The human foetus in the amniotic sac at 14 weeks. At this stage the foetus measures 4 centimetres.

Week 14

Mum

Welcome to the second trimester! The next three months will be the most enjoyable part of the pregnancy. Your energy levels will be up, your sex drive will return, and while your bump is finally beginning to show, it’s not making you heavy or uncomfortable yet. Your morning sickness should have gone away. Best of all, you don’t need to go to the bathroom as often as you did in the first three months or as often as you will have to in months leading up to your birth.

Spoil yourself and your partner, you both deserve it. Take that last pre-children holiday. Have a spa treatment (just to be on the safe side, avoid soaks in hot water, and aromatherapy oils). Have a movie marathon while drinking mocktails and sparkling grape juice. Enjoy!

Dad

In the second trimester, with the baby bump finally noticeable, you’re probably feeling like this whole fatherhood lark may actually be happening. No pressure, but as a dad, expect to have a huge impact on your child’s life right from the moment they are born, and even before.

If you are like most New Zealand fathers, you will probably spend a lot more time with your baby than your father or grandfather ever did. It will doubtlessly give you an enormous sense of meaning and purpose. However, there are only 24 hours in a day. You will want to spend many of them with the baby. You will also need to sleep, eat, and maybe even have a shower. Add to it the very real time commitment of earning money for three (or more) and doing household chores … would even Superman cope?

Superman might not, but you will. Every dad does, which is why every dad is miles better than Superman. Don’t worry, you still have half a year to figure out how to do it. You might need to spend some time figuring out how to manage your work-life balance once the baby arrives. The resulting bond you forge with your child will be well worth the effort.

Baby

You may be as big as a lemon, but you’re anything but a lemon, trust me. You are awesome. You are fantastic. You rock. Your facial muscles have learnt to squint, frown and grimace. Your kidneys are processing pee. You even try to suck your thumb! And your neck is looking more like a neck. Wow!

Things to keep in mind 

  • It’s probably not allergies! Nasal congestion during pregnancy is common and can often be relieved by a warm compress applied to your face and drinking plenty of water.
  • Your baby is growing steadily but probably not yet causing too much discomfort to prevent your from staying active throughout the day.
  • Be sure to collectively plan a date night with your partner to relax and reconnect before the baby arrives. 
  • Research and sign up for an in-person or online antenatal or childbirthing class.

Photos in the bumpandbaby.co.nz/week-by-week/ are by Lenart Nilsson. Lenart's series was bought to fame when his photo, considered the greatest photo of the 20th century, appeared on the cover of Life magazine in 1965. “Everyone interprets images differently, depending on their social, cultural and religious background. In the digital era, I believe it is more important than ever to go back and take a look inside ourselves. What better way of doing that than with these photos?” ~ Jane Stene, art gallery director and curator of Lenart's definitive black and white series, told the The Guardian in 2019. It is Lenart Nilsson's wish that his images are never used for political debate about pro-life.

WELCOME

Lernart Nilsson's foetus series featured in our week by week, is considered the greatest photography of the 20th Century. You may be surprised at the incredible detail seen in his photos.

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