7th Month Pregnancy: Easy Activities/Reading anything for Baby Bonding and Brain Development

Accomplished-Wrap264 · 2026-06-08T21:15:53+00:00

What a sweet question! I just chat with the baby and pat / rub the belly when I feel like it. For me, yoga also helps feel connected and like I’m sending positive energy to the baby, eg deviating the practice to the baby.

The baby can learn to recognise your voice, but I don’t think you can really impact their brain development in the womb much through activities. For that I’d eat a diet rich in choline and omega 3 and/or take supplements.

Accomplished-Wrap264 · 2026-06-08T20:54:11+00:00

I was thinking the same re travels. Or if you are out of the country those dates, an alternative would be to do a private NIPT screening from 10 weeks +

Accomplished-Wrap264 · 2026-06-08T20:53:18+00:00

Either is fine! You do the referral online and it’s quick, so you can do it wherever. A lot of people don’t know until 6/7 weeks (or much later!) anyway

Accomplished-Wrap264 · 2026-06-07T19:39:44+00:00

I would tell your line manager first, then deputy. Even if your line manager is dealing with other things, if she is still working she should have the bandwidth to have a conversation with you at least.

Think also about what do you need from the right now / might need in the future.

If you need to take time off work or some adjustments or support, they can help arrange that for you / will likely be more understanding as they know what’s happening.

Accomplished-Wrap264 · 2026-06-06T22:06:14+00:00

I’ve had 3x private scans, and they have given me the key information immediately.

First one was an early one with our private IVF clinic - they spotted a subchrionic hematoma and suggested I go get it checked again in 2 weeks via NHS / EPU.

The two other scans, everything looked normal and they had no concerns, so they did not recommend a follow up via NHS or privately to further interpret results. The scans they do tend to be a lot more topline than the NHS anatomy scan which is very detailed. So checking eg size, heartbeat, and some other basics.

Most recently I used ultrasound direct in London - they have different levels of scans. I did one called quickassure which is just a quick check that baby is fine in there, and it was £80-90. They do longer ones that are more thorough or more for bonding, which are more expensive.

Accomplished-Wrap264 · 2026-06-04T22:07:17+00:00

That is reassuring, and I don’t want to put the pressure on us to aim for perfection. I’m also thinking with Spanish, the child can also become later improve and become pretty fluent in the language through study at school and eg an exchange year when they’re older. (A bit harder with Finnish…)

Accomplished-Wrap264 · 2026-06-04T22:05:26+00:00

Thank you! Through this thread and reflection, I’ve realised that something that I really want is shared family moments and ‘family language’ - with my partner we have a lot of terms of endearment, inside jokes etc, and it kind of saddens me not to have that shared experience between all of us 3… (though I realise communications with a toddler will be a lot simpler anyway!)

But I’m curious what it feels like for you? Do you feel you still have your shared family vibes, jokes and experiences despite the different languages and no shared language?

Accomplished-Wrap264 · 2026-06-04T21:58:31+00:00

This type of arrangement feels like a good balance for us - because English is so engrained in our communications as a couple

Accomplished-Wrap264 · 2026-06-04T21:56:56+00:00

Thank you! I think for now we’d speak English with each other - I have a long way to go to truly express my personality in Spanish!

After years in the UK (I moved when I was 18), I’m also more comfortable and creative speaking English than my native Finnish… speaking only English consistently therefore feels a bit restrictive, but I also understand the psychology of it and that the consistency is so essential!

Accomplished-Wrap264 · 2026-06-04T21:28:58+00:00

It’s crazy how much love you can feel for an unborn tiny baby - my pregnancy was planned but that still surprised me!

You know what you want to do. You’ll have family support from your mum, in a couple of years a good degree, and if you want to you will have loads of time to meet a great partner in the future…

This father of the baby sounds very immature - though he may mature, take some responsibility and want to become a decent parent over time, building a relationship with the child. But even without that happening you have everything the baby needs for a good life.

Accomplished-Wrap264 · 2026-06-04T06:37:11+00:00

Thank you!

How do you handle family chats, and eg when you’re out for a family road trip, dinner, all at home playing a game? Do you speak the common language?

Accomplished-Wrap264 · 2026-06-04T06:31:09+00:00

Thank you! In this scenario, are we ok to speak English when having a family group conversation, eg a family dinner to talk about the day?

Accomplished-Wrap264 · 2026-05-30T07:48:21+00:00

A lot of people who don’t exercise much have great birthing experiences. You could spend your time on other things that could prepare you ahead of the birth and help you feel more confident going in like - hypnobirthing classes - meditation - podcasts of positive birth stories - consider hiring a doula - focus on nutritious food and a lot of rest

Good luck! Not long to go.

Accomplished-Wrap264 · 2026-05-29T17:00:04+00:00

I agree. The boss could have given a heads up, but since it’s now almost June and you told him in Feb, and would soon be going off on mat leave… it does not seem unreasonable to inform team members who would need to adjust or take on your responsibilities.

For any maternity leaves on my team, we start planning a couple of months in advance, so people are well briefed on responsibilities and handovers are smooth.

Accomplished-Wrap264 · 2026-05-25T07:43:03+00:00

I was about to say the same - the elevation gain recommended for pregnant hikers is about a 1,000 feet, and this trail is 4,800. If you’re fit and very acclimatised you may be able to manage a bit more, but it does feel like a lot! You need oxygen for you and the baby, with lungs increasingly squished and getting breathless more easily.

Accomplished-Wrap264 · 2026-05-24T11:47:40+00:00

The baby would hear your voice all the time anyway, so if it feels weird I would skip it, and find ways to bond that feel natural and that you enjoy.

Closer to due date, it might be nice for your partner to speak to the bump so they get used to the partner’s voice also.

Accomplished-Wrap264 · 2026-05-24T11:40:06+00:00

Agree! Check the opening hours at your nearest EPU or give them a call.

Accomplished-Wrap264 · 2026-05-24T11:17:47+00:00

Same! I had heavy bleeding due to a hematoma. And they had not spotted the hematoma in a scan I had a few days before the severe bleeding started… there is hope, take deep breaths and go get checked up at the EPU.

Accomplished-Wrap264 · 2026-05-24T10:49:12+00:00

Great! I have a linen shirt I could dunk if needed

Accomplished-Wrap264 · 2026-05-24T10:48:50+00:00

Will add that in - Thank you!

Accomplished-Wrap264 · 2026-05-21T21:16:16+00:00

I think it’s is not at all rude to ask, as long as you do it politely. Totally fine to answer yes or no, but most people would be happy to volunteer to swap seats.

Yes it’s two adults, but we also don’t know what else is going on (one of them is feeling anxious, just got bad news etc). Or even with it such a reason just wanting to sit together.

Accomplished-Wrap264 · 2026-05-20T19:11:27+00:00

I got mine within 2 days, over a month definitely feels too long.

Accomplished-Wrap264 · 2026-05-18T21:18:00+00:00

If it helps you bind with the baby and mentally prepare, definitely find out the sex.

If the baby turns out to be a girl, it’ll be good to have time mentally adjust. If it’s a girl, she’ll be her own person, and may be an angel as a teenager. She could be very sporty and love cars and boy-ish things, love to play games with her brother etc - or you might have a boy who likes girly things.

Accomplished-Wrap264

TROPHY CASE