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

One of the most anticipated moments in pregnancy is to feel the baby move. Many women are able to feel the baby’s movements around the 16th and 20th weeks of gestation (end of the 4th and during the 5th month). The gestures are usually light, but noticeable. In a second pregnancy this can happen earlier.

Another remarkable moment happens when the woman is 18 weeks pregnant. From now on, it will be easier to see the genitals on the ultrasound exam.

If it is a girl, your uterus and tubes are already formed. If you are a boy, it will be even easier to see the genital organ on ultrasound.

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18 weeks of gestation is how many months?

When the pregnant woman is 18 weeks pregnant, it means that she is at the end of the 4th month of pregnancy . It is an important and long-awaited moment when the mother begins to notice the baby’s gentle movements inside the belly.

Baby development: size and weight

In this phase, the baby has grown a lot and is weighing around 150g and measures around 12 cm, the approximate size of a sweet potato . Of course, this can vary depending on the parents’ stature.

The mother can already feel the baby’s movements, because his bones are strengthening and the muscles begin to appear. So it is usually natural for him to start moving.

This moment is important, as your fingerprints are already forming in the baby. Characteristic that will differentiate him from all the others and show that he is unique.

The baby begins to make breathing movements, yawning and sobbing, already as a training for when you really need to breathe. The placenta is still responsible for giving it the necessary oxygen.

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.

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