You are 12 Weeks and 6 Days 190 days to go…
It’s never too early to start planning what you’ll need to buy for your baby, even if you don’t want to start shopping just yet.
Your baby today
The developing eyes are now facing forward and the baby’s right
ear can also be seen here. Your baby spends most of the time in a curled
position, often with legs crossed, and hands close to the face.
Now that you’re in your safer second trimester,
you may be tempted to start buying a few baby items, unless you’re
superstitious and would prefer to wait. A good reason to start shopping
in this trimester is that your energy levels should be at their
pregnancy peak. In later months, you will find it too tiring to carry
your belly, as well as your bags, around the stores and a shopping trip
may not be your favorite pastime.
Even if you’re not
shopping yet, start planning. Ask friends to recommend their favorite
strollers, cribs, slings, and car seats, then check prices so you can
plan your budget. You might also find that family and friends offer used
goods you can buy or borrow.
If you purchase new baby
clothes, leave the tags on and check the store’s return policy in case
you have a baby who’s too big for the newborn clothes or you decide
against the items you’ve bought.
… Your body
Managing hair growth
Changing hormones can play havoc with hair growth. To deal with any new unwanted hair:
Shave larger areas and pluck out the odd stray hair.
Depilatory creams and hair-lightening bleaches
may be absorbed through the skin so shaving and tweezing are safer. If
you feel you must use depilatory creams and bleaches, do a patch test
first and keep the room well ventilated to avoid fumes.
If you’re waxing, be aware that your skin may be more sensitive during pregnancy.
… Doctor
| Q: |
I’ve just told my parents I’m pregnant but they reacted very
negatively because they don’t approve of my partner. What can I do?
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| A: |
First, give them time to come to terms with the news. Creating
a baby with someone is the ultimate commitment, and marks an important
life-changing event. For your parents, it is a signal that your partner
isn’t going anywhere, however much they might disapprove of him.
Once things have
calmed down, suggest that your parents take the pregnancy as an
opportunity to reestablish their relationship with your partner and wipe
the slate clean. Reassure them that you and your partner very much want
them to be a part of their grandchild’s life, and that you’d rather
clear the air now, so that there aren’t any negative feelings and
tension once your baby is born.
Remember that
all is likely to be forgotten when your parents hold a much-loved
grandchild in their arms, and since part of that baby will be your
partner’s that should help them to feel warmer toward him.
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You are 13 Weeks Exactly 189 days to go…
Your hormones have done all the hard work to establish your pregnancy and as they settle down, so should your nausea.
Your baby today
This 2D black-and-white ultrasound scan is similar to the scan
you may see and may be given. The baby is the white area, and the
amniotic fluid is black. This type of scan is the best way to measure
your baby’s length at this stage.
Morning sickness usually subsides
around the start of the second trimester. It’s believed that the rapid
hormonal changes required to establish and maintain the pregnancy in the
early stages may cause the sickness. By this stage your pregnancy is
well established and your baby’s major internal organs and support
system are fully formed, so these hormone levels start to stabilize.
This may be why the nausea passes. Furthermore, there is a theory that
nausea is the body’s way of protecting your baby from harmful substances
in the early crucial stages of development, so you become naturally
adverse to alcohol and junk food, for example.
If your nausea and
sickness hasn’t begun to subside by this stage don’t worry since for
some women it does continue into the second trimester. See your doctor
if you are concerned about your level of sickness.
Your immune system weakens during pregnancy to stop your body from rejecting your developing baby.
This, unfortunately,
makes you more prone to colds and bugs. As an added burden, pregnancy
hormones can worsen a stuffed nose and nausea.
… Mom
| Q: |
My partner hasn’t wanted sex at all since I’ve become pregnant. Will he ever desire me again?
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| A: |
Yes! Although it’s difficult, try not to take his reluctance
to have sex personally. When I was pregnant, my husband didn’t want to
have penetrative sex, and most of his fears centered around harming the
baby or me. This was made worse by the fact that I’d taken a long time
to get pregnant, and was also having a difficult pregnancy, with lots of
nausea and sickness.
We spoke to our
doctor and she was able to reassure my partner that he couldn’t harm the
baby in any way by having penetrative sex. She also told us that it
wasn’t uncommon for either partner to experience a reduced sexual desire
in pregnancy for a variety of reasons. Although many women experience
an increased libido at this stage of pregnancy, the same may not be true
for their partner.
It’s important that
you talk to your partner to find out his fears and explain your own
thoughts and feelings. Don’t let this issue cause an argument between
you. Each couple is different and you will need to talk to each other to
find your way through this problem.
You may also find it helpful to talk to someone who isn’t so closely involved, such as your doctor or a trusted friend.
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There doesn’t have to be a loss of intimacy,
even if you and your partner are having less sex. Take the time to be
affectionate and show your partner you want to be physically close.
