Mum
A good way to connect with your baby is to give the bump a gentle massage. It’s safe to do after the first three months of pregnancy, and it’s soothing for both you and your baby. You may want to use an oil or a cream, particularly one aimed at reducing stretch marks, but avoid aromatherapy unless it’s one of the safe oils (check with a reputable aromatherapy specialist).
Dad
Last week, we talked about lifestyle choices. This week, we’ll continue the thread and concentrate on your health. If the pregnancy is progressing smoothly, the best you can do for both of you at the moment is to get some exercise together. Walking is a fantastic way to get moving, and generate some of those much needed feel-good endorphins, plus it has a calming effect on the state of your mind. You might like to do pregnancy yoga with her, but if she’d prefer some time alone, go for a swim or get a mate to smash a squash ball around with you at lunchtime. Mood-boosting guaranteed.
Did you know that you can have pregnancy symptoms too? Dubbed “Couvade syndrome”, pregnancy symptom-sharing by dads-to-be is far more common than you may realise.
Baby
Hey, you are the size of an avocado pear this week. You won’t believe it, but your heart is pumping blood at a rate of over 20 litres a day. That’s like 20 bottles of milk. How do you do it? This week, fully developed genitals make their grand entrance, though mum and dad might not yet be able to fully see them when they go in for their ultrasound check.
Things to keep in mind
- If you know what to look for, you may begin to feel your baby’s first tiny movements, but there is not need to worry if you haven’t felt them yet.
- Satisfy your food cravings so long as you limit the quantity of junk food, and counterbalance them by eating healthy foods.
- Take a close look at the skincare products that you are using. Opt for fragrance free products and stay away from salicylic acid, retinol, hydroquinone, botulinum toxin (botox), and dihydroxyacetone.
- Pregnancy brain is real and can be a huge pain! Try to get ahead of it by writing lists for everything. Whether you do this digitally or using a good old fashioned pen and paper is up to you – just ensure that it is easily accessible and that it works for you.
- You may have noticed that your breasts have grown which can feel like either a gift or a curse. Either way, we suggest skipping the sexy lingerie stores and instead investing in some high-quality maternity or nursing bras.
- If you spend the day behind a desk, use a support pillow behind your lower back to prevent backaches, or a travel u-shaped pillow as a cushion under your bump to prevent tailbone pain.
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.
