18 weeks of gestation: does the baby move? How many months?

Her little heart starts beating twice as fast as Mom’s. He also begins to hear internal sounds, such as the mother’s heartbeat and the sound of blood passing through the umbilical cord.

Within a short time, the baby can already hear external sounds like the parents’ voice.

At this stage, the baby’s intestine is developing and begins to produce the first feces (meconium), which are formed by the amniotic fluid that it swallows.

Symptoms of the pregnant woman at 18 weeks of gestation

At this moment the baby is developing rapidly, which ends up demanding a lot from the mother’s body. Therefore, some symptoms can be noticed:

Weakness

It is common at this stage, with so many changes happening quickly, that the mother eventually feels weaker.

In addition to her heart working around 40% to 50% more than before, the woman’s belly is already starting to grow and weigh. In addition, the baby develops at full throttle. This all consumes a lot of energy.

Therefore, it is important that the pregnant woman tries to rest a lot in this phase, in addition to eating well to replenish her energies. You should also avoid making efforts and be careful with your posture to avoid back pain.

Dizziness

In pregnancy, it is common for blood pressure to decrease due to the action of hormones and the increase of blood circulating in the body (an average of 1.5 liters more). This can cause dizziness and malaise.

With the growing uterus, it begins to exert pressure on the blood vessels, which can also cause discomfort.

To alleviate this symptom, it is important that the pregnant woman tries to get up slowly to avoid possible accidents, in addition to eating at shorter intervals to control blood glucose levels.

Changes in the skin (spots and pimples)

This phase is marked by an increase in hormone levels. This can cause the appearance of spots and pimples, especially on the face. It is not a rule, but it can happen depending on the body of each woman.

Increased appetite

At this stage, heartburn usually gives a respite. While this is good, on the other hand, appetite can increase. Consequently, strange cravings for eating certain foods may appear.

In addition to increased appetite, pregnant women can gain weight quickly during this period. The urge to eat all the time and the baby growing quickly ends up accelerating weight gain.

Although weight gain is normal, it is important to consume healthy foods.

Discharge

White, odorless vaginal discharge during pregnancy is usually normal. It may be related to the physiological changes that take place during this period.

However, the pregnant woman should be aware of any changes in discharge such as the presence of bad smell, itching or abdominal pain. In these cases, you should see your doctor, as it may be a case of infection.

How big is the belly at 18 weeks of gestation?

In general, at 18 weeks you can already see that the woman is pregnant, because the belly starts to get round.

It is not large yet, but you can already see a bulge, which will grow faster and faster now.