Mum
It may be a good idea to start practising wearing the car seatbelt in a way that will protect your baby in the second and third trimester, that is, with the lap belt portion across the top of your thighs under your belly, and the shoulder sash part between your breasts and over the collarbone. Don’t slide the shoulder portion of your seatbelt under your arm, because that’s not a safe way of wearing it. Remember, your survival is important to your unborn baby.
Dad
You might think it’s a bit unfair that you can’t feel the baby kick, except by placing your hand on the bump hoping like hell something will happen. But now, scientists have devised an ingenious way for a father to experience their unborn child’s movements in the womb. The invention is a pair of belts that cover both parents’ abdomens and are filled with electronic sensors. When the baby kicks in the mother’s womb, the movement is replicated in the father’s belt.
Baby
You are as long as a parsnip. Behind those still-closed eyelids you now have eyeballs, although the irises lack colour. The DNA already has the instruction for what colour to make them, it just hasn’t happened yet. Oh, and Bub, don’t freak out or anything, but your skin is all wrinkly and covered with fine hair. Relax, this too shall pass.
While mum is busy feeling your little movement within her belly, your own ears are beginning to sense and process sounds like mum’s breath and heartbeat – how cool is that! Your nervous system is also developing in other ways too – your little fingers are learning to grab things like your ears, nose and umbilical cord.
Things to keep in mind
- Your pregnant belly is growing, and so is the attention you’ll receive from friends, family, coworkers and even total strangers. Some will offer compliments and praise, while others will want to touch your belly and offer unsolicited advice, but it is your body, so you set the boundaries based on what you feel comfortable with.
- Continue to take your prenatal vitamins.
- Choose snacks and foods that can help you reach your daily calcium requirements.
- Learn the difference between practice and real contractions.
- If you’re having Braxton Hicks contractions, practice breathing through them. It will help ease you through the pain, and prepare you for labour
- If you’d like, start looking for a maternity and/or new baby photographer .
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.
