Pregnancy Week 18
Welcome Guest!
Inside Pregnancy Week 18
Week 18 fetal development image showing the fetal growth of your baby to date. Medical Illustration Copyright © 2008 Nucleus Medical Art, All rights reserved
The baby’s nervous system continues to become more refined and detailed in development, with this week the myelin, or protective covering over the nerves, forming. This aids in messages traveling across the nerve pathways. The myelin continues growing until the baby is one year old. Other not so easily seen development includes the formation of the alveoli, or the tiny air sacs in the lungs. The vocal chords are formed, but without air, the baby is just going through the motions without the sound now. If the baby is a girl, the fallopian tubes and uterus have settled into their permanent position now. The baby’s skin is being protected from the watery environment of the uterus, by vernix-a cheesy, greasy substance, and the lanugo-a fuzzy hairy growth on baby’s skin. The baby is now between 5 and 6 inches long and between 5 and 6 ounces.
Pregnancy Symptoms You May Feel During Week 18
One symptom becoming more problematic is low blood pressure. Rising from a seated position will make it worse. Make certain that you avoid lying on your back now, and try to lie on your side. Another common complaint at this point is backaches. The center of gravity has now shifted and the muscles and ligaments have loosened, only making the problem worse. Try to be mindful of your posture and don’t allow yourself to be slumped or slouched if possible. Also, if you work a sedentary job, be sure to get up and move around every hour at least. Look into yoga stretches to help alleviate the pain, and keep your movements pain-free.
Visit With the Obstetrician
At this point in your pregnancy, your doctor might perform a level II sonogram. This type of sonogram will not differ greatly in the experience for mom, but yields much more detailed information for the doctor. This sonogram may last longer than the typical sonogram done earlier in the pregnancy. The test will give a more in depth look at the organs and the development, as in seeing the chambers of the heart, blood circulation throughout the fetus, and how the brain is developing.
Preparing for Baby
When the baby comes home from the hospital, it will be a huge accomplishment to just keep up with the burdens of daily life. To ease the struggle some, look now at how you might simplify your surroundings. Pick up some books on how to organize and de-clutter your home. Don’t try to implement all the ideas, and certainly not by yourself. However, figure out what things might give you the best results and try to get those done over the next several weeks, not being too shy to ask for help in getting those things organized. The pay off will come once your little one is home and you have a better handle on your time because you’ve streamlined your environment a bit better.
Pregnancy Lifestyle
The burden of weight, the hormones, the big changes in mom’s body, all add up to fatigue. To fight the fatigue, you surrender to it. Make certain you are getting plenty of sleep at night, which can become increasingly difficult with the symptoms you might be contending with, such as aches and pains, gas, heartburn, and leg cramps. Besides an adequate amount of bedtime zzz’s, try getting some little naps or rest periods worked into the rest of your day. If you can, go ahead and lie down and nap. If you are at work, then do your best to take a little time to put your feet up, close your eyes and do some relaxation exercises. Even just a few minutes here and there can add up to some relief, so don’t neglect the signals that your body is sending you.
Personalized Pregnancy Week by Week Calendar
Comments
Showing 1 - 20 out of 61 Comments
Add Comment
I had my ultra sound done 3 days ago and was told i was 18 weeks and 1 day. i def. dont look it and i was suppose to be only 17 weeks. the measurements showed my doctor that i am def. 18 weeks. weve done all the calculations from my last menstrual cycle and when we tried conceiving and it all falls into place, except my baby boy is 1 week ahead of his growth schedule. is it normal for him to have a growth spirt like this? all in all, i my husband and i are very excited and happy we have a healthy little boy!
