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18 week of pregnancy: what happens to the baby, mother, sensations, movements
At the 18th week of pregnancy, the baby has grown noticeably. The woman feels his intense movements in the uterus, which brings pleasure and peace. The hormonal background becomes more stable, and irritability remains in the past. This period is the most favorable for the entire pregnancy.
Changes in the 18th week of pregnancy
The main event for the mother is the appearance of fetal movements. Their intensity is individual. It depends on the woman’s physical sensitivity, as well as on her emotionality. With some features of the figure, tremors may be felt earlier or later.
At the 18th week of pregnancy, the baby is gaining fat mass
The baby’s movements are no longer so chaotic. They are smooth and associated with bursting bubbles. Active tremors indicate a lack of oxygen. This should be reported to a specialist. Normally, the fetus moves more intensively in the evening than during the day.
The structure of the fetus is being improved daily. The upper and lower extremities are fully formed. The phalanges of the fingers are fully functional. An individual imprint appeared on their pads.
The baby weighs about 80 g and is 15 cm tall. Fatty tissue continues to accumulate under the skin. Immunity shows a weak ability to resist viruses. For the first time, the production of its own hemoglobin and interferon, which resists infections, begins.
The nervous system is undergoing drastic changes. Nerve cells transmit impulses faster thanks to myelin. This shell serves as a conductor. The process of shell formation is just beginning. It will continue during the first year of life.
Taste buds allow the baby to distinguish food. He expresses preference by wiggling
As the fetus develops, the structure of the brain becomes more complex. The connections between the cells become denser. As a result, the senses work sharply and harmoniously. The baby already has excellent hearing. He hears and remembers the mother’s voice. Her heartbeat and belly rumbling give him pleasure. The eyes react to flashes of light. The baby knows how to move the eyeballs to the bridge of the nose. The lingual papillae recognize different tastes.
The skeleton and skin are improved. By this time, more bones have taken shape. After birth, they will grow together. Internal organs do not show through the skin. However, the vessels are still visible.
What happens to the child can be felt through the tremors.
The genitals are finally formed. In girls, the uterus and eggs are laid. The fallopian tubes are fully formed. The boys’ penis is clearly visible.
The rudiments of molars are laid. At this stage, the baby needs more calcium. Mom can get it from meat and dairy products. Then the baby’s teeth will be strong and healthy.
Physical activity has a positive effect on the muscles and structure of the fetal brain. He is learning to coordinate his body. Facial expressions come to life. The baby learned to suck a thumb, swallow anatomical fluid and hiccup. He yawns and smiles. Pushing off with his legs and arms, he makes coups.
Changes in a woman’s feelings
The uterus grows in size and reaches the level of the navel. This makes the woman uncomfortable. You can feel the bottom of the uterus yourself. It is located 2 fingers from the navel.
A shift in the center of gravity leads to back pain. The lower back is especially affected. The pain can be both aching and acute. To alleviate this condition, light physical activity is necessary. This will help relieve tension as well as strengthen your spine. During the day, you need to spend a few minutes lying down so that the lower back does not overload.
To avoid spinal problems in the next trimester, weight gain needs to be monitored.
The growing uterus forces the abdominal tendons to stretch. This leads to discomfort and painful tingling sensations in the abdomen. They don’t have to be regular and long-term. If the pain is of an increasing nature of spasms, you should consult a doctor. The appearance of bloody discharge indicates a threat of miscarriage.
Mom and baby need a special diet
During this period, appetite increases. This can lead to excess weight. If the increase exceeds the norm of 6 kg, it is worth consulting with your doctor about the diet. Excessive body weight will not only complicate the course of pregnancy, but also negatively affect childbirth. Diets are contraindicated for pregnant women. The child should receive nutrients in full. The doctor will make a suitable diet that will prevent obesity.
For the first time, a woman can feel the fetal movement. Now they are becoming more pronounced. If the pregnancy is not the first, you can face the movements of the crumbs earlier. With a full body constitution, tremors are less noticeable. They may appear later. This is not a deviation from the norm.
After the appearance of noticeable movements, it is necessary to control them. This is how the child communicates with the mother, so the tremors can tell a lot about his well-being. The baby makes 4 to 8 movements every hour. If they are more frequent, this indicates the discomfort of the baby. He lacks oxygen. Frequent movements make the heart work harder, accelerating blood flow. This is how the body replenishes oxygen deficiency.
A pregnant woman should take care of both the nutrition of the baby and the delivery of oxygen. You should make regular walks in the fresh air. It is equally important to exercise, avoiding heavy loads, running and jumping. Smoking should be stopped immediately after conception.
At this time, the pregnant woman feels relief. The most critical period ends.
What happens when you get pregnant with twins?
The growth of children is 19,9 cm, weight – 220 g. The mother, from the beginning of pregnancy, should gain about 8-12 kg. She feels an increased appetite, fatigue, shortness of breath, and sleep problems. Stretch marks may appear on the abdomen and thighs.
18th week – second screening time. It is very important, as specialists study all the parameters of babies. They also measure the amount of amniotic fluid, since both its excess and deficiency are harmful to the fetus.