A baby fills a place in your heart that you never knew was empty
A ton of emotions flows through a mom who comes to know that she is pregnant. It’s a feeling that cannot be compared with anything in life, filled with conflicted feelings like fear and joy; surprise and expectations; melancholy with ecstasy.. etc. Absorbing the information that you are ACTUALLY or may be FINALLY! pregnant, is already a big thing; throw in the hormonal rush that pregnancy can bring about that contributes to an additional array of emotions.
At whatever stage of your pregnancy you are diagnosed, be it early or advanced, you will probably immediately start dreaming about your tot, eager to pick her in your arms, feed her, play with her and watch her sleep. Before you float into your happy clouds of imagination, lets take a look at the size of your bun as compared to summer fruits or veggies, at different stages of baking in your womb! Click on each of the picture below to reveal how your bun would be like at each month of your gestation period.
Although we can predict that at the gestation period, there’s no way of telling how your baby will be as an adult! Get 25 DNA-based traits to discover what your child will look like as an adult, their nutritional profile and sleeping habits with Sneek-peek 25+ DNA based tests.
Baby heartbeat
Throughout a woman’s pregnancy, her baby undergoes many stages of development before birth. Among the milestones that indicate the presence of life is the heartbeat. Before about week eight of pregnancy, a doctor may refer to the fetus as an embryo. The heart of an embryo starts to beat from around 5-6 weeks of pregnancy. Also, it may be possible to see the first visible sign of the embryo, known as the fetal pole, at this stage. The heart of a fetus is fully developed by the tenth week of pregnancy. It may be possible to hear the heartbeat of an embryo from the fifth week of pregnancy. However, a scan at this stage is unlikely to show anything related to the embryo’s heartbeat.
When Does a Fetus Develop a Heartbeat?
Through the use of ultrasounds, modern science can detect the waves of the baby’s heartbeat as early as three weeks after fertilization. Although the child’s organs have not yet fully formed, between three to six-week mark the heart beats about 110 times per minute. A fetal heartbeat can be distinguished from the mother’s because it is often much faster than hers. This miraculous growth proves the existence of a human being who is not a part of his mother but who is his own person and reliant upon her for sustenance. Once the heart begins its detectable beat, it is obvious that it beats much faster than an adult’s. At around eight weeks, it will rise to between 150 and 170 times a minute. By weeks nine or 10, the baby’s heart will beat about 170 times per minute. At this point, it begins to slow down. Then around week 20, it’ll go to about 140 beats per minute. Fun Fact: There is a myth that at ninth week, a higher frequency of beats indicates that the baby is likely a girl.
During labor, the baby’s heart rate can go anywhere from 110 to 160 beats per minute, with normal variations on either side.
Missing your baby already? Want to hear her heart beat whenever you want, without waiting eagerly for every prenatal appointments to hear it? We have a solution: Get your own personalized doppler to connect with your bun. It has amazing reviews and will work wonders to reduce your anxiety, and amazingly fast delivery.
How Does a Doctor Detect a Baby’s Heartbeat?
There are two kinds of fetal heart monitoring: external and internal.
External: The doctor usually uses a tool called a Doppler ultrasound device to listen to the baby’s heartbeat with the help of an external hand-held probe on the mother’s belly. This is a routine test during every prenatal visit. In addition, when a woman is in labor, the baby’s heart rate will also be monitored continuously using what’s called a transducer—or ultrasound probe—that’s fastened to the woman’s belly. This helps the doctors determine if the baby is experiencing any distress.
Internal: During the labor if the doctors are concerned about the baby’s well-being, they can monitor the baby’s heart rate by placing an electrode directly on the baby’s scalp. This Johns Hopkins article states that this electrode is connected to a monitor and “gives better readings because things like movement don’t affect it. But it can only be done if the fluid-filled sac that surrounds the baby during pregnancy (amniotic sac) has broken and the cervix is opened. Your provider may use internal monitoring when external monitoring is not giving a good reading. Or your provider may use this method to watch your baby more closely during labor.”
