The second trimester has been going on for almost two months, during which time the baby has grown significantly and your tummy is more and more prominent. Now the quietest time has come when you need to replenish the reserves of nutrients in the body, walk a lot, relax and actively communicate with the baby. At this time, many women can already feel the movements of the fetus, which fills the mother with awe and excitement. During this period, it is worth reviewing your diet, removing highly allergenic foods from it, since the fetal immune system is already working and can react to them.
What happens to the body at week 18
The 18th week of pregnancy is the fifth obstetric month, its second week, according to the calendar period, it is four and a half months. In the midst of the second trimester of pregnancy - the quietest time, when health and general condition is usually the best. The body of a woman has already acquired roundness, and grandiose events are taking place inside the body. In order not to gain extra pounds and not suffer from swelling, you should be careful about your diet and drink, avoid highly salty and spicy foods, an excess of confectionery and flour products. The tummy this week is already clearly visible - it has grown significantly, risen up and is clearly visible to everyone around. Due to the growth of the abdomen, the center of gravity shifts forward, which leads to a change in the curvature of the spine, its deflection in the lumbar region and the deviation of the mother's shoulders. This gives pregnant women a special gait. In this period, it is important to choose comfortable clothes and shoes, as well as the right underwear - a bra with wide straps and no seams to support the chest and comfortable panties that do not squeeze the body. Also, many women will benefit from wearing a special support bandage that eliminates pain in the back and legs.
Due to the large uterus on the back, it becomes uncomfortable to sleep, which requires new positions for rest and sleep, you can use special pillows for the lower back and legs.
Fetal development at the eighteenth week: weight, size and gender
Now the baby is actively growing and improving, it is already a fully formed little man who has grown from the tailbone to the crown of the head by 14 cm (and in its entirety reaches 20 cm), and has gained almost 200 g of weight. While the growth of the uterus allows the baby to feel relatively free in the stomach, he actively moves in the amniotic fluid - makes turns, somersaults, moves his legs and arms, nods his head, touches the umbilical cord, pushes into the walls of the uterus. Doctors believe that such active movements are very useful for the fetus, due to them the zone of the motor cortex of the brain is actively developing and the musculoskeletal system of the fetus is being improved.
The fetus is actively improving - it has fully formed arms and legs, and the legs are longer than the arms, the fingers and toes are actively divided into phalanges. The pads of the fingers have acquired a unique pattern that forms fingerprints. In children of both sexes, the genitals are fully formed - both external and internal. The fetus actively stores adipose tissue, brown fat is especially actively stored in the area of the shoulder blades and the whole body, and the formation of the brain is actively taking place. The development of the fetal immune system is actively taking place, now the fetal immune organs can actively produce immunoglobulins and interferons that protect the fetus from viral and microbial infections. The rudiments of both milk and permanent teeth have already fully formed, and the permanent teeth are located above the milk teeth and will appear in due time. The eyes of the fetus, although formed, are still closed, and can actively respond to light. In addition, the baby's hearing is also actively developed, it can perfectly distinguish the sounds of both the mother's body and sounds coming from outside. Therefore, now it is useful to talk a lot with the baby, read fairy tales to him, put on classical music and avoid sharp frightening sounds. From such sounds, the child may freeze, worry.
At this time, you can accurately determine the sex of the baby using an ultrasound scan, and prepare for the birth of either a girl or a boy directly. Also in this period, many women can already feel the first movements and movements of their baby. The baby's bones actively store calcium, and if the mother does not have enough, calcium will be extracted from the woman's teeth and bones, which will lead to dental problems and the need to visit the dentist.
The baby may form a certain sleep and wakefulness regimen, often not coinciding with the mother's, often in the future the mother will feel the fetus moving in the minutes of her rest. The baby can now sleep up to four hours in a row.
Feelings of the expectant mother
The main feeling in this period of pregnancy can be the first movements of the fetus, which bring unspeakable joy to the mother - they can be very light and unclear, similar to a transfusion of water or barely perceptible jolts. Gradually, the movements of the fetus will become more confident and strong. Usually, movements are felt in the period from 17 to 22 weeks, a lot depends on the woman's complexion and the size of the fetus, the amount of fatty tissue on the abdomen. If you haven't felt the movement yet, don't worry, you will soon feel it. Previously, fetal movements are felt by lean women and re-pregnant women. Usually, four to eight movements per hour can be recorded. If the movements are felt strongly and distinctly, too often, this may be a sign of a lack of oxygen for the fetus. Then the child begins to move more actively in order to activate blood circulation and saturate the blood with oxygen. It is important that the mother takes care of the baby, often going for walks, inhaling deeply and calmly. You can also do yoga or gymnastics for pregnant women, they will also help in the prevention of hypoxia.
