A sample letter. Every Sunday's letter is matched to where you are in your pregnancy, and this one is written for around weeks 20–24.
SubjectHalfway there 🌸 (and a word about marathons)
Hi there,
You're around weeks 20–24 now. Halfway! 🌸 In case no one has told you yet this week: you're doing beautifully.
🏡 One honest moment
While I was giving birth to my second child and the contractions started getting stronger, a moment of fear showed up. My midwife was pressing my hips, my hypnobirthing tracks were playing, and I blurted out, "I'm not a marathon runner!"
My husband said, "You totally are. You trained for this."
He was right, in the gentlest way. I've never run a marathon. But for about four months before my second child was born, I practiced breathing through each wave. Small, quiet practice, again and again, until my body knew it by heart. When the big day came, it was there for me.
Here's a tip someone once gave me: practice your breathing every time you stop at a red traffic light while driving. I loved it, and I still do it today, even though I'm not pregnant. It's just practice, practice, practice. And once you get the hang of it, you can do it anywhere.
So this letter is about training. The soft kind. No running shoes required.
🌱 What's happening around now
- Little flutters. Many women start to feel their baby move somewhere around now: tiny bubbles, taps or flutters. With a first baby it often comes a little later, and every pregnancy has its own timing.
- The anatomy scan. Many women are offered a detailed ultrasound, often called the anatomy scan, somewhere around weeks 18–22. It can feel exciting and a little nerve-racking at the same time. Both are okay.
- A bit more energy. Many women find this middle stretch of pregnancy brings some energy back. If that's you, enjoy it. If it isn't, rest is part of the training too.
💛 What to focus on this week
- Two minutes of breathing. Tonight before sleep, breathe in for 4 and out for 6, and let your jaw go loose. That's it. You're not doing it for tonight. You're doing it for the day you meet your baby.
- Fuel and move in a way you enjoy. The day my second child was born looked completely ordinary: coffee, my weekly 45-minute walk, lunch, my daily stretches. (And a steak dinner. About five minutes later it was go time. Zero regrets. 🥩) Ask your midwife or doctor what movement and food look like for your pregnancy, then find a version that feels good.
🩺 Questions worth asking your midwife or doctor
- What will you look at during my anatomy scan, and what happens next if anything needs a closer look?
- What kind of movement and exercise feels right for my pregnancy right now?
- What does good fuel look like for me these days, and is there anything you'd like me to keep an eye on?
- When should I start practicing breathing or relaxation for birth, and are there classes you'd recommend?
My midwives paid attention to everything: what I was eating, how I was sleeping, how I was really feeling. So bring all of it to your next visit. And the advice I'd give my first-time self: if something feels off, even if you can't put it into words yet, pause. Write it down. Ask questions.
Pregnancy comes with a lot of decisions, big and small, for you and your baby. The best advice I can give you: sit on it. You don't have to decide in that second. Take it home, breathe into it, let it settle. And like I said, if something feels off, pause, write it down and ask more questions.
💌 Coming next week
Your birth preferences: what matters most to you, and a calm "if plans change" page.
Until then, hit reply and tell me: have you felt those first little flutters yet? I read every message.
Sybille 🤍
Mom of two · Chief Nest Officer, Born in the Nest
Education only, not medical advice. Always talk with your licensed midwife or doctor about your own pregnancy.