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You are now four and a half months pregnant, which means you’re nearly halfway through your pregnancy. You have 5 months, or 22 weeks of pregnancy left at 18 weeks. Your baby has grown a lot and is now about the size of a bell pepper. Excitingly, there’s a good chance you might start feeling your baby moving for the first time if you haven’t already experienced it.
Your one-of-a-kind baby’s retinas have become sensitive to light, so if a bright light is shone on your abdomen, your baby may likely move to shield its eyes.
A protective insulation called Myelin is beginning to form around the nerves of the unborn child. This covering will continue to grow until your baby turns one.
Your baby’s reproductive system is still developing. The uterus and fallopian tubes are in position if it’s a girl. If it’s a boy, your next ultrasound may reveal the genitals.
Your one-of-a-kind baby’s retinas have become sensitive to light, so if a bright light is shone on your abdomen, your baby may likely move to shield their eyes.
A protective insulation called Myelin is beginning to form around the nerves of the unborn child. This covering will continue to grow until your baby turns one.
Your baby’s reproductive system is still developing. If it’s a girl, the uterus and fallopian tubes are in position. If it’s a boy, your next ultrasound may reveal the genitals.
This week, your baby’s rapid growth spurt is slowing down, but reflexes are starting to develop. The baby can now yawn, stretch, and make facial expressions, including frowning. Their taste buds are forming and can distinguish between sweet and bitter. The retinas have become sensitive to light, so if a bright light is shone on your abdomen, the baby may likely move to shield their eyes.
At this stage of your pregnancy, a protective covering called myelin is starting to form around your baby’s nerves, enhancing their ability to transmit signals, and this process will continue until your baby’s first birthday. If you’re expecting a girl, her fallopian tubes and uterus have now moved to their proper positions in her body. If you are having a boy, his genitals may be visible on your next ultrasound, although it’s quite common for them to be difficult to see at this point, so don’t be alarmed if they aren’t visible yet.
Your baby continues to mature and develop remarkable abilities inside you. Their lungs are progressing, with the main branching tubes forming smaller tubes at their tips, eventually becoming air sacs. Additionally, your baby is starting to learn how to . As time passes, your baby’s sleeping time will be more regulated to night and day, but that ‘internal clock’ is not fully functioning for now.
Your body continues to change, and it’s now obvious to most people that you’re pregnant, particularly if you’re wearing maternity clothes. However, there are also numerous internal changes happening that aren’t visible. Pregnancy affects your cardiovascular system, which can result in low blood pressure. Therefore, it’s important to transition slowly from lying or sitting to standing to reduce the likelihood of dizziness.
You may notice increased aches and pains around your back and pelvis. This discomfort is due to your muscles and ligaments relaxing from hormonal changes and growing size. To manage this, avoid lifting heavy objects and crossing your legs. If the pain becomes difficult to handle, consult your doctor and ask for a referral to a physiotherapist. Swelling, especially in your hands and feet, is also common. While normal, it shouldn’t be excessive, so inform your midwife if it’s troublesome.
Your changing body might make you feel clumsier than usual, and you may need a larger bra as your breasts often increase in size, particularly during a first pregnancy. Around this time, you may develop a dark line down your stomach called the linea nigra, a normal skin pigmentation caused by hormones. This line runs from your belly button to your pubic area and typically fades a few months after birth.
You will have an ultrasound scan, known as an anomaly scan, between 18 and 20 weeks. This detailed scan checks your baby’s growth and development. It’s a chance to see your baby again and possibly find out the gender if you wish. While the scan can identify several medical conditions, it can’t detect everything. If there are any concerns, the sonographer will inform you or request a doctor to speak with you.
Finally, if you are a resident in the UK and don’t have your Maternity Exemption Certificate (MatEx) yet, ask your midwife or GP for the FW8 form. Completing this form will grant you MatEx, which provides free prescriptions and dental care during your pregnancy and for a year after your baby’s due date or birth.
Every pregnancy is unique, so at 18 weeks, your baby bump might be barely noticeable or quite prominent. During this time, your uterus is expanding and growing upwards and out of your pelvis, which might affect your centre of gravity. If this is your first pregnancy, you may feel your baby move inside your belly around now or soon. This fluttering sensation is called quickening.
As your baby grows, you’ll likely notice stronger movements and kicks in the coming weeks. Each mum-to-be is different, so you might feel these movements earlier, especially if this isn’t your first baby or sometimes later. Therefore, don’t worry if you don’t feel any baby movements yet at 18 weeks pregnant.
Heartburn is one of the most persistent and irritating pregnancy symptoms. It tends to appear nearly every week. Pregnancy hormones relax the muscle that connects your stomach to your windpipe, allowing acid to rise into your oesophagus and cause a burning sensation in your chest. Unfortunately, this symptom often worsens as your baby bump grows, putting more pressure on your stomach
This week, you might find sleeping even harder. Your mind is busy with everything happening in your life and your body, and you’re likely feeling more uncomfortable due to other pregnancy symptoms. This can significantly impact your sleep. To help, try drinking a relaxing night-time tea and ensure you have a comfortable pillow to support you while you sleep.
significantly impact your sleep. To help, try drinking a relaxing night-time tea and ensure you have a comfortable pillow to support you while you sleep.