The period of 18 weeks is quite calm in terms of sensations, with a normal pregnancy, the mother does not feel any discomfort, there may be only some inconvenience from an actively growing belly. You are not yet accustomed to the fact that it is, it is difficult for you to find a position for rest and sleep, since it is no longer possible to lie on your stomach, and your head may feel dizzy on your back. Sometimes mothers can touch the surrounding objects with a growing tummy, not yet getting used to the new “dimensions” of their body.
Get used to resting more often on the left side, in this position the blood circulation is most active, it is easiest for the fetus and uterus to take the correct position for childbirth. Learn to get out of bed through your side, you can’t jump out of bed abruptly, it can darken in your eyes and dizzy. The breast of a woman in this period is not so sensitive, but the juices have increased and darkened, there may be a discharge of colostrum from the nipples of a yellowish color. There is no need to worry, the breast is preparing to feed the baby in the future, and even if there is no colostrum until the very birth, this is also quite normal. Any manipulations with juices can lead to an increase in the tone of the uterus, so nothing needs to be done with the breast.
Condition of the uterus at 18 weeks pregnant
Due to the growth of the uterus, there may be some discomfort from the pressure of the bottom of the uterus on the navel from the inside. This is because by this time the bottom of the uterus has almost reached the level of the navel, it can be 2-3 cm below it. if you put your hand on your stomach, you can feel the fundus of the uterus just below the navel, about two of your fingers. The uterus has reached the size of an average melon, and continues to grow actively up and to the sides. From the level of the pubis, the uterus has risen by about 18 cm, and bulges forward, giving a distinct growth of the abdomen in circumference. With a weak abdominal wall and leanness, the occurrence of back pain, a prenatal bandage can be very useful from this period, supporting the uterus in the correct position and relieving excess pressure on the back and lower abdomen. Gymnastics exercises for pregnant women and comfortable clothes with shoes also help to cope with discomfort. From this period, it is recommended to periodically take a knee-elbow position to unload the back and internal organs, especially for the kidneys, as urine outflow improves. And do not worry about the size of the abdomen - it depends on the strength of the abdominal muscles and the capacity of the pelvis, gradually the stomach will grow more and more.
Ultrasound at 18 weeks
In terms of 18 to 22 weeks, pregnant women are assigned a second planned ultrasound examination to determine the sex of the child, as well as studies of the main indicators that reflect the growth and development of the baby. Conducting this study aims to identify defects in the development of the fetus and gross malformations of internal organs. the doctor carefully examines the heart and kidneys of the fetus for their anomalies, can determine the presumptive signs of Down syndrome or gross brain defects.
In addition, with ultrasound of the fetus, a detailed scan of the placenta occurs, its structure and the umbilical cord with vessels are evaluated, the main indicators are evaluated:
- circumference of the abdomen and the head of the fetus,
- occipital-frontal size,
- dimensions of the tubular bones of the thigh, lower leg, shoulder and forearm.
It is also possible to conduct a 3D ultrasound with photographs or record the baby on a flash card.
Discharge from the genital tract
During this period, the discharge from the genital tract should be very slight and uniform, light or milky in color, without impurities and an unpleasant odor. They should not bring any discomfort to the expectant mother. In comparison with previous weeks, their number may become slightly larger due to the action of hormones.
It is worth worrying if the amount of discharge becomes abundant, their color changes to yellow, gray, greenish or frothy, crumbly, itching and burning are formed, sexually transmitted diseases or thrush, bacterial vaginosis can be suspected. They are dangerous for pregnant women, so you need to treat them immediately. Especially dangerous should be brown discharge during pregnancy, which may indicate the presence of erosion or other pathologies of the cervix, or bloody discharge, which may be a sign of placental abruption or abortion.
What tests to take
At 18 weeks, a mandatory urinalysis is performed to rule out kidney pathologies, and if anemia is suspected, a complete blood count. At this time, if this has not been done before, a triple test can be performed to identify possible abnormalities in the development of the fetus, chromosomal pathology and congenital malformations of the nervous system. For this purpose, a study is carried out in blood plasma:
- hCG levels (human chorionic gonadotropin),
- the level of unconjugated estriol,
- alpha-fetoprotein levels.
