Week 18

What's growing

Yawning, hiccups, swallowing

About 14 cm. Reflex behaviors mature. Sex organs are visible on ultrasound.

Source: Moore, Persaud & Torchia, The Developing Human, 11th ed. (2020)

What's changing in you

Belly is showing for most

Centre of gravity begins to shift forward. Posture compensates — sometimes painfully.

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

General info — not personalized medical advice.

Maternal brain

Dreams about the baby intensify

Often vivid and strange. Stern called these the 'dreams of becoming' — anticipatory rehearsal.

Source: Stern, The Motherhood Constellation (Basic Books, 1995)

You & baby

Let the baby be the baby

Resist over-projecting personality from kicks. They will surprise you.

Source: Condon, British Journal of Medical Psychology 66(2), 1993 — Antenatal emotional attachment

For your partner

Hand on the belly, eyes closed

Five minutes, no phones. This is co-regulation — a couple skill, not just a parent skill.

Source: Porges, The Polyvagal Theory (2011) — Co-regulation & autonomic safety

Move with care

Side-sleeping, supported

After 18–20 wk, side-lying with a pillow between knees protects venous return and the low back (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

Don't fear the carbs

Whole-grain carbs stabilize energy and support fetal growth. Restriction is rarely the answer in T2.

Source: Biagi et al., Nutrients 11(5), 2019 — Mediterranean diet in pregnancy

General info — not personalized medical advice.

60-second prompt

What story did you have about pregnancy?

What's actually true so far?

Source: Lieberman et al., Psychological Science 18(5), 2007 — Affect labeling