Mum
It may seem a bit early to pack a hospital bag, but if you do it now, it’ll give you a sense of being prepared. Even if you’re planning a home birth, pack the bag in case of an emergency, or simply to have all the essentials together in one place.
Dad
Get packed for the hospital: A change of clothes, some snacks and water, something to read, a card game, and remember the camera.
Baby
You are the approximate size and weight of a coconut. You are able to turn your head from side to side, and you’re moving a lot in general. Enjoy it while you can – in the next few weeks, you will go through a growth spurt that will make your house tighter.
Things to keep in mind
- Plan how you might get to the hospital and do a test run (do this even if you intend to have a home birth in case of an emergency).
- Use this time to consider how you’d like to feed your baby and decide what feels right for you and your family.
- Continue to do your pelvic floor muscle exercises, breathing exercises and perineal massage.
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.