If your feet and legs appear swollen as if you’ve just disembarked from a long-haul flight, don’t worry. This swelling is simply a sign that your body is retaining fluid to support your baby. To reduce the swelling, avoid standing or sitting for long periods and try to elevate your feet whenever possible.
This week, you may finally get a positive symptom. If you’ve been experiencing strange rumblings in your tummy over the past few days, it’s not something you’ve eaten. Instead, it’s likely your baby is moving around in the womb. Don’t worry if you haven’t felt anything yet; it may take a few more weeks to start feeling those first kicks.
As if the disruption to your precious sleep from frequent trips to the bathroom wasn’t enough, you may also experience sudden awakenings during the night due to shooting spasms in your calves. Although the exact cause of these spasms is unknown, you can prevent them by performing calf stretches before going to bed. Cramps could also indicate dehydration, so drink plenty of fluids.
Pregnancy hormones can cause the mucous membranes in your body, including those in your mouth, to swell, leading to inflamed, irritated, and bleeding gums. It’s crucial to keep flossing and brushing regularly to prevent periodontal disease, but be gentle in your technique to avoid further irritating your sensitive gums.
During pregnancy, you might observe an increase in vaginal discharge. This happens because your body is producing more oestrogen, which prompts the vagina to generate more discharge. Healthy discharge is typically clear to milky white, ranges from thin to thick and mucus-like, and has a mild smell or no odour.
During pregnancy, hormones surge, and blood volume increases, causing the mucous membranes in your nose to swell, leading to congestion and even nosebleeds. This is a common occurrence caused by the changes in your body during pregnancy
Heartburn is one of the most persistent and irritating pregnancy symptoms. It tends to appear nearly every week. Pregnancy hormones relax the muscle that connects your stomach to your windpipe, allowing acid to rise into your oesophagus and cause a burning sensation in your chest. Unfortunately, this symptom often worsens as your baby bump grows, putting more pressure on your stomach.
This week, you might find sleeping even harder. Your mind is busy with everything happening in your life and your body, and you’re likely feeling more uncomfortable due to other pregnancy symptoms. This can significantly impact your sleep. To help, try drinking a relaxing night-time tea and ensure you have a comfortable pillow to support you while you sleep.
If your feet and legs appear swollen as if you’ve just disembarked from a long-haul flight, don’t worry. This swelling is simply a sign that your body is retaining fluid to support your baby. To reduce the swelling, avoid standing or sitting for long periods and try to elevate your feet whenever possible.
This week, you may finally get a positive symptom. If you’ve been experiencing strange rumblings in your tummy over the past few days, it’s not something you’ve eaten. Instead, it’s likely your baby is moving around in the womb. Don’t worry if you haven’t felt anything yet; it may take a few more weeks to start feeling those first kicks.
As if the disruption to your precious sleep from frequent trips to the bathroom wasn’t enough, you may also experience sudden awakenings during the night due to shooting spasms in your calves. Although the exact cause of these spasms, you can take steps to prevent them by performing calf stretches before going to bed. Cramps could also indicate dehydration, so drink plenty of fluids.
Pregnancy hormones can cause the mucous membranes in your body, including those in your mouth, to swell, leading to inflamed, irritated, and bleeding gums. It’s crucial to keep flossing and brushing regularly to prevent periodontal disease, but be gentle in your technique to avoid further irritating your sensitive gums.
During pregnancy, you might observe an increase in vaginal discharge. This happens because your body is producing more oestrogen, which prompts the vagina to generate more discharge. Healthy discharge is typically clear to milky white, ranges from thin to thick and mucus-like, and has a mild smell or no odour.
During pregnancy, hormones surge, and blood volume increases, causing the mucous membranes in your nose to swell, leading to congestion and even nosebleeds. This is a common occurrence caused by the changes in your body during pregnancy.
Contact your doctor during your second trimester if you experience any of the following symptoms:
Also, reach out to your doctor if you notice swelling in your ankles, face, or hands, or if you experience rapid weight gain. These could be early signs of preeclampsia, a serious pregnancy complication that needs immediate medical attention. Additionally, consult your doctor before starting any new medications or herbal remedies.
Prioritise rest: Most pregnant women struggle to get through the day without napping. If you’re a stay-at-home mum, try to rest when your other children are napping. If your children are older and no longer nap, schedule some quiet time in the afternoon to rest.
Finding time for a short nap can be challenging if you’re a working mum, but it’s still possible. If you have a private office, close the door for 15 minutes of privacy. Alternatively, you can use a conference room or car for a quick nap. Remember to set an alarm so you don’t oversleep.
Consume vitamin D: Your baby requires vitamin D for the healthy development of bones. Ensuring you’re getting enough vitamin D throughout your pregnancy and while breastfeeding is crucial. The best sources include sunlight, fortified milk, and fatty fish like salmon and sardines. During winter, taking a daily vitamin D supplement (10 mcg) might be beneficial, but always consult your healthcare provider before starting any new supplements or medications.
