Researchers in Scotland compared fetal responses when pregnant women spoke to their babies or rubbed their bellies. "Overall results suggest that maternal touch of the abdomen was a powerful stimulus, producing a range of fetal behavioural responses," the researchers write.
They can feel pain at 22 weeks, and at 26 weeks they can move in response to a hand being rubbed on the mother's belly.
There's no evidence that it can cause any harm as long as you use soft, gentle movements. Even so, you may want to avoid it for the first three months, just to be on the safe side. Massaging your bump in the first trimester may also make morning sickness worse.
And the bonus? Baby may start to know when their father is touching mom's belly. Babies can sense touch from anyone, but they can also sense when touch (and voice) is familiar. And by 24 weeks into pregnancy, dad can usually feel baby kick – but the exact time varies.
The more your partner touches your tummy during pregnancy, the more familiar that touch becomes. This increases the bond for the whole family. This is especially true when touch is combined with sound. Your little one can hear the sound by 16 weeks.
While in your womb, your baby will hear and feel the vibrations of your voice every time you speak to anyone. They will have learnt to recognise and be comforted by your voice by the time they're born, even if you don't speak to them directly4.
But did you know that they're also receiving chemical, hormonal signals through the placenta? These signals include ones connected directly to your emotional state. If you're very sad, or suffering from depression, your baby experiences those feelings as well.
For some moms-to-be, constantly touching, patting, rubbing and holding their belly can be soothing. For others, it's a way to feel close to the baby inside. But no matter the reason, rubbing your belly simply makes you feel good.
Babies in the womb recognize their father before they are born if they hear his voice on a frequent basis. They may not understand what a father is, but they will recognize their parents' voices and feel reassured by familiar voices and sounds. Babies usually recognize their father's voice after their mother's.
Just like newborns, fetuses spend most of their time sleeping. Indeed, throughout much of the pregnancy, your baby sleeps 90 to 95% of the day. Some of these hours are spent in deep sleep, some in REM sleep, and some in an indeterminate state—a result of their immature brain.
These circulatory changes put a pregnant woman at risk of blood clots in the lower legs, typically in the calves or inner thigh. To be safe, pregnancy massage experts avoid deep massage and strong pressure on the legs. Using strong pressure could dislodge a blood clot.
Sneezing during pregnancy will typically not harm the baby. The baby is well-protected in the uterus, and even a hard sneeze will not affect the baby. The only time that sneezing may be problematic for the baby is if the sneezing is the symptom of an underlying illness or problem.
When does your belly start feeling hard during pregnancy? This varies, but it's usually during your second or third trimester. As your uterus grows, it eventually pushes against your abdominal wall, making your abdomen feel firm. The muscles and ligaments around your uterus stretch, too, which can cause mild cramping.
Babies can't cry out loud of course until they're born. In the womb, babies are totally immersed in amniotic fluid, so there is no air in the lungs and air is needed to produce sounds. Once they are born they can fully expand their lungs, taking in air and letting out those first few wonderful cries.
Around the 23rd week of pregnancy, the fetus will also be able to hear noises from outside of the womb. These include speech and music. As the fetus develops, all of the sounds will become louder and more distinguishable.
Background. Many physicians advise pregnant women to sleep on their left side. Previous studies have linked back and right-side sleeping with a higher risk of stillbirth, reduced fetal growth, low birth weight, and preeclampsia, a life-threatening high blood pressure disorder that affects the mother.
eat healthily and avoid rich, spicy and fatty foods. cut back on drinks with caffeine (such as tea, coffee and energy drinks) sit up straight when you eat. give up alcohol and cigarettes.
However, massage of the tummy or breasts can cause contractions of the womb. If you notice strong contractions, stop that part of the massage. You may find that you are more sensitive to smells than usual.
One of the safest ways to relax is taking long showers. However, while a hot water bath may cause distress to your baby, keeping the water warm and pleasant as you shower may help you relax better. And your baby too.
Pregnancy-Safe Alternatives
Back sleeping is no longer safe after 28 weeks gestation, but there are a few other comfortable positions for you to safely doze in.
You might think that the reason for your baby's crying in your womb, might be sadness or in response to pain. But the infant inside you is practicing how to communicate with you after birth. Crying is basically his or her survival mechanism. In this way, your baby can let you know what he or she needs from inside.
“When we're watching the fetus on ultrasound and the mother starts to laugh, we can see the fetus, floating upside down in the womb, bounce up and down on its head, bum-bum-bum, like it's bouncing on a trampoline," said Janet DiPietro, the Vice Dean for research and faculty at John Hopkins.