Pronounced deviations of these results from the norm in combination with ultrasound data make it possible to suspect the presence of hydrocephalus or malformations of the brain, Down syndrome and some other pathologies in the baby. But these data are not final, and to confirm them, a genetic consultation and special invasive studies are needed. With the threat of developing gestosis or complications of pregnancy, visits to the doctor will become more frequent, as well as testing. The doctor will monitor the weight of the woman, the increase in the circumference of the abdomen, the height of the fundus of the uterus and pressure, and general well-being.
Pain in the abdomen and lower back
In this period, there should not be any special painful manifestations. Although there may be some discomfort in the form of sipping in the back and lower back, in the pelvic bones. This is due to an increase in the size of the uterus and tension of the ligaments, a change in the center of gravity. The load on the spine is growing, and the body is forced to take new static postures. Because of this, the muscles and ligaments may experience discomfort. To prevent these pains, you need to rest more often, monitor your posture, wear comfortable shoes. Exercises for unloading the back and lower back, wearing a bandage can be useful.
Pain in the back and lower abdomen may be signs of a urinary tract or kidney infection and may be accompanied by fever and pain when urinating. It is necessary to strictly control the process of urine separation. If the right side hurts, and the pain increases, this may be a sign of appendicitis, which is also possible in pregnant women. You need to immediately call an ambulance and conduct an examination. If it pulls the lower abdomen, there are regular prolonged pains in the abdomen with contractions and tension of the uterus, with the appearance of brown spotting, you need to immediately call an ambulance, this may be a sign of an abortion.
Cold and runny nose
Although the child's immune system is already working and can actively resist the effects of viruses and microbes, a pregnant woman still should not get sick, including colds. Especially dangerous is the presence of SARS with high fever and poor general condition, runny nose and cough. A strong cough can lead to an increase in intra-abdominal pressure and uterine tone, a runny nose can disrupt normal breathing and cause hypoxia. High temperatures can pose a threat to pregnancy, causing placental abruption or miscarriages. Therefore, at the first signs of the disease, bed rest and treatment are needed, but only under the supervision of a doctor.
Mother's diet and weight
At 18 weeks, the mother's appetite is quite good and there is an active weight gain, as the child grows and the woman's body is restructured to suit his needs. In this period, you can add from 4 to 6 kg, although if a woman is slender, the increase may be greater, and if she is inclined to be overweight, less. From this period, it is necessary to control the increase in body weight so as not to add too much - it will be difficult in childbirth. If the weight greatly exceeds the established norms, it is worth discussing with your doctor the use of a special diet or fasting days. It is forbidden to diet or unload on your own, this can harm your health and your child, since only a doctor will develop a diet taking into account the supply of all necessary nutrients and vitamins to the fetus.
Nutrition in this period should be complete and varied, correct and healthy. It is necessary to exclude sweets and sugar from the diet, an excess of flour and confectionery products, limit fatty and carbohydrate foods. Calcium-containing foods will be shown - dairy, nuts, as well as meat and fish, vegetables and fruits. You need to eat fractionally, in small portions, take additional vitamins if the food is not rich in them. It is worth limiting the intake of salt and spices, they retain water and can provoke swelling.
Signs of a missed pregnancy
Although this rarely happens at this time, sometimes there is such a pathology as the fading of pregnancy. In this case, the development of the fetus stops, and he dies in the womb. The fetus in this condition is not rejected by the woman's body, and the mother may not be aware of what happened for a long time. Usually this happens in the first trimester, and in the second, 16-18 weeks of pregnancy will be considered critical. The main reasons for this are the presence of bad habits, infections, genetic pathology and exposure to external harmful factors.
It is not easy to identify such pathologies on your own - usually the first suspicions are the lack of abdominal growth and fetal movements, the appearance of aching pains in the abdomen and spotting. Accurately the diagnosis is established according to ultrasound, and requires further curettage of the uterus as soon as possible. In the future, long-term treatment and rehabilitation is necessary.
Sex in the eighteenth week
18 weeks of pregnancy is the heyday of a woman's sensuality, although sex may not be so diverse in terms of positions and intensity, but it will be filled with tenderness and new sensations. now the threats of termination of pregnancy have passed, a calm time has come and it is quite possible to make love as much as you want. The only thing is to avoid excessive penetration depth and hard contacts, postures, with pressure on the stomach. Otherwise, pleasant sensations and the release of pleasure hormones will benefit both the emotional tone of the woman and the baby. A ban on intimacy will be imposed if there is a threat of placental abruption, water leakage or multiple pregnancy, cervical insufficiency.