The second step is only taken if the doctors have a grave concern about the baby’s condition.
Missing your baby already? Want to hear her heart beat whenever you want, without waiting eagerly for every prenatal appointments to hear it? We have a solution: Get your own personalized doppler to connect with your bun. It has amazing reviews and will work wonders to reduce your anxiety, and amazingly fast delivery.
Gender reveal
By Blood Test:
The NIPT (Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing) test is a noninvasive blood test (cell-free DNA screening from blood) that are usually prescribed by the doctors to geriatric moms, who runs a higher risk of carrying babies with genetic defects. This test is done as early as week ten of pregnancy. It screens for Down syndrome and some other chromosomal conditions, and it can tell you whether you're having a boy or a girl. NIPT is a screening test, so it's not definitive. If NIPT indicates a possible problem, experts recommend having CVS (Chorionic Villus Sampling) or amniocentesis to be sure.
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By Ultrasound:
When you know you are expecting, you can’t help but think about your baby. The first thing that comes to your mind: “Am I having a boy or a girl?”. There are plenty of methods to answer your questions. The most reasonable one is the ultrasound test at week 20. Although a lot of families rely on this information to find out the gender of the baby, the accuracy of the results depends on various factors, such as the baby’s age, the experience of the technician, the resolution of the equipment used and how cooperative the baby is. These are the different signs from which a technician can usually tell the gender of the baby from an ultrasound.
Girl theory
When thinking about the ultrasound for gender determination you always have to think that the results may not be accurate. Sometimes the technician can’t see a penis and so you are told that you will have a girl. Naturally having a girl is a lot more than just the absence of the penis.
Hamburger sign
When performing a gender ultrasound the technician is supposed to be looking for female genitalia. If these are visible, they are known as the ‘hamburger sign’. This is because the clitoris is between the labia and it looks like a hamburger.
Turtle sign
During the gender determination with ultrasound the technician could be looking for a boy and in this case he or she is searching for the turtle sign. This sign refers to the fact that the tip of the penis is poking out from between the testicles.
Erect penis
If you are thinking about having a gender ultrasound you should be prepared to see that your baby boy has an erection inside the womb. If this happens it will be very easy for the technician to determine the gender of the baby. Although this is somewhat weird, you shouldn’t think that it’s not normal. Little boys have erections even when they are still in the uterus.
Age of the fetus
In case you are thinking about gender and ultrasound you should know that the technicians are always trying to tell the parents the gender of the baby as soon as possible. The truth is that the sooner you are told the gender of the baby, the higher the chances are for the technician to be wrong.
It is good to know about gender ultrasound that the ultrasound done before the 18 offers a great risk of mistaking the male genitalia with female genitalia. This is because the penis is of about the size of a clitoris at this age, not matter how strange this might sound. During this time is hard to tell and the technicians only make an educated guess.
3D ultrasound
The truth about ultrasound and gender is that the appearance of 3D ultrasound made a great change regarding the way the baby is seen in the womb.
A gender ultrasound isn’t always accurate, but usually the results are reliable.
Baby books from Cali’s Books store
Reading and singing to your baby during pregnancy
You may think the only benefits of reading or singing to your unborn baby are the relaxation and bonding you feel. But science shows that these activities helps the baby in the womb to develop early language learning. Talking, singing, or playing music to a baby while in the womb comes naturally to many expecting mothers. They instinctively know the importance of early bonding. And once baby gets active, it becomes more real that you’re walking around with another human constantly with you. There are numerous benefits of reading to a child in utero. Reading out loud, carrying out conversations and singing songs and rhymes to your baby will help them to get to know your voice and can help with early bonding. It's not only great for baby but for you as well. Playing music can be a great way to relax and ease stress during pregnancy. Music that mimics a heartbeat of around 60 beats per minute, such as lullabies, is useful. Download baby music and Nursery Rhymes for Free! After 32 weeks, your baby may start to recognize certain vowel sounds from your language. Some research suggests that very early language development may begin before birth. Many studies show that reading or singing causes a baby’s fetal heart rate to lower, indicating that she is calming down. Also, the bond that is experienced between parent and child later on can start to occur while Mama or Papa read to the baby prenatally. Participation in reading is also a great way for other family members to connect with the baby. An older child can read or talk about her favorite parts of the story. And the new baby can start to learn their sibling’s voice. We can be very focused on the preparation for the coming of new life and the general health needs of the mother and baby. However, early attention through reading to your unborn baby builds a wonderful foundation to solid future relationships. Reading to your unborn baby also helps you slow down, relax, and experience the fun moments of early parenting.
