What do newborns do in the womb all day? If you or your spouse is pregnant, you might be curious about what the little guy or gal you’re excitedly anticipating is doing to spend the time (other than those 3 AM karate practice sessions and dance parties, of course!) Today, we’re going to check out a bit more about what life is like for the wonderful little person growing inside you. You simply might be shocked at all baby’s doing in there!
What Do Babies Do in the Womb All Day?
To this extent, you have likely never considered a person you have never met before. While you may get to see your baby for a few minutes at a time during ultrasounds performed during prenatal visits, those minutes will add up quickly. Thanks to medical advancements, we now know exactly what your unborn child is up to when you’re not watching.
1. Let’s Eat, Baby
After the nausea of pregnancy subsides, you may find that you have a voracious appetite as you prepare for the arrival of your new bundle of joy. This is because the placenta transports oxygen and nutrition to the infant while also removing waste products. For this reason, pregnant women should take the usual precautions when eating out, such as requesting their meat to be cooked to the desired degree of doneness and giving their produce a thorough scrub before consumption. What you eat during pregnancy may have an impact on your child’s food preferences in the future, so go ahead and load up on the spinach.
2. A Womb with a View
During the first trimester of your pregnancy, before you even knew you were pregnant, those gorgeous baby blues (or greens, or browns!) began growing. Your kid will be able to open his eyes before the end of your second trimester! There isn’t much for your unborn child to take in while in the womb, but a flashlight can help stimulate his sense of sight. But don’t fret over a lack of eye candy! Baby rattles and other brightly colored toys will capture the attention of your newborn immediately.
3. Do You Hear What I Hear?
Your unborn child’s ears, like his or her eyes, begin to develop in the early stages of pregnancy. By the end of the second trimester, they’re able to hear sounds from the outside world. In addition, a mother’s voice stands out most clearly among all the sounds a newborn hears. Presenting your infant with music and vocalizations is an excellent idea. And if you work or spend a lot of time in a very noisy environment, it’s important to think about moving to a less noisy location for the sake of your baby’s hearing.
4. Hic—Hic—Hiccup!
Do you ever feel like your unborn child is moving in a pattern that is too regular to be simple kicks or punches? If you feel your baby hiccupping, don’t panic! Though it’s wise to check with your doctor if you’re worried, hiccups are typically just part of a healthy pregnancy. Even when the baby arrives, you should expect them to persist, especially during feedings. If it doesn’t affect her, then it’s probably nothing to worry about.
5. Before You Count Kisses, Count Kicks
You may have doubts about the authenticity of those initial kicks. It is possible for these movements to be very subtle, more akin to tiny flutters or bubbles than the active movement of baby feet. Nonetheless, as your child develops, you will have fewer and fewer reasons to wonder what’s going on inside. Your doctor will probably tell you to keep track of how many times your baby kicks since this is a good indicator of health. If you’re just getting started, you might find it useful to refer to this chart to keep track of your baby’s routines throughout the day (and night, yikes!).
6. Thumbs Up, Baby!
Babies start early on the widespread practice of sucking their thumbs. Some ultrasounds will even show you your kid munching on one of his small fingers. Intriguingly, your unborn child’s preference for one hand over the other may serve as an early indicator of whether he will be a right- or left-hander. Do you worry that this bad habit will be passed on to the newborn? Doctors that specialize in pediatrics will reassure you that this is not usually an issue in the first few years of a child’s life.
7. Super Slumber Party
As she develops inside you, what does your baby do most of the time? She sleeps for most of her waking hours. Nap whenever you can if you’re feeling fatigued from pregnancy and daily life. Sleeping when your baby sleeps is a typical piece of advise for new parents, and it’s true that your body can take care of baby on autopilot during those hours. It’s okay to put off doing the laundry.
8. Dream Big, Little One
Researchers now believe that it is possible that your baby has his first dreams while still in the womb, despite the difficulty of studying this phenomenon. You’ve probably been anticipating the day you get to meet this incredible little person for months, so it’s a wonderful thought to think. Basic crib safety practices, such as zipping your little one into a warm sleep sack, will help ensure that your baby has many more peaceful nights of sleep ahead. It’s a terrific alternative to the standard swaddle for giving baby the secure sensation of a blanket around his shoulders while he sleeps. Have a good night’s sleep, little one!
9. Growing All the Time
The development of your baby’s physical size, both in terms of length and head circumference, is a crucial task during pregnancy. Growing from almost invisibility to somewhere around 20 inches long and eight pounds (with lots of opportunity for fluctuation, of course!) in the 38 weeks between conception and your due date is a feat that defies the imagination. If you’re a parent and you’re wondering how large your baby could be right now, keep reading. See how your unborn baby develops week by week. The size of your baby can be compared to a new fruit or vegetable every week.
10. Turn, Turn, Turn
On the inside, infants do a lot of twisting and turning. You might be worried about where your baby is situated if your due date is approaching. As always, consulting a physician is recommended. The doctor or midwife may be able to manually move your baby into the optimal position for birth, with the head down and the feet away from your belly. In fact, just before she’s ready to be born, your baby might do a natural flip.
Maybe you’ll feel more connected to your unborn child now that you have a better idea of what she does during the day (and night!). If you’re experiencing what seems to be really unusual things in your tummy, you may find some comfort in that. You want to meet your little bundle of joy more than anything so you can witness these hilarious antics for yourself. If you have been experiencing movement, including as kicks, hiccups, and flips, then the due date is getting closer.
