Pregnancy Unpacked Weeks 16-18: Baby Bumps, Tests, & Trusting Yourself | 174

Pregnancy Unpacked Weeks 16-18: Baby Bumps, Tests, & Trusting Yourself | 174

Author: Trish Ware, RN June 4, 2025 Duration: 14:08

Hey Mama, welcome back to Pregnancy Unpacked! 

Trish is taking you through the transformative journey of pregnancy weeks 16-18. Your baby is growing, now about the size of an avocado or a dill pickle, with developing lashes, eyebrows, and fingernails. 

Trish discusses common tests such as the quad screen, and what to expect during your ultrasound scans. She shares some stories about gender surprises and emphasizes the importance of asking questions and trusting your intuition. 

For those still grappling with morning sickness, Trish offers supportive tools and lifestyle tips to ease the discomfort. This episode is packed with straight talk, some science, and lots of support to help you navigate your pregnancy journey with confidence. Remember, you are amazing mama, and you've got this! 

Tune in every Wednesday for more pregnancy unpacked. Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and drop questions in the comments!

Helpful Timestamps

  • 01:00 Weeks 16-18: Baby Development
  • 02:32 Understanding Prenatal Testing
  • 04:10 Ultrasound Scans and Gender Reveals
  • 05:47 Dealing with Concerning News
  • 09:34 Morning Sickness and Nausea Relief
  • 11:00 Advocacy and Intuition

More from this episode:

Listen to Pregnancy Unpacked Weeks 14-16: Building Your Birth Team & Trusting Your Gut

Listen to Pregnancy Unpacked Weeks 12-14: Hello Second Trimester, Now What?

Grab the Second Trimester Prep Pack

Resources:

First Trimester Secret Podcast

🎙 FREE Birth Workshop: 3 Secrets to a Confident Birth! 🎙

Want to feel prepared and in control? Watch my free workshop now!

Connect w/ Trish:

On Instagram

On Facebook

On YouTube

On Pinterest

On TikTok

For more pregnancy & birth education, subscribe to The Birth Experience on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Produced and Edited by Vaden Podcast Services

Next Steps with LNM:

If you are ready to invest in your pregnancy & postpartum journey, you are in the right place. I would love to take your hand and support you in your virtual labor room!

If you are ready to dive into a birth class and have your best and most powerful birth story, then Calm Labor Confident Birth or The VBAC Lab is your next step.

If you have a scheduled cesarean, take our Belly Birth Masterclass and own that experience.

If you are a newly pregnant mama or just had the babe, you want to join our private pregnancy and postpartum membership, Calm Mama Society.

Remember, my advice is not medical advice. Always discuss what you learn with your team. See my Disclaimer here! Also, We make a small commission from some of the links (you don’t pay any more for using our links); however some of the recommendations, we do not earn anything; we love ’em and want you to know about them.


Ever find yourself scrolling through endless forums late at night, wondering about the real, unfiltered details of childbirth that no one seems to talk about plainly? The Birth Experience with Labor Nurse Mama is here to change that. Hosted by Trish Ware, RN, this podcast draws directly from her years in the delivery room, where she’s helped bring thousands of newborns into the world. She knows the questions that keep you up at night, from the logistical-like how to effectively push or what Pitocin actually does-to the vulnerable fears about epidurals, VBACs, or those embarrassing but totally normal moments. Trish moves beyond clinical jargon to offer honest, compassionate, and evidence-based insights that feel like a conversation with a trusted friend who’s seen it all. Each episode tackles a specific aspect of pregnancy, labor, and early parenting, like navigating breastfeeding challenges or figuring out newborn care, with the goal of replacing anxiety with practical knowledge. Tuning into this podcast means getting a seasoned labor nurse’s perspective delivered with warmth and a deep understanding of what you’re going through, helping you feel more prepared and empowered for your own journey.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Birth Experience with Labor Nurse Mama
Podcast Episodes
Membrane Sweeps - What You Need to Know and How to Handle Them | 189 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:37
Trish dives into the topic of membrane sweeps. She breaks down everything you need to know about this optional procedure to help you make informed decisions for your birth.Trish explains what a membrane sweep is (also kn…
Key Baby Development Milestones with Dr. Allison Mell | 187 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:50
Ever wondered about the significance of your baby’s milestones, particularly crawling, or concerned about what to do if they're not meeting them? In today's episode, Trish sits down with Dr. Allison Mell, a pediatric phy…
Rewiring Your Birth Thoughts & Fears - You Are in Control | 185 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:29
Today Trish is sharing her framework for rewiring birth thoughts and fears - because you are in control - sharing her framework for rewiring your thoughts for a positive birth experience. Birth is often filled with fear-…
Pregnancy Unpacked Weeks 27-28: Hello Third Trimester | 184 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:45
Hey, beautiful mama! Welcome back to Pregnancy Unpacked. Trish is diving into the third trimester - weeks 26-28. Get ready for real talk about what’s happening with your body, your baby, and how to get prepared now. Plus…