Finally, a gift for expectant fathers! I admit, I was skeptical when I first stumbled upon a story about a Danish company that has developed a bracelet allowing dads-to-be to feel their unborn child’s movements on their wrist. Naturally, I felt compelled to dive deeper.
Three innovative jewelry design students from Denmark, inspired by their coursework in wearable technology, launched a startup named First Bond Wearables. They came up with the concept for the bracelet, dubbed the Fibo, after observing families stroll through their Copenhagen neighborhood.
Sandra Jensen, the head of research and media at First Bond Wearables, shared with The Huffington Post, “We aimed to engage fathers [or female partners] more in the pregnancy process, as they often feel somewhat sidelined while the mother experiences all the physical changes and feels life developing within her.”
How Does the Fibo Work?
So how does the Fibo actually function? During the third trimester, pregnant women wear a device that tracks their baby’s movements. This data is transmitted to the Fibo, which features four small beads that replicate the baby’s motions by rotating and pressing against the wrist of the wearer, allowing them to experience kicks or turns in real time.
There are a few points worth discussing here. First, it takes a truly generous pregnant woman to don a baby monitor in her third trimester just so her partner can get a little wrist tap while they are off enjoying life without the burdens of pregnancy. Secondly, the intimacy of placing a hand on a belly seems far more meaningful than the sensation of beads moving around on a wrist—a thought that, for reasons I can’t quite articulate, makes me feel slightly queasy. Lastly, this device could lead to some serious spats. Picture this: a pregnant woman asking, “Honey, where’s your Fibo? I thought you wanted to connect with the baby?” only to hear her partner reply, “Oh, I took it off. It was getting annoying.” Cue the drama.
Why the Wrist?
One question many will ask is: why the wrist? It seems that wearing it on the stomach would be more fitting if the goal is to replicate the experience. However, according to the developers, when they surveyed prospective fathers about where they’d prefer to feel their baby’s movements, most chose the wrist. It seems that visibility was a significant factor for these dads-to-be, as they wanted to showcase their impending fatherhood to the world. Whether that’s genuine or merely a response to peer pressure is up for debate.
Interestingly, the creators at First Bond Wearables envision the Fibo as a keepsake that can transcend pregnancy. “The data from the baby’s movements is preserved and transformed into a piece of jewelry that families can cherish after the baby arrives,” Jensen explained. But really? Who’s going to want to wear a bracelet that reminds them of the baby kicks from last December? That’s a quick way to lose friends.
We appreciate the effort to foster a deeper connection between partners during pregnancy, and there are scenarios—such as surrogacy—where this could genuinely enhance the experience. However, for the average couple, it’s hard to see this catching on. Unless my partner is also going to endure my heartburn and the everyday challenges of pregnancy, I might just remain too jaded to get on board.
Further Resources
If you’re curious about other ways to enhance your journey to parenthood, consider checking out this insightful post on Cervical Insemination. For those interested in at-home insemination, Make a Mom offers reputable kits. Additionally, for comprehensive resources on pregnancy and home insemination, visit ASRM.
In summary, while the Fibo bracelet certainly aims to bridge the gap between expectant mothers and their partners, it raises more questions than it answers. The desire for shared experiences during pregnancy is commendable, but tangible connections may still require more than just a few beads on a wrist.