Week 18: Pregnancy Week by Week

Week 18: How to effectively communicate with your birth attendant

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.

-Dr. Seuss

What's Happening in Your Body?

You may start to feel your baby's movements more reliably. At first this might just seem like a tiny flutter, but soon there will be no mistaking it.

What's Happening with Your Baby?

Your baby is now about five to six inches long-about as long as your outstretched hand. The baby's head is not quite as large in proportion to the rest of the body as it was before. Fingernails are now starting to form out of the nail beds on his fingertips.

Communicating with Your Birth Attendant

It's a good idea to take a little time to review how you would like to communicate with your birth practitioner. After all, you will be seeing this person for several more months, through all of your ups and downs. This person will help you through labor and usher your new baby into the world. Read the full article for some helpful guidelines.

Nourish Yourself

Pack up our Luscious Beet & Beet Green Salad and take it to work with you for lunch, or serve it as a side dish with dinner. Add some feta cheese for protein and turn it into a main course. Loaded with folic acid, potassium, iron and calcium-this salad is as tasty a multi-vitamin as you will find.

Body Wise

Pregnancy is unpredictable. You may have an aversion to sex right now; you may notice no change in your sexual desire, or you may feel more passionate than ever before. If your expectations are not the same as those of your partner, it can be an emotional challenge. Get some pointers on how to incorporate sex and sensuality into your changing needs.

Natural Soothers

Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in the rectum. Some women get them for the first time during pregnancy, while others find that hemorrhoids they had prior to pregnancy now become worse. Take measures to avoid constipation (the main cause of hemorrhoids in pregnancy), by eating plenty of fiber, especially fresh fruits and vegetables.

To soothe hemorrhoids, soak a cotton pad in distilled witch hazel and place over the affected area. It can help to put the pad in the refrigerator first because the cold will help to shrink swollen veins. Ice packs can also be an effective way to reduce swelling and pain.

Higher Ground

Music
If you've heard Gregorian chants, you know how soothing sound can be. Sounds vibrate in the body when we make them, creating a feeling of peacefulness and balance. Turn on some music that relaxes you, find a quiet place to lay down, and let yourself be carried away toward a more balanced self. 

Image by Durga Yael Bernhard

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