Pregnancy at 18 Weeks

Pregnancy at week 18 develops all the body parts in the baby completely. However, these body parts are still not mature enough to enable its survival outside your womb. However, you start feeling the movements of your baby at 18 weeks very often from now on. You can feel it even more, when you are not moving. Babies, from pregnancy week 18, love to feel the movements of their mother. It makes them feel comfortable. Go for an ultrasound test. It may detect the anatomical problems in your baby if it has any.

Development of your baby during pregnancy at week 18:

• Little air sacks are now forming. However, lungs will not form right now.
  
• Its muscles are getting stronger each day, and that is why you can feel the force of its kick better.
  
• Its kidneys are now functioning properly
  
• It urinates and drinks amniotic fluid
  
• You baby is now producing myelin, which is a protective shield that covers its nerves.
  
• Its genitals are somewhat detectable now; however, it will be more apparent in the next two weeks.
  
• Its heart now pumps faster and releases about 25 to 30 quarts of blood in a day.
  

Appearance of your baby when you are 18 weeks pregnant:

• Its head has become more proportionate to its body
  
• It weighs about 200 grams and roughly 7.5 ounces.
  
• It may be about 5.5 to 6 inches long.
  
• Its body is very thin due to lack of fat.
  
• Its skin is red and transparent
  
• Its facial features are very apparent. It may even show similarity to you and your husband.
  

Changes in you during pregnancy at week 18:

• You can feel your uterus, slightly protruded above or below your belly buttons.
  
• You may have gained about 14 to 18 pounds of weight by now.
  
• You waist expands a little more than before
  
• You feel more uncomfortable while sleeping because your pre-pregnancy sleeping posture may compress your uterus.
  
• You may feel dizzy and fainting sensations, because of the slight slow functioning of the cardiovascular systems.
  In order to avoid these general pregnancy problems always make very slow movements to avoid fainting and dizziness. Use pregnancy pillow from now on to support your growing tummy and try doing stomach tilt exercises to have a good comfortable sleep.