Week 34: Ten little fingers, ten little nails

As you prepare to slow down, your baby's growth and development continues to forge ahead. Your baby’s fingernails have been growing fast and have reached the length of its fingertips. Most of your baby’s organs, with the exception of the lungs and brain, are now mature. The vernix is increasing and thickening at this point and is part of what makes your baby’s skin so incredibly soft.

Essential Nutrients this Week: Fibre, Choline, Probiotics, Vitamin C, Copper, Zinc, Calcium, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B6, Folate, Vitamin B12, Iron, Magnesium

Food of the Week: Chia Seeds

Chia seeds are delicate and easy to digest whole, so there's no need to grind them like flaxseeds. Chia seeds barely have any flavour of their own, which makes them easy to sneak into a variety of dishes so you can reap the nutritional benefits.

Recipes of the Week

Chia Raspberry Jam

Sometimes, you just feel like jam on toast. This is the healthy way to enjoy a little bit of sweetness without sending your blood sugar levels skyrocketing. Once you’ve made this healthy pregnancy recipe, you won’t want to buy jam from the supermarket again.

Chia Berry Squares

Rich in glycine, protein, Vitamin C, calcium, potassium, iron and choline these chia seed berry squares are extremely healthful for you during pregnancy. Glycine is a “conditionally essential” amino acid during pregnancy, meaning you must obtain it from your diet to provide enough to support the growth of your baby’s skeleton, teeth, internal organs, hair, skin, and nails. Glycine is also necessary to support your stretching skin, growing uterus, placenta, and to help your circulatory system adapt to the demands of pregnancy. This recipe was created by Pete Evans’ wife Nicole.

Healthy Mac ‘n’ Cheese

Mandy Sacher, author of the Wholesome Child cookbook, has this to say about her Mac ‘n’ Cheese recipe: quality ingredients like preservative-free cheese, wholegrain pasta, vegetables and chia seeds turn this dinner staple into a nutritious choice. This healthy and nutrient-dense pregnancy recipe is yum for dinner and equally tasty for lunch the next day.

Pregnancy Articles

Eat These Foods To Recover Faster After Birth — you’ll need to restore and replenish all the energy you expended during labour

Foods To Help You Prepare For Labour — how a nutrient-dense, whole and real foods diet can affect the ease and duration of labour

The Critical Link Between Your Gut Health And Your Baby's Immunity — now is the time to start taking probiotics

Ways To Relieve Restless Legs During Pregnancy — top tips for relieving leg cramps during pregnancy

Preparing For An Empowered And Positive Birth Experience — a positive birth experience is possible for you