When can babies hear in the womb?
At just four and a half months in the womb, they can already hear sound. They may hear muted sounds from the outside world and any noises your digestive system makes, as well as the sound of your voice and heart. By 18 weeks your baby's ears are beginning to send signals to the brain about the sounds that they can hear. By 23 weeks they can hear the muffled sounds of their mum's voice and by 24 weeks they respond to that voice. Scientific studies show they’ll move around less in the womb and have a slower heartbeat when they hear their mum’s voice.
This is why, from the moment they’re born, babies prefer the sound of their mother’s voice to one they’ve never heard.
When should you start reading to your baby in the womb?
At about six months along, a baby is already quite familiar with the sounds of the womb, from the mother’s heartbeat to digestive sounds. From outside the womb, sounds are crystal clear, although about 10 decibels lower. From week 25 forward, a baby’s primary connection and information to the outside world comes in the form of sound. By this point, the soothing, rhythmic sounds of a simple story should be quite audible, although the tones and cadences of the voice are more important than enunciation of the actual words.
Books to Read to Your Baby in the Womb
Which books should you read? It’s completely up to you!
Your favorite classics, mysteries, sci-fi, love stories – whatever you enjoy and feel comfortable reading aloud. If you want to go ahead and start practicing for reading with your new baby, use the baby and kids books you’re likely getting from baby showers or gifts. Particularly, books with a clear rhythm and rhyme patterns provide a soothing, almost melodic listening experience.
Our recommendation would be to browse through the beautiful collection by Cali’s Books store, where you will find a wide variety to choose from. You can also buy bilingual books, which is a great way to introduce your tot to her mother tongue as well as another language. Bundle up more than one books in your order and save through my link here.
If you like to tell your baby personalized stories, even after her birth, you can turn your story into a lovely book with customized illustrations just made for you from Kabook!
Benefits of exercise during pregnancy
There are many physical and emotional benefits of exercise during pregnancy. Physical activity may also help manage some symptoms of pregnancy and make you feel better, knowing you’re doing something good for yourself and your baby.
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Some of the benefits of regular exercise throughout your pregnancy include:
weight management
better circulation leading to enjoyment and stress relief
overall improved fitness and energy level
reduced risk of anxiety and depression
improved sleep and management of insomnia
maintenance of posture and reduced back or pelvic pain
decreased risk of pregnancy related complications such as pre-eclampsia
preparation for the physical demands of labor
fewer complications in delivery
faster recovery post child-birth
prevention and management of urinary incontinence
better chance of having a baby without any obesity-related issues in future
increased ability to cope with the physical demands of motherhood.
What exercises are safe during pregnancy?
Most exercises are safe during pregnancy unless you overdo it. Moderation is the key! The safest and most productive activities are swimming, brisk walking, indoor stationary cycling, step or elliptical machines, and low-impact aerobics (taught by a certified aerobics instructor). These activities carry little risk of injury, benefit your entire body, and can be continued until birth.
Be careful about high impact activities which require balance, such as Tennis and racquetball or jogging, as your body undergoes a shift in balance and may risk a fall with these exercises. But they can be done in moderation, especially if you have been doing them before your pregnancy.
Pregnant women have also been using birth balls to exercise and also during labor. Use of birth ball before labor helps in improvement of posture, alleviate back pain, and prepare for an easier birthing. Buy your birth ball from The Birth Ball and get instructions regarding how to use it.
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