions. | 1,200 grams | 38.6 centimetres |
| Week 30 | Your baby’s hair has started to grow out now, and red blood cells will begin to form in the bone marrow. | 1,300 grams | 39.9 centimetres |
| Week 31 | At this point, your baby’s development is almost complete. The only thing left is for your little one to quickly put on the required weight. | 1,500 grams | 41.1 centimetres |
| Week 32 | Until now, a soft layer of hair, known as lanugo, was protecting your baby’s skin. This week, the hair will shed and you should be able to see your little one’s toenails. | 1,700 grams | 42.4 centimetres |
| Week 33 | This week, for the first time ever, your baby’s pupils will respond to light stimuli. All their bones, except the skull, will start to harden. | 1,900 grams | 43.7 centimetres |
| Week 34 | This week, your baby’s fingernails will develop. | 2,100 grams | 45 centimetres |
| Week 35 | Your bundle of joy is growing nicely and their skin has started to turn smooth and rosy. | 2,400 grams | 46.2 centimetres |
| Week 36 | It’s starting to get a little cramped inside, with your baby taking up most of the amniotic sac. | 2,600 grams | 47.4 centimetres |
| Week 37 | Your baby has got a firm grasp now, and his or her head will start to descend to prepare for childbirth. | 2,900 grams | 48.6 centimetres |
| Week 38 | You’re almost there. Your baby’s head and body will have the same circumference by now. | 3,100 grams | 49.8 centimetres |
| Week 39 | It’s almost time for your baby to come out, and this week their body will start to accumulate fat to help them stay warm once they are born. | 3,300 grams | 50.7 centimetres |
| Week 40 | Your baby is fully developed and your due date is finally here. | 3,500 grams | 51.2 centimetres |
Of course, the way your baby develops and how tall or heavy your little one is will depend from pregnancy to pregnancy. This baby weight chart will give you a rough guide of what is happening each week and how your baby is gaining weight. Since the third trimester is crucial in preparing your baby for the outside world, it’s imperative that you track your pregnancy weight. If you haven’t quite put on the required amount of weight, your doctor may ask you to increase your calorie intake to help your baby grow.
If you’re wondering how to increase baby weight specifically, here’s a look at some nutritious foods that you should include in your diet:
1. Eggs, Milk, Yogurt & Tofu
All of these foods have a high protein content, sufficient intake of protein in pregnancy is very crucial. The proteins you consume during this time will mostly be used to keep your baby’s growth on track while also maintaining your maternal tissues.
2. Broccoli, Watercress & Cheese
These are some fabulous sources of calcium. You’ll need to incorporate this baby weight gain food to your diet to ensure that your baby’s teeth and bones grow and harden as required.
3. Fruits
Fresh fruits like kiwis, bananas, melons and strawberries can help you meet your daily vitamin C requirement. This vitamin is necessary to ensure that your baby’s placenta continues to function properly. Additionally, vitamin C helps your little one absorb the iron from the food you eat, which is required to maintain a healthy immune system.
4. Lentils
If you still feel like your 9 month baby pregnancy weight is below average, you should definitely load up on your lentils. Apart from adding protein to your diet, lentils are also rich in vitamin B1, known as thiamine, and fibres. You can consume lentils in the form of a dal, stew, or even porridge.
5. Avocados
Avocados are a crucial baby weight gain food as they are rich in fibre and vitamins C and E. Plus, it’s a good source of healthy fats, which will help them stay warm after birth.
6. Salmon
As your baby’s brain completes its development, it’s essential that you consume a good amount of omega-3 fatty acids. Salmon will provide you with the omega-3 you require, along with giving you a healthy dose of Docosahexaenioc Acid or DHA.
7. Dark, Leafy Green Veggies
It’s time to stock up on your intake of spinach, kale and other leafy vegetables, nuts and whole grains. Rich in magnesium, these foods help the development of your baby’s bones, while also preventing your uterus from early contractions and cramps.
Even though you now know how to increase baby weight during your third trimester, it’s important that you don’t make any major changes to your third trimester diet plan without the approval of your doctor.It’s crucial to remember that your pregnancy journey is different from anybody else’s experience, so even if your friend’s or sister’s baby was a certain weight in the 38th week of pregnancy, its okay if your baby’s weight is different. As long as you continue to eat healthy and get the nutrients you and your baby require, you’ll enjoy a healthy and happy pregnancy.
