18 Weeks Pregnant

*Counting from the first day of your last menstrual period

Your Baby at 18 Weeks

Size: 5.59 inches (14.2 cm)
Weight: 6.70 ounces (190 grams)

It's a slow week for large milestone developments. But your baby is growing, working on his gymnastics moves, and is more likely now to response to audible external stimulate.

With lots of room to wiggle around, your baby is going to have a lot of fun developing muscles by moving legs, arms, and wiggling his fingers.

Mom at 18 Weeks Pregnant

The excitement of feeling much more baby movements is sure to help you with feeling less-than-chipper about the changes in your body. Your energy levels are still relatively high so it is a good idea to start making lists and planning for everything that you need to accomplish before your baby comes home.

When your baby does come home, your entire life is going to be turned upside down with a new schedule of around the clock feedings, changings, and rocking. Now is the ideal time to tackle those projects and whittle that to-do list down to a decent length.

Common Symptoms:
A few more stretch marks, or the darkening of your existing marks, are very possible as your uterus continues to grow and stretch your skin. You may even notice a few new stretch marks on your breasts as they are growing larger in preparation for nursing.

An aching back, swollen legs, swollen feet, round ligament pains, and perhaps even hands that fall asleep at night are all plaguing you as you approach the half-way point of your pregnancy. Carpal tunnel syndrome is very commonly experienced by pregnant women. Are you waking up with numb hands or shooting pains in your wrists and forearms? Mention the discomfort to your doctor, but there are good odds that it can all be attributed to pregnancy-induced carpal tunnel syndrome. As your entire body relaxes in anticipation of accommodating an even larger uterus, you are bound to feel some muscle or joint discomfort.

Weight Gain:
Adding an extra pound every other week is not unexpected; as your baby grows, so does the amount of fluid surrounding him. With this increase in the size of the baby, the size of your uterus, the increased blood levels in your body, and the water that you are likely retaining, you are going to see the scale moving upwards.

This is not the time to panic about gaining weight. You're pregnant; you are going to gain weight! Just keep your doctor's recommended weight gain guidelines in mind and be sure to make healthy eating choices.

Tips/Advice:
Scrapbook it. It's never too late to start a pregnancy calendar or journal of your feelings. Some items to include are pictures of your ultrasounds, cards from friends, or special thoughts to look back on later.

Videos - 18 Weeks Pregnant

** Note: Every baby develops at a different rate. The numbers provided are averages based on a "typical" pregnancy. Your baby's size and weight may vary significantly. Your healthcare provider is the best person to interpret information on your baby's size, weight, health and development during your ultrasounds and pregnancy.

	Comment from pat2015 » Posted May. 29, 2016 10:17pm 18 wks and 4 ds. Wow things start to speed up a bit..... Tonight I noticed a translucent fluid coming out of my breath Was a shock. Can't wait to feed u baby boy.
	Comment from babyskyy22 » Posted Feb. 23, 2014 12:45pm Im 18 weeks and 4days wow it seems like its going slow now I can't wait tofind out what the ginder is
	Comment from mrsnerney2013 » Posted Mar. 22, 2013 10:08am wow finally 18 weeks :) x x x
	Comment from MillerbabyThree » Posted Mar. 20, 2013 9:59am Hello 18 weeks!! :)
	Comment from *blessing* » Posted Dec. 11, 2011 9:24am so glad im finally 18weeks preg!!!!!