18 Weeks of pregnancy

In the week 18 of pregnancy the woman's uterus is larger and possibly already rubs the height of her navel. When the expectant mother reaches this stage, it is normal that she feels the need to urinate more frequently and has to get up several times at night to go to the bathroom, because the growth

In the week 18 of pregnancy the woman's uterus is larger and possibly already rubs the height of her navel. When the expectant mother reaches this stage, it is normal that she feels the need to urinate more frequently and has to get up several times at night to go to the bathroom, because the growth of the uterus compresses her bladder. The symptoms resemble those of a urine infection, with the difference that the woman does not feel any stinging.

Changes in the body of the pregnant woman

The progressive change of the woman's body is noticed every day, making her position and the position of her spine no longer the same and that it is difficult to maintain balance at the time of walking. At this stage it is normal for the woman to feel more discomfort in the back or lower back.

Your belly and your breasts will grow a lot this week. So if until now the woman has not worn maternity clothes or larger bras, she may start needing them.

The pain generated by the weight gain of the woman as well as the growth of the belly, are inevitable although they can be relieved with a series of exercises and healthy diet. From week 18 it is possible that the woman begins to have cravings and predilections for certain foods.

Health and emotions during pregnancy

In the week 18 of pregnancy the doctor can recommend the woman to do an ultrasound to measure the baby and look more closely at the development of their organs and limbs, and thus discard malformations You can even confirm the sex of the baby.

It is normal that at this stage the mood changes in the pregnant woman. She may feel more sensitive, more unattentive, more anxious, or afraid of the baby in her womb. That is why it is very important that you always stay active, walk and take a diet as balanced as possible.

Avoid being in an environment where there is a lot of tobacco smoke. Cigarette smoke often affects the health of the baby and the woman.

Development and growth of the baby in pregnancy

In week 18 of pregnancy, the baby usually measures between 15 and 18 cm and weighs between 160 and 200 grams. The small one presents a considerable development in this stage. The eyelashes as well as the eyebrows will begin to appear.

The position of the eyes as well as the baby's ears are more appropriate and definitive. It is very possible that the baby begins to hear sounds from the outside, as well as the beats of his own heart and the passage of his blood through the umbilical cord. This is possible because the bones of your inner ear and the nerve endings of your brain are fully developed. It would be good to put some music or sing to him.

At this stage the baby will also be able to grimace, to move the muscles of his face, so if you do an ultrasound you may notice some smiles. The baby may also yawn and make facial gestures. He can hiccup and emit some other sound, although only he will be able to hear it.

By week eighteen, the baby will have his fingerprints almost formed and his bones begin to solidify.

The baby's digestive system also starts to work allowing the baby to swallow amniotic fluid.

Diet and feeding for the pregnant woman

Constipation may continue to bother the pregnant woman during this week. To relieve her symptoms, it is advisable that she take a diet rich in fiber, lots of fruit and vegetables, and drink at least 8 glasses of water a day.

At this stage it is also important that, in addition to fruit and vegetables, women also consume more red meat, legumes and nuts, to increase the amount of iron in their blood. An anemia at this stage of pregnancy could be bad for her and her baby.

The role of calcium is also very important for the health of women in week 18. It will help in the formation of teeth, bones of the baby, in addition to favoring the woman's body. Your doctor will do a review and prescribe, if necessary, a calcium supplement or an increase in certain foods in your diet.

Curiosities of week 18 of pregnancy

If until this week 18 of pregnancy, the woman was used to sleeping on her stomach, it is possible that due to the growth of her belly, she has to change her position to sleep. Throughout this week you may begin to have difficulty finding a better sleeping position. The best position for this stage is to sleep on the left side or side, putting a pillow under the knees or between the legs.