I'm 18 weeks today! i am thinking that maybe i feel some flutters? this is my first pregnanacy and it's hard to tell if it's gas that i am feeling (b/c i've been backed up) or if it's the baby moving?!?! hoping to feel something that i know is for sure baby soon!! i feel heavy - i was technically overweight before getting pregnant (5'9" 178.5 lbs) and am now up to 185 lbs. at 18 weeks pregnant. i'm trying to eat mostly healthy but i do splurge every once in a while because i was so nauseous and sick at beginning months....it's so nice to actually be able to eat and hold things down now this past month or so. i try to make sure i get in lots of pregnancy superfoods in my diet every day! i take my prenatal vitamins almost daily still - doctor told me i can not take them for a few days or for a while to get regulated (i have been so backed up....not sure if everyone else feels same way i do) being backed up makes me feel so big and uncomfy...ugh - taking miralax some days and senocot (my doctor told me i could take those ) but i don't want to use/take them daily b/c of not sure effects on baby?!
I'm 18 weeks 3 days with my second my first is 15 months so still have baby weight from last one and still gaining (sarcastic yay) but have rh- so im little worried this time around cuz this one not as easy as the first fingers crossed it gets little easier later on
My husband has one daughter (16) and i have one daughter (15) and one son (10). this is our first together :) i'm 18 1/2 weeks and feeling great! already in maternity clothes, but i have not gained any weight. thankful for that, i'm starting this pregnancy 20 lbs. heavier than i was at the end if my last pregnancy :(
18 weeks and this is my second pregnancy and i hope its a boy i will love to have to boys
18 weeks and this is my second pregnancy and i hope its a boy i will love to have to boys
I'm 18 weeks and 3 days pregnant with my first and can't seem to find anything positive about it (aside from the end result of course) i'm excited to be a mom but am just miserable, growing out of all my clothes, gaining weight, and just can't get comfy enough to get adequate sleep at night or to relax. thankfully i have a wonderful hubby who understands and puts up with me with little complaint lol any suggestions on what to do to make this pregnancy somewhat enjoyable?
Cowgurl09--- i know pregnancy is tough, and i know you don't like seeing the scale go up or the crazy body changes, but realize what a beautiful miracle is being knit inside you! i am 18 weeks and am just starting to feel better after gagging and vomiting for 7 weeks straight, so i feel you! god will equip you to be a great parent and just try to find little things to enjoy about your pregnancy. :) blessings!
I am 18 weeks and 3 days pregnant. i have two boys one 13 and one 10i just had my ultrasound 2 days ago and the tech couldn't be sure but she thought she saw a scrotum. :-( but i get another one on april 11th and hopefully she was wrong. when i was 13 weeks i thought i was miscarrying because i was pouring blood and had a huge clot come out. however there was no pain and after that day i stopped bleeding. i went to the emergency room and was told that i still had a viable pregnancy and that what i experienced was called a sub chorionic hematoma. well that was a little over 5 weeks ago and so far so good. i still haven't felt my baby move yet which gets me a little apprehensive. i'm praying for a girl but at this point it doesn't matter. as long as my baby is healthy.
I know how you feel be strong girl everything is going to be alright
I am right at 18 weeks today. i was about 25lbs overweight before conceiving and i've gained about 13lbs so far. this is my 2nd child but my 1st boy will be 13 next month, nausea has gotten slightly better on most days but i look like i'm about 7months pregnant. my stomach is huge! doctor says baby is fine(they say its a girl) and its just the way i'm carrying. i'm just very uncomfortable especially when trying to sleep and i'm dealing with some constipation but no fluid retention. i'm just hoping i don't get too much bigger i feel like i'm ready to explode and people keep asking if i'm carrying twins! the joys of pregnancy....
Im 18 weeks today ..this is my second pregnancy . i have a boy that is 2 and he will be 3 in may .can't wait he be going to school already they grow up so fast . but anyways i been feeling like shit . i don't like it . i been to the emergency room twice with this pregnancy . been cramping really bad and spotted a lil bit . :-( im on bed rest again so that means off work witch sucks bc i can't afford to be off have bills to pay ..so i go see my dr wednesday and see if i can return to work but other then that im hopeing for a baby girl..
