Pregnancy Diary

Archive for the ‘Pregnancy Week 18’ Category

Your Baby Growth and Development

Your baby will now be about 5.6 inches (14.2cm) in length and nearly 7 ounces (190 grams) in weight. his is a big week for their baby skin. There are now two distinct layers—the epidermis (or the surface skin) and dermis. Currently, their skin is covered with a greasy, waxy, cheese-like substance, known as vernix caseosa.

The finger prints will begin forming shortly as the finger and toe pads are now formed. Bones of the inner ear and the nerve endings from the brain have developed enough so that your baby will hear sounds such as your heartbeat and blood moving through the umbilical cord. he bones of the inner ear and the nerve endings from the brain have developed enough so that your baby will hear sounds such as your heartbeat and blood moving through the umbilical cord. Your baby’s eyes are developing, too.

Your baby is also now able to swallow and she may swallow up to a liter of amniotic fluid throughout the day.

Your Body during Pregnancy Calendar Week 18

Sleeping may start beginning to be uncomfortable now that you are 18 weeks pregnant. Try doing pelvic tilts before bed and always urinate before lying down.
One more fun pregnancy symptom to add to the list: you are producing more melanin, which can cause dark patches of skin to occur on random parts of your body. Don’t worry—these dark spots (unlike your parent’s age spots) will retreat soon after birth.

By pregnancy calendar week 18, some women start to notice that their shoes feel tighter than normal. Pregnancy causes feet to swell because of extra fluid retention. The hormones that prepare your body for delivery can also cause your feet to spread by loosening up the joints.

You may be getting light-headed, dizzy or even feel faint from time to time. So keep in mind that as you grow (and grow and grow) in size you produce more blood (for both of you), which lowers your blood pressure. So standing up quickly and/or occasional fast movements may cause slight dizziness or lightheadedness.

Pregnancy hormones can also contribute to eye dryness and a decrease in tear production. If possible, you may want to consider switching to glasses or soft contacts for the remainder of your pregnancy.

This week is a good week to make schedule visits to meet with potential doctors to discuss issues such as appointment availability, immunization scheduling and when to call in an emergency.

Common Pregnancy Symptoms in Week 18

• Breast Changes: tenderness, fullness, darkening of the areola
• Frequent Urination
• Constipation
• Heartburn or Indigestion
• Headaches
• Stretch Marks
• Itching

pregnant in week 18 have commonly asked Questions:

How to release Backaches During Pregnancy?

During pregnancy, the joints in your pelvis begin to loosen up to allow for easier delivery of your baby, which can cause back pain. Many women aggravate the problem by standing with their shoulders back and neck arched in an attempt to compensate for the extra weight of the baby.Read more…

How will endometriosis affect pregnancy?
Results of a study conducted by Australian researchers shows that Endometriosis can increase the risk of premature delivery in the women who have undergone assisted reproduction procedures.Read more…

Find out or not what gender the baby is?
There is no right or wrong answer to the question, “Do you want to know?” It is a personal choice made by each individual couple. It is often common for the answer to change several times, before that big day. Some couples choose to find out if they are having a boy or a girl from the moment they get pregnant, others know ahead of time that they want to be surprised.Read more…

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There is no right or wrong answer to the question, “Do you want to know?” It is a personal choice made by each individual couple. It is often common for the answer to change several times, before that big day. Some couples choose to find out if they are having a boy or a girl from the moment they get pregnant, others know ahead of time that they want to be surprised.

Finding out ahead of time whether or not you are having a boy or a girl, helps the parents who are planning on doing a nursery and buying their child’s entire wardrobe prior to the birth of their baby. Newborn clothes primarily come in blue for boys and pinks for girls, with the occasional greens and purples mixed in. If you don’t know the sex it might be difficult to buy clothes as the choices for unisex clothes in greens, reds, yellows and oranges can be hard to find. Likewise there are a lot of nursery theme choices that cater to boys and girls, but fewer that can work for either sex. For the well organized parents, finding out the sex of their baby well before birth is the best way for them to plan for the arrival.

Btw, the gender of your baby has much more importance than whether or not you are having a boy or a girl. In some cultures it is very important for there to be a son, and couples will try to have a son first. Some families have seconds and thirds, and want to have a boy so that they will have a fourth. Some families have an uneven number of boys and girls, so they hope to get the sex they need to even out their family.

However, some parents choose to enjoy the element of surprise. hese parents buy the unisex clothes, although may choose to save money so that they can go on a big shopping spree after the baby is born, and only buy the clothes they will need in the first couple of weeks after birth.

Results of a study conducted by Australian researchers shows that Endometriosis can increase the risk of premature delivery in the women who have undergone assisted reproduction procedures.

Endometriosis is a chronic condition where the endometrium (lining of the uterus) is found outside the uterus itself and extends into the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or the pelvis lining. t is estimated to occur in about 1 out of every 10 females of childbearing age. Up to 44% of women with endometriosis do not show any symptoms.

Ovarian endometriosis can be detected by laparoscopy or ultrasound but many cases are only detected during prenatal check ups. The findings can have the following consequences:
• Women should be screened for endometriosis before undergoing assisted reproduction procedures.
• Corrective surgery of endometriosis should be considered for women who are considering reproductive procedures.
• Women with endometriosis should be closely monitored during pregnancy to reduce risks of premature delivery.

During pregnancy, the joints in your pelvis begin to loosen up to allow for easier delivery of your baby, which can cause back pain. Many women aggravate the problem by standing with their shoulders back and neck arched in an attempt to compensate for the extra weight of the baby.

But I think prevention is the best approach to dealing with back pain. Don’t wear high heels and try not to stand for long periods of time. To carry groceries or other heavy packages, bend at the knees and lift with your arms and legs. Sit in a supportive chair whenever possible. Avoid crossing your legs, since this causes you to tilt your pelvis too far forward. Since back pain is aggravated by stress, you may also wish to try a series of relaxing stretches and deep breathing exercises before bedtime.

Even if you’re not bothered by back pain during the day, you may notice discomfort when you’re trying to sleep. To get the rest you need, try sleeping on a firm mattress and using a maternity pillow to support your back.