Week 24-Mom and Dad your baby is the size of an ear of corn!

At this stage of the game the pregnancy has really started to hit home for all you Moms and Dads.  You’re planning ideas for the nursery, kicking around names for the little one and keeping your eyes on the prize.   Once the prize arrives they’ll be active, happy and won’t listen to a thing you say, which is ironic given that they’re the size of an ear of corn this week.

Moms, you will start to be dizzy and out of breath at about this time in your pregnancy.  Don’t worry about being dizzy or out of breath, this is pregnancy related.  Unless of course you were dizzy and out breath prior to being pregnant; if that’s the case then you’re all systems normal now. 

Also to that point you can work out and get exercise while you’re pregnant.  Please don’t take this as a guy telling you to get exercise, because you’re gaining weight.  You’re gaining weight because you’re pregnant and not because of any lifestyle choices you’ve made.  Unless of course you were gaining weight prior to being pregnant; if that’s the case and you got pregnant as some alternative weight loss program then I’d re-evaluate where you’re getting your diet advice from.

Dads, you need to start stretching and strengthening your back.  For the past couple of weeks your bride has been dealing with a growing belly and a hurting back.  When the baby is born you’ll have to bend down over the crib and pick up a sometimes wriggling infant.  You’ll then want to comfort your child, rocking them back and forth in your arms while you feed them.

Picking up a toddler doesn’t seem like much and it isn’t-if you do it once or twice.   However, Dads, you’ll be doing it dozens of times a day, especially in the weeks immediately following birth.  This repetitious movement may hurt your lower back and arms if you don’t prepare yourself for it now.*

Try to touch your toes while standing up.  If that doesn’t work then sit down on the floor and stretch as far down your legs as you can. You should also do some sort of arm work out.  If you have stronger biceps, triceps and shoulders will help you greatly in 15 weeks when the baby comes. 

Next week your baby is the size of a rutabaga!  If you work on a rutabaga farm it’s an almost certainty that you’ll be in shape for baby by the time they’re here. 

*Note:  Daddy Moro is not a physical trainer.  He’s always been a somewhat active guy, but got his lower back beat down and had his arms turned into spaghetti by a small, loving, but helpless infant about 21 months ago.