Good morning.

What's growing

Halfway. ~25 cm crown-to-heel

The mid-pregnancy anatomy scan typically happens this week.

Source: ISUOG Practice Guidelines, Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2022 — Mid-trimester scan

What's changing in you

Center of gravity is shifting

Postural compensation begins. Lower-back tightness is mechanical, not weakness.

Source: Soma-Pillay et al., Cardiovascular Journal of Africa 27(2), 2016 — Physiological changes in pregnancy

General info — not personalized medical advice.

Maternal brain

From 'pregnant' to 'becoming'

Identity reorganizes around the imagined baby — what Athan calls matrescence, drawing on Stern.

Source: Athan, Matrescence framework, Columbia University (2011–present)

You & baby

A name, a nickname, a hello

Many parents start using a placeholder name now — a small but meaningful attachment behavior.

Source: Cranley, Nursing Research 30(5), 1981 — Maternal-Fetal Attachment Scale

For your partner

Co-watch the scan video later

Re-watching scan footage together, slowly, deepens shared narrative — a Cowan-style ritual.

Source: Cowan & Cowan, When Partners Become Parents (1992; 2nd ed. 2000)

Move with care

Posture resets

Wall angels, cat-cow, glute activation — two minutes twice a day beats one long session (ACOG 804).

Source: ACOG Committee Opinion 804 (reaffirmed 2020) — Physical Activity and Exercise During Pregnancy

General info — not personalized medical advice.

Eat for two brains

Steady iron + vitamin C

Iron requirements climb sharply through T2 and T3 to meet expanding blood volume and fetal stores.

Source: WHO Guideline: Daily iron and folic acid supplementation in pregnant women (2012)

General info — not personalized medical advice.

60-second prompt

Who taught you how to parent?

What will you keep? What will you change?

Source: Fraiberg, Adelson & Shapiro, JAACAP 14(3), 1975 — Ghosts in the Nursery