18 week of pregnancy is 4.5 lunar months. The fruit grows up to 12.5-14 cm, weighs about 150 g, and the rudiments of molars appear. If the baby is not pushing yet, he is about to start. An important question - will a boy or a girl be born? - may also become clearer in the coming days. It's time for the expectant mother to study and master Kegel exercises.
Medical standards
It is believed that with repeated births, it is at the end of this week that the baby can begin to move noticeably for the first time. Of course, these are all averages. Thin women feel the movements of their crumbs earlier, fat women later.
If for some reason it is impossible to accurately determine the obstetric gestational age, then doctors consider the first fetal movement one of the landmarks. Learn more about this here.
What happens to the baby
The fruit grows quickly. Open the palm of your hand. Now your baby would just fit on it. And here's how your child is developing:
the mineralization of the skeleton continues, all bones are strengthened;- muscles develop;
- a layer of subcutaneous fat is formed;
- tiny joints on the fingers and toes are developed;
- the fetus often "trains", makes reflex movements (sucks a finger, turns, imitates breathing and swallows amniotic fluid);
- over the small rudiments of milk teeth, the embryos of molars appear - before some of them erupt, it may take more than a dozen years!
the mineralization of the skeleton continues, all bones are strengthened;Mothers often ask doctors - how many times a day should the child move? So far, there is no talk of counting the aftershocks. Many of the baby's movements are still imperceptible to you, you only feel the strongest kicks. It is possible and necessary to count the movements and draw conclusions later.
Mom's feelings
If you are healthy and your weight is normal, you probably feel amazing. The belly has not yet grown enough to completely slow down the gait. True, there may be some unpleasant moments:
- heartburn - due to weakening of the muscle between the stomach and esophagus;
- age spots on the face (hormones are "naughty");
- constipation and frequent urination (the grown uterus presses on the intestines and bladder);
- difficulty falling asleep (almost any position seems uncomfortable);
- frequent increases in blood pressure;
- slight deterioration in vision;
- feeling as if the navel aches from the inside.
Some unpleasant sensations can be weakened or eliminated (read the recommendations below), you just need to endure something.
Tummy
What do tummies look like at eighteenth week? Everyone has it differently. Some mothers seem to have swallowed a ball, while others have a belly that stretches from top to bottom. It's all right. Sometimes they even try to guess by the shape of the abdomen - a girl or a boy will be born. And yet, only an ultrasound specialist can tell you for sure, if this week you are assigned such a study and the child wants to share a secret.
Photos tummies
Photo of ultrasound
Discharge, pain, complications
- Your breasts are preparing to feed your baby after a few months and therefore produce colostrum. Do not express it, it can provoke uterine contractions.
- Your vaginal discharge may now be noticeably worse. This is a variant of the norm, if only the mucus is white and without an unpleasant smell. Brown, bloody, yellow discharge indicates various problems.
- When the stomach pulls just a little or the lower back hurts - know that everything is fine. This is how the stretching of the ligaments and muscles that support your uterus "responds". But if something really hurts, visit or call your doctor.
- Frozen pregnancy and miscarriage are possible at any time. In this case, various complications, disorders of the woman's well-being and health often occur. Be attentive to your feelings.
- Another complication, sometimes quite severe, is late toxicosis. Read about it and test yourself here.
See your doctor on time
If you have not yet had your routine check-up, your doctor will prescribe several blood tests:
- to the hCG level;
- for the content of alpha-fetoprotein in the blood;
- to free estriol.
These specific tests will indicate the absence / presence of many fetal malformations and are therefore very important.
If the test results are abnormal, do not be alarmed. One "bad" analysis doesn't tell you anything. You could have prepared incorrectly, mistakes in the laboratory are possible. Even an incorrectly set gestational age can give results that do not meet standard indicators. In any case, an unsatisfactory study should be repeated in order to exclude all possible errors.
Let's exercise!
Week 18 is the perfect time for special gymnastics. It is also called Kegel exercises. To get an idea, go to the bathroom and while urinating, tense your muscles so that it stops. This is the main exercise. Do them right:
- empty your bladder beforehand;
- do not hold your breath;
- get into a comfortable position.
The last recommendation is relative - during exercise, you can stand, sit or lie down, choose whichever is more comfortable. This specific exercise strengthens the muscles of the pelvic floor, vagina and urethra.
Watch the video:
We train the muscles of the perineum. Kundalini Yoga recommendation - use Kegel exercises every time you urinate 8 times. Recommendations from the birthing class for natural childbirth according to the Bradley Method - 100 to 200 Kegel exercises per day. How to get into a habit? At any time when you are waiting for something (queue at the cashier, in the subway, red lights on the road, call on the phone) practice Kegel exercises
Other recommendations
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- Follow your old diet.
- For heartburn, be sure to cook porridge and jelly.
- A few prunes a day will relieve you of constipation.
- Don't overeat.
- If your head hurts, try lying in the dark and quiet. Usually such advice is given for migraines, but the headache of pregnant women in such an environment goes away faster.
- Do not be sad or upset - all unfavorable hormones through your blood will get to the baby and disturb him. If an unpleasant incident has happened in your life, come up with something urgently. Chat with family and friends, watch your favorite positive films, chat on forums for expectant mothers.
- If colostrum leaks, use special pads for the bra.
- Wear a prenatal brace - it will support your growing tummy and reduce back pain.
- Want to use the toilet? Do not tolerate it if possible.
- Sex life can be truly amazing and a lot of pleasure. Possible prohibitions: oligohydramnios, the threat of miscarriage, pregnancy with twins or even triplets, leakage of amniotic fluid and low location of the placenta.
- Walk as much as possible, but do not make tedious, long transitions.
- In addition to special gymnastics, do yoga for pregnant women and / or swim. A visit to the pool over time will help your baby get into the correct position in the uterus.
- Talk to your child and teach this to the future dad.
- Attend courses for pregnant women, socialize and gain rewarding experiences.
- Watch out for colds and any hypothermia. If there is an infectious epidemic in your city, do not hesitate to wear a medical mask in public.
Think good, take care of yourself, and then the eighteenth week will be great.
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