Pregnancy Week 18

The 18 th week of pregnancy is marked by numerous changes in the baby and mother. Few of the changes during Pregnancy Week 18 are detailed below

Changes in the Baby

In this week the baby has put on half a pound more and weighs almost 5 pounds. The length has also increased and now it is approximately 6 inches from crown to rump. During this Pregnancy Week 18 baby looks more like a human with increasing fat deposits under the skin and pads forming on the toe tips and finger tips. The skin is now covered by a greasy white cheese textured substance know as vernix caseosa that protects the delicate skin of the baby from bruising and aberrations. The skin develops two distinct layers the epidermis and the dermis.

Alongside the skin other sense organs are also developing baby can detect light and hear sounds. With the development of the nerves in the brain, and bones in the middle ear the baby can hear mother’s heartbeats and blood flowing through the umbilical cord.

Body system developments in the baby in this week are as follows.

• Skeletal System: Till now the skeletal structure of the baby was developing but it was soft. From this week onwards the bones start ossifying and becoming stronger and harder. First bones to ossify are the clavicles, femur and tibia. Baby movements are more compared to previous week.
• Nervous System: Myelin, the protective covering of the nerves starts forming by this week.
• Reproductive System: If the baby is a boy he has a prostrate gland and if it is a girl, the uterus, fallopian tubes and vaginal canal start developing by this week. You can get more information on Pregnancy Week by Week here.

Changes in the Mother

Many seen and unseen changes occur from this week onwards. People start noticing that you are Pregnant. Your tummy becomes visible and your wardrobe changes. You also steadily gain weight along with the baby. Along with these external changes many changes are going on internally also. The mother’s cardiovascular system reacts slowly in Pregnancy. This is because as pregnancy advances the blood volume increases to provide oxygen and nutrients to be baby. With an increase in blood volume the blood pressure falls. That is why you feel dizzy and faint during pregnancy. An occasional bout of dizziness is common. But for severe cases medical help is required.

In the Pregnancy Week 18 the fundus and the upper part of the uterus is felt just above the belly button. As the uterus enlarges it exerts upward and downward pressure to make more space for the baby. As the uterus extends upwards it exerts pressure on the lungs making the mother feel breathless. You will also experience increased urination due the downward pressure exerted on the urinary bladder. This is just the beginning. The situation worsens as the baby grows. The growth in tummy brings with it many other problems also. The centre of gravity shifts lower and affects the balance. Sleeping also becomes difficult. Urinating before sleeping and lying on the left side helps in alleviating the discomfort.

In this Pregnancy Week 18 the blood must be tested for sugar to eliminate the possibilities of gestational diabetes, diabetes in pregnant women. This test is usually done anytime during the 24 th to 28 th week of pregnancy. But doing a preliminary test earlier will help in identifying the initial symptoms. Adequate care can then be prescribed to avoid complications, in future.