Pamper your feet: At 18 weeks pregnant, your feet may be swollen due to the extra fluid your body is retaining to support your baby, and gravity can worsen this. To alleviate the swelling, try elevating your feet above heart level using pillows—it’s a great excuse to relax and rest! If you’re on your feet often, consider wearing compression socks to help manage the discomfort.
Increase your fibre intake: Eating healthy during pregnancy can aid digestion and help prevent constipation. However, increasing your fibre intake too quickly can lead to bloating, cramping, and gas, which are common enough during pregnancy. To avoid this, gradually incorporate more fibre into your diet. Start with small additions, like sprinkling chia seeds on your breakfast cereal or snacking on trail mix in the afternoon, so your body can adjust smoothly to the change.
Take unwanted pregnancy advice calmly: You might observe that everyone, from your mother-in-law to random strangers, feels the need to share their pregnancy advice. While unsolicited opinions can be bothersome, it’s best not to let them get to you. Remember, you don’t owe anyone an explanation.
A polite “Thanks, I’ll consider that” should suffice. Remember that people generally have good intentions and are excited for you. Plus, some parenting tips you receive might be quite helpful.
Manage stress: Creating a new life is incredible, but it often comes with many physical symptoms and significant life changes. It’s no wonder you might be feeling stressed. While some stress is completely normal, elevated stress levels during pregnancy can lead to high blood pressure, which in turn raises the risk of preterm labour or having a baby with low birth weight.
A study of maternal stress also indicated that children may have a higher likelihood of developing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) if their mothers experience prenatal stress.
Therefore, it is important to find effective coping strategies to manage stress and know when to seek professional help.
Your pregnant partner is likely feeling the demands of growing and nourishing another human being. If she’s working or caring for other children, she might need a 30-minute break each day just for herself. Offer to look after the children or handle dinner so she can have some “obligation-free” time. She might use this time to meditate, sleep, bathe, or exercise. Knowing she’ll have a dedicated time to rest can make her day more manageable.
Your baby is growing bigger and bigger each week, and this week, your baby is about 190 grams heavy and measures 5.59 inches in length. In more practical terms, your baby is about the size of a bell pepper.
At 18 weeks in the womb, your baby’s face and head begin to shape. Facial features and ears are moving into place, although it will be some time before you can tell if they have inherited your eyes or your partner’s nose. Your baby has a functioning digestive system, and a light coating of hair called lanugo covers the body at this stage.
By 18 weeks, you’re roughly halfway through your fifth month of pregnancy, and your sixth month will commence around 21 weeks. However, there’s a significant milestone to celebrate before reaching that point! At 20 weeks, you’ll reach the midpoint of your pregnancy, which means you’ll soon be able to begin counting down to your due date.
Finding a comfortable sleeping position at 18 weeks pregnant can be challenging. To improve your comfort, consider using a full-body pregnancy pillow to support your belly and back, especially if you sleep on your side. Additionally, placing a pillow between your knees can help align your hips and reduce pressure on your lower back. Ensuring your body is well-supported can significantly affect your sleep quality.
Your body continues to change, and it’s now obvious to most people that you’re pregnant, particularly if you’re wearing maternity clothes. However, there are also numerous internal changes happening that aren’t visible. Pregnancy affects your cardiovascular system, which can result in low blood pressure. Therefore, it’s important to transition slowly from lying or sitting to standing to reduce the likelihood of dizziness.
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2. Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute Of Child Health and Human Development. Will stress during pregnancy affect my baby?. Will stress during pregnancy affect my baby? | NICHD
3. Grizenko, N., Fortier, M.E., Zadorozny, C., Thakur, G., Schmitz, N., Duval, R. and Joober, R., 2012. Maternal stress during pregnancy, ADHD symptomatology in children and genotype: gene-environment interaction. Journal of the Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 21(1), p.9. Maternal Stress during Pregnancy, ADHD Symptomatology in Children and Genotype: Gene-Environment Interaction – PMC
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5. Ioniță-Mîndrican, C.B., Ziani, K., Mititelu, M., Oprea, E., Neacșu, S.M., Moroșan, E., Dumitrescu, D.E., Roșca, A.C., Drăgănescu, D. and Negrei, C., 2022. Therapeutic benefits and dietary restrictions of fiber intake: A state of the art review. Nutrients, 14(13), p.2641. https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/13/2641
6. McQuire, C., Daniel, R., Hurt, L., Kemp, A. and Paranjothy, S., 2020. The causal web of foetal alcohol spectrum disorders: a review and causal diagram. European child & adolescent psychiatry, 29, pp.575-594. The causal web of foetal alcohol spectrum disorders: a review and causal diagram | European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
7. NHS. Vitamins and supplements in pregnancy https://www.nhs.uk/start-for-life/pregnancy/vitamins-and-supplements-in-pregnancy/
8. Now baby. https://www.nowbaby.co.uk/blog/week-18/
9. WebMD. Your Pregnancy Week by Week: Weeks 17-20. https://www.webmd.com/baby/your-pregnancy-week-by-week-weeks-17-20
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