Empathy Belly

The parenting classes had to try on the empathy belly this week. Next week, each student must wear it for a full class period. I had the girls try normal every day tasks to see how it felt to be pregnant. They had to pick things up off the floor, tie their shoe, lay down and get back up, walk up and down stairs, etc. The empathy belly weighs about 3o lbs. There is a rib belt simulating the pressure of the ascending uterus and fetus against the diaphragm, heart and lungs. The torso garment simulates weight and profile of pregnancy, movement of fetus, and enlarged breasts. There is a bladder pouch that simulates the fetal head on the bladder. Two lead balls stimulate fetal knees, elbows, and feet pressing on internal abdominal organs.