Visible evidence of your baby is a boy or girl can be seen by approximately 11 Weeks, though for many parents, this week is the lead up to a 20-week ultrasound. Of course, you get to choose whether or not to have a routine ultrasound. It’s also an option whether or not to keep baby’s sex a surprise for the birthday!
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Baby’s sex has a little influence on fetal positioning: Boys have a minimally higher chance of being posterior at birth than girls (Susan Ponkey, 2003). Why? Because boys are slightly bigger by average than girls, which may make rotation somewhat more challenging for some. What does this mean to you? Add balance to your body and, your baby (whether a girl or boy) will be able to rotate more easily.
Emotionally, discovering your child’s sex may conjure feelings learned about gender — the story we learned about boys and girls while growing up. If you choose to find out your baby’s sex, pay attention to your emotions. What is the story you tell yourself about gender?
Make yourself a cup of tea and set aside 5-10 minutes to explore what finding out your baby’s sex might mean to you.
We acknowledge that gender is a very limited way of relating to people, even to our children — or perhaps, especially our children. Spinning Babies® welcomes the great variety in today’s discussions on individual identity.
The little ways you move your body every day affect your body’s balance and therefore your baby’s ability to settle into an optimal birthing position. One thing most of us do many times a day is mindlessly get in and out of the car. Let’s instead bring awareness to this activity.
Getting in: Keeping both knees together, sit down and swing around to face the front.
Getting out: Keeping knees together, pivot from your buttocks, so that both feet come out of the car together.
While driving/riding: Sit on a nearly empty physiotherapy ball. The ball is so deflated that your sitz bones touch the seat of the car well. The small amount of air gives the spine motion while sitting, and yet protects you from sliding forward, in case you have to stop the car quickly.
Your baby is on the move! If you could see baby inside, you’d witness thumb sucking, legs kicking, and maybe some dancing! Baby weighs about 8 ounces and measures 6 inches in length.
As your body grows to accommodate baby, you may notice tender or painful spots in your lower belly. This is likely round ligament pain, caused by stretching muscles. This can be normal, yet could also be an indication of pelvic imbalance. Addressing pelvic pain may help with comfort today and ease the birth later. Check out some Spinning Babies® answers and exercises to address pelvic pain.
Affirmations are short, powerful statements that can affect your conscious thoughts. Close your eyes, breathe deeply and slowly, and repeat the following to yourself each day throughout the next week. Fill yourself with breath and feel the joy:
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Activities for pregnancy comfort and easier birth.