Week 39: Your baby is the size of a pumpkin

You may give birth to your precious baby this week, (or perhaps you've already welcomed your baby), or it may still be another few weeks until you go into labour. It's very common for women to deliver after their due date. In fact, only 5 per cent of women give birth on their estimated due date. Delivering anywhere from week 28 to week 42 is completely normal.

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

Food of the Week: Chickpeas

Chickpeas are a highly nutritious food and will help ensure you and your baby are in top-notch nutritional shape for birth. One cup of cooked chickpeas will provide you with nearly 15g of protein, 45g of complex carbohydrate, 12.5g of fibre, and nearly 5mg of iron. Eat chickpeas with something acidic to increase the non-heme iron absorption.

Recipes of the Week

Hummus Three Ways

Hummus is a delicious and nourishing snack. Now add beetroot or a bunch of leafy greens to the mix and you’ve got supercharged hummus. Serve with seed crackers and raw vegetables such as carrot, fennel, celery and cucumber cut into bite-sized pieces. Enjoy beside your morning eggs or spread onto rye sourdough, top with slices of fresh avocado and enjoy for lunch.

Moroccan Vegetable Platter

Such a scrumptious way of enjoying a rainbow of vegetables. The addition of the chickpeas, greens, pine nuts and Greek yoghurt make this pregnancy dish a truly nutrient-dense flavour sensation. Make a big batch and enjoy again for lunch or dinner the following the day.

Crispy Spiced Chickpeas

Seriously tasty, these spiced chickpeas make a perfect snack and keep really well, so you can make a big batch and munch on them for weeks. Chickpeas are a wholefood boasting high levels of essential pregnancy nutrients. Full of fibre and satisfying protein, they also help curb hunger pangs.

Pregnancy Articles

The Benefits Of Delayed Cord Clamping — boost your baby’s iron stores to support his or her brain development

How To Supercharge Your Breastmilk — breastfeeding is as beneficial for you as it is your baby

Do This To Enjoy A Smoother Transition To Motherhood — how will you rest, recover and receive support once your baby is born?

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 — a nutrient-dense, whole and real foods diet can affect the ease and duration of your labour

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