15 Dec 2016 | 10 min Read
Sudeshna Chakravarti
Author | 759 Articles
If you are 18 weeks pregnant, then you are in the middle of your second trimester, and four-and-a-half months pregnant. During this time, your energy levels start going back to normal, and you may start to feel your baby’s movements actively. In this week, you may also experience certain pregnancy symptoms and bodily changes, such as body pain and leg cramps, which can be eased with slight to moderate exercises and walking.
In this post, we give you all the crucial information about the 18th week of pregnancy and discuss your baby’s development and size and other bodily changes that you can expect.
At 18 weeks of pregnancy, your uterus will expand even more in size to accommodate your growing baby. Most of your baby’s crucial bodily systems will continue to develop with some of them being almost fully functional. Your baby will also learn new skills while they are in the womb, and in this week, you can expect them to begin yawning.
Keep reading to learn more interesting facts about your baby’s development and size in the 18th week of pregnancy.
At 18 weeks of pregnancy, your baby will be as big as a bell pepper, and usually, weigh around 190gms (6.7 ounces), and measure 14.2cms (5.6 inches) in length. Additionally, your baby’s growth continues with the development of different parts of their body.
If you want a deeper insight into your baby’s development and size, you can follow the pregnancy week-by-week posts published by BabyChakra, which are information-rich, and discuss all important pointers on foetal development.
At 18 weeks of pregnancy, you can expect your baby to achieve the following milestones in terms of their growth and development in the womb.
At 18 weeks of pregnancy, you will experience symptoms like body aches and pains, and the urge to pee frequently. In some cases, the symptoms experienced during this time are similar to the early signs of pregnancy. You might notice:
The bodily changes that you experience during this time will be more rapid as compared to the first trimester. Common physical changes that occur during the 18th week of pregnancy are:
When you are 18 weeks pregnant, you may also experience certain emotional changes, such as mood swings and anxiety. You may also have weird dreams due to childbirth or pregnancy-related fears and anticipations.
At 18 weeks, your belly will appear bigger and more protruded. During this time, you may also begin to feel strong foetal movements. These movements might feel like a swish, flutter, or roll. Oftentimes, you may not be able to identify your baby’s movements and mistake their kicks for gas. However, fret not, as your baby grows, they become more active, and the movement inside becomes more prominent too.
In case you want to know the exact week your baby starts kicking, you can use a pregnancy month calculator to find out more details and also track your little one’s developmental progress.
When you are 18 weeks pregnant, your prenatal visit will include a blood pressure check and weight check. The doctor will also measure the height of the fundus and suggest other lab tests like maternal serum screening and urinary tests.
Additionally, you will also have an ultrasound scan during this visit. This screening also referred to as an anomaly scan, lets you have a close look at your baby’s organ developments, gives you information about the placental position and appearance, and also an insight into the amount of amniotic fluid surrounding the baby.
We have listed a few self-care tips that you should follow during the 18th week of your pregnancy.
Also,
A set of checklists for the 18th week of pregnancy:
By the time you reach the 18th week of pregnancy, you may be curious to know more about your baby’s development inside the womb. Some crucial questions to ask your doctor are:
By 18 weeks of pregnancy, your baby will be almost the size of a bell pepper, and you can also expect slight movement in the womb. In addition, you will experience physical changes like enlarged breasts and emotional changes like anxiety and mood swings.
Make sure to take proper care of yourself, and if you feel any uncomfortable symptoms like vaginal bleeding or severe vomitting, consult your ob-gyn immediately.
What should I be worried about at 18 weeks pregnant?
If you do not feel any foetal movement even in your 18th week of pregnancy, then you should consult your doctor for more advise and check your baby’s developmental progress.
Is 18 weeks considered 5 months pregnant?
No. 18 weeks of pregnancy is considered four-and-a-half months pregnant.
Is my baby fully formed at 18 weeks?
While some of your baby’s body parts become functional during this time, it takes longer than 18 weeks for your baby to develop in the womb.
Can you feel your baby kick at 18 weeks?
Yes, you can feel strong kicks at 18 weeks of pregnancy. You can also expect your baby to be more active now and in the coming weeks.
How often should my baby move at 18 weeks?
There is no set number of normal movements that you should be feeling. This is because every baby is different and their foetal movement may differ too. Just remember, you should experience some amount of foetal movement each day.
How can I wake my baby in the womb?
You can talk to your baby, sing a lullaby, or turn on some music to wake your baby in the womb. A short burst of exercise can wake them up too.
19 weeks pregnancy symptoms: Nearing the 19th week of pregnancy? Here are some common symptoms that you might experience.
Ovulation calculator: Check out this post to learn the benefits of using an ovulation calculator while planning your pregnancy.
Featured image: Pexels.com
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Suggestions offered by doctors on BabyChakra are of advisory nature i.e., for educational and informational purposes only. Content posted on, created for, or compiled by BabyChakra is not intended or designed to replace your doctor's independent judgment about any symptom, condition, or the appropriateness or risks of a procedure or treatment for a given person.