What's growing
Not yet conceived — by convention
Week 1 is counted from your last period. There is no embryo yet, but your body is preparing the lining.
Source: Moore, Persaud & Torchia, The Developing Human, 11th ed. (2020)
What's changing in you
Menstruation, then a quiet build
Endometrium sheds, then begins thickening again under estrogen. Standard physiology — your timeline starts here by convention.
Source: Williams Obstetrics, 26th ed. (Cunningham et al., 2022)
General info — not personalized medical advice.
Maternal brain
Becoming, before knowing
Many parents in clinical work describe a 'pre-knowing' — a turning toward parenthood. Even imagined parenthood begins to reshape identity.
Source: Stern, The Motherhood Constellation (Basic Books, 1995)
You & baby
An imagined child
You may have pictured this baby for years. The imagined baby is the first relationship — Stern's term.
Source: Stern, The Motherhood Constellation (Basic Books, 1995)
For your partner
Talk about the 'why'
Couples who name their motivations early adjust better across the transition to parenthood.
Source: Cowan & Cowan, When Partners Become Parents (1992; 2nd ed. 2000)
Move with care
Keep what already works
Continuity beats novelty. ACOG 804 and the 2019 Canadian Guideline (Mottola et al.) both recommend continuing your established routine — walking, yoga, strength — without changes yet.
General info — not personalized medical advice.
Eat for two brains
Start folate now
400–600 µg/day folate ideally before conception protects neural-tube formation in the first month.
Source: WHO Guideline: Daily iron and folic acid supplementation in pregnant women (2012)
General info — not personalized medical advice.
60-second prompt
What does becoming a parent mean to you?
One sentence. Save it. You will reread it.
Source: Lieberman et al., Psychological Science 18(5), 2007 — Affect labeling
Developed and curated by perinatal psychologists, family & couples counsellors, doulas, perinatal health & fitness specialists, and IBCLCs / lactation consultants. Educational — not a substitute for medical care.