18 inches long or the size of a pumpkin.
Did you know that about 50 to 70 percent of pregnant women experience back pain?
Vitamin D is known as "the sunshine vitamin" because it is created naturally by the body when skin is exposed to the sun's UV rays.
Your healthcare provider can check your vitamin D levels to determine if you are deficient and suggest how much you may need during pregnancy. You can also obtain vitamin D from certain foods including oily fish (salmon, trout, and sardines), dark leafy greens, and fortified foods (cereals, grains, milk, and dairy products).
Being short of breath is quite normal during your eighth month of pregnancy. This is due in part to rising levels in the hormone progesterone, which stimulates the respiratory center in your brain, affecting lung function. During this time, you may also experience excess pressure on your diaphragm and lungs due to your expanding baby bump. The March of Dimes offers the following tips to breathe easier.
Sit or stand up straight. These positions give your lungs more room to expand.
Slow down. When you move more slowly, you lessen the work of your heart and lungs.
Lift your arms over your head. By taking pressure off your rib cage, you can breathe in more air.
Acne flare-ups during pregnancy are due to fluctuating hormones that trigger skin's oil (sebum) production, resulting in blocked pores, inflammation, and irritation.
If none of these suggestions work, ask your healthcare provider about new options that might be right for you.
Back Pain During Pregnancy: Causes, Treatment and Prevention. Back Pain During Pregnancy. American Pregnancy Association.
Mulligan M, Felton SK, Riek AE, et al. Implications of Vitamin D Deficiency in Pregnancy and Lactation. Am J Obstet, May 2010:202(5): 429.e1-429.e9.
Paffoni A, Ferrari S, Vigano P, et al. Vitamin D Deficiency and Infertility: Insights From in vitro Fertilization Cycles. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2014; jc.2014-1802 DOI: 10.1210/jc.2014-1802.
Brannon PM1, Picciano MF. Vitamin D in pregnancy and lactation in humans. Annu Rev Nutr, 2011 Aug 21;31:89-115. doi: 10.1146/annurev.nutr.012809.104807.