Ill be 18 weeks in two days. my energy is back, but get tired real easy. my breast just started hurting again really bad, havent had that since i was 2 months along. morning sickness has been gone for over a month now, i get lots of head aches and my nose is stuffed up all the time. i have two boys 10 and 3 yrs old. im pregnant with my 3rd. hopping for a girl this time, fingers are crossed. my belly is so big i look like im 20 weeks. i can feel my baby move all the time, have been since i was 14 weeks. i also cant drink milk now it makes me sick,i wasnt like that with my last two, and my prenatel vit's make me sick to.
I am 18 weeks and 2 days along and i feel huge! lol i look like i could be about 7 months already. this is my 5th child. as long as my baby is healthy and living i don't care what the sex is. we haven't decided whether or not we want to know the sex yet. i feel really tired all the time. all i want to do is lie down in bed all day. morning sickness has gotten much better, but i still get sick when i am really tired or if i haven't eaten. i sometimes can't sleep...it's like i have insomnia sometimes. and sometimes it still feels like a chore to eat. baby is really active. i've felt movement since 2 days before i made 8 weeks...honestly, i think i might be having twins this time, but i'm still not sure. i have back aches...but i have a wonderful husband who has amazing hands and he gives me back massages and belly rubs very often...lol it is getting uncomfortable because i toss and turn all night tryig to find a comfortable sleeping position. pregnancy sex is awesome :) and finding a comfortable position is both challenging and fun...lol my nose looks bigger! it has spread wider..smh...and my skin has definitely changed...cheeks are rosey and i've started to get these little bumps on my forehead, which is annoying. my breasts have gotten bigger, which is a plus for hubby! i really don't know about my weight gain. i was overweight before conception, however, i had changed my diet and i lost over 50 pounds before i was able to concieve. so since i've been pregnant, i haven't been dieting or exercising but i've still been losing about 10 pounds a month! i noticed that i have lost 2 more pounds since last week. but i am sure that baby is getting enough nutrients, because i am eatng very healthy. i wake up at 3 a.m. every morning like clockwork becase baby is hungry at that time...i guess i should get used to it because that will probably be baby's feeding time when he or she is born. i've been having some digestive issues (and i've been having some pains just under my ribs on my left side...i don't know what that is...i fee some movemnt in my upper ab but i don't think that baby is that big yet...unless it's twins) and i get constipated a lot...oh, the joys of pregnancy!!!
I'm 18 weeks. seems i've gained alot in comparison to u all, 10 lbs. have yet to have morning sickness, knock on wood. i was just nauseous the 1st trimester. everything is great so far. this is my first. haven't felt movement that i can recognize. i find out on the 18th what we r having. so excited!
I am 18 weeks, second pregnancy. i am as big now as when i 28 wks with my first. my energy has returned for the past month or so, i was very tired during my first trimester. we found out the sex with our first, but are leaving it for a surprise this time.
Sometimes i feel my baby, but not really much. no symtoms other than extreme weight gain. lucky girls who have either lost or gained little weight! i feel so huge and have went from a size 7 to a 9- normal?? nope =0 its okay though because i usually weigh in at 180-190 by the time i give birth. near year to put on and a year to take off!!!
This is my second pregnancy and i am as big now (20 weeks) as i was when i was 30+ weeks. still do not know the gender but would like a girl since my first child is a boy. i would be completely satisfied really with just a healthy baby.
I am 18 weeks this is my second baby my first is a boy so i hope its a girl this time:) we find out tommorow what it is! i look huge already
I am 18 wks and 2 days dont know what im having but i will know in 13 days :) cant wait hope its a boy this is my 3rd pregnancy and my back is killing me it just sort of happened over night other than its been something.
I am 18 weeks pregnant with a boy.. i still throw up everymorning like clock work. constipation is getting better. i feel him move around all the time...
Add Comment
You are commenting as . Please register or login if you would like to be notified by email of replies to your comment.
Today im 18 weeks :-) with my 4th. can't wait to find out the sex
Reply | Report