How your bump protects your baby

It passes on energy

From the instant the fertilised egg enters the womb, your body is helping your baby’s umbilical cord to grow. This clever thing is ready to transfer blood, oxygen and nutrients to your baby from the placenta, which acts as your little one’s life support system.

“Your baby gets all her energy from you and the foods you eat, so whatever you’re eating and drinking gets to her in the womb,” says Joanne. Pack in lots of fruit and veg, plus starchy foods (think wholemeal bread, pasta and brown rice), as well as foods rich in protein, like lean meat, chicken and fish to give your baby a healthy intake of nutrients.

“Avoid eating liver as it has high levels of vitamin A,” advises Joanne. “The same goes for unwashed food, unpasteurised milk and soft cheese as they could contain listeria, which can be harmful to you and your baby.”

It grows the spinal cord

Around week 4 or 5, your little one’s neural tube will start to develop, which will eventually grow into her brain, backbone and spinal cord. You can help this development, and reduce the risk of spina bifida by taking your daily 400mcg folic acid supplement in the first 12 weeks .

Try and munch on foods rich in folate (folic acid in its natural form), which includes green veggies, chickpeas and brown rice, to up your intake. Remember though, even if you’re getting these foods into your diet, you’ll still need to take your supplement.

It prepares lungs for birth

Cut to b-day and chances are you’ll be waiting for that first cry from your baby when she enters the big wide world. That happy noise is all down to your body helping your baby grow a substance called surfactant, which is produced inside your baby’s lungs right from conception. “Surfactant is fluid that grows with your baby to help her lungs open when she takes her first breath,” says Joanne. “If a baby is premature, she might be given extra surfactant using a breathing tube if she hasn’t developed enough before birth to help with her breathing.”

It protects from knocks

Your baby grows in amniotic fluid inside your womb, which your clever body produces to keep her warm, safe and secure. “The fluid is held inside the amniotic sac, which cushions your baby from knocks and infection,” explains Joanne. The sac has a thick skin made up of a membrane called chorion which holds strong until your baby’s ready to be born, when it splits to let the fluid out, more commonly known as your waters breaking.

Try this…

“I’m 20 weeks pregnant and worry about knocking my bump as I have three lively dogs that jump around a lot. I keep out of their way if they’re overexcited. I’ve also been using Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Massage Lotion (from Boots) for a relaxing massage to keep the skin on my bump soft too.”

Kirsty Richards, 34, from Suffolk, 20 weeks pregnant

It regulates temperature

As your growing baby is linked to your circulation system through the umbilical cord and placenta, you have a hand in controlling her temperature and heartbeat. “If you get too hot or cold, both your heart rate and your baby’s heart rate could increase or drop,” explains Joanne. “You need to make sure you don’t overheat or get too chilly, so in winter dress yourself in layers to keep snug. Avoid saunas, hot tubs and hot water bottles on your tummy so you don’t raise the temperature inside your womb.”

Try this…

“I’m expecting my fifth baby and have found wearing bump bands during all my pregnancies helped me stay snug. Mine were just a pack of two from Asda and they’re so supportive. I love warm baths too and found it’s a real treat to have time with just my bump. I think of it as playtime with my baby.”

Lisa O’Neill, 29, from Fife, mum to Glen, 10, Skye, 8, Christopher, 5, Sophie, 13 months, and 8 weeks pregnant

Did you know…

• Your baby is called an embryo until week 12; she’s then fully formed and just needs to grow bigger. She’s now known as a foetus.
• If your baby’s a girl, she’s born with all the eggs she’ll ever produce in her ovaries. This adds up to a massive 2 million!