Welcome to Week 18 of Your Pregnancy!
Your Baby in Week 18 of Pregnancy
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Your baby is having periods of REM sleep during its sleep intervals. REM sleep is what most adults need more of – rapid eye movement sleep. This is where the body has its deepest and most rejuvenating periods of sleep. Your baby is enjoying periods of deep, renewing sleep even though probably aren’t!
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The vernix is forming over the thin layer of skin around week 18 of pregnancy. Vernix has also been nicknamed, the skin cream, and is a white, greasy, fat-like substance that will cover the entire body of your baby. It protects the newly formed, thicker skin from being submerged in the amniotic fluid for 22 more weeks from week 18 of pregnancy onward.
In short, it is a buffer between the sensitive skin and the fluids that could be harsh and dry it out. The older the baby gets, the more the vernix will wear off. A full term baby will usually have very few spots of vernix when it is born. If you have a pre-term baby, there may be a little more of the white stuff to wash off. It is not harmful and is completely washed away with a little bath.
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Your baby’s circulatory system is completely working on its own now by week 18 of pregnancy. The complex structure of veins, arteries and capillaries are all connected and working with the heart to pump blood throughout the body. The volume of blood being circulated has increased slightly, and is now somewhere between six and eight gallons every single day! That’s a lot of blood for a little heart and those small veins to move around. Even the largest veins in the body, near the heart and the neck, are small. But they are efficient. An ultrasound will be able to show exactly how efficient they are pumping, too.
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If you were to have an ultrasound in week 18 of pregnancy, the ventricles and chambers of the heart are distinguishable from each other. A more sophisticated ultrasound, such as a 3D or 4D ultrasound will show awesome pictures of everything in working order. An ultrasound technician will monitor how much blood is flowing in to one part of the heart and how much is flowing out of another part. They will also measure the efficiency and speed of the heart. All of these results are printed out for your doctor to review and are routine, so don’t worry!
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Your baby can now hear even better by week 18 of pregnancy! They can’t make out individual words, but they can hear blood flowing in your body, they can hear your heart pumping and they can even hear your stomach growling. They will startle to loud sounds both inside and outside of your body. Those ears are practicing listening, and processing each sound they hear. Soon, they will recognize voices and individual words or repetitive patterns. Keep up reading your books and listening to soothing music. They know and recognize those sounds!
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The alveoli are beginning to form in the lungs around week 18 of pregnancy. Alveoli are tiny air sacs, which develop in order for your baby to breathe outside in the real world. These first alveoli are small and lead the way for the true alveoli to grow later in your pregnancy. The first and the true alveoli growth are all important in the lung maturity of your baby. Mature lungs will help your baby breathe (and cry) heartily.
Your Body in Week 18 of Pregnancy
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You are approaching the halfway point in your pregnancy by week 18 of pregnancy and you might want to think about your hospital plan. Your hospital plan includes which hospital you are going to (some large cities offer multiple options), who to call, what to take, etc. You may need to call several people on a list: someone to come over and watch other children, someone to drive you to the hospital if your significant other is at work or away and other people who may be invited to the birth. What you will need to take is your suitcase and a suitcase for anyone else who may be staying in the hospital with you.
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It may seem funny to write out a list, but when the time comes, especially if this is your first child, you may be surprised at how forgetful you can become. Add in the unpredictability of your baby’s arrival and you’ll be glad you planned ahead!
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Are you feeling lightheaded when you move quickly? Do you have periods of slight dizziness? Those feelings are normal and may be attributed to low blood pressure in your system. With so much of your body’s work being directed to the production of another person inside of you, your blood stores may be weak in areas where they normally are not.
To keep from feeling dizzy or lightheaded, move slower. Don’t rush to change positions. Take everything slow and easy until the blood can change from its location to the one you need it to be in! If you’re ever worried, call your doctor. They will always answer any and every question you may have.
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Your shape is changing and is more distinctive now. As you’ll notice at your doctor’s appointment, your fundal height is growing and your uterus is most likely just underneath your belly button this week. By this time, most women will see a change in their waistline to some extent. You may not need to change pants sizes yet, or you are managing in elastic waistbands. But soon, you will need to shop and buy outfits that are comfortable for you! Buying maternity clothing is fun and you shouldn’t view it as growing larger – your baby is growing and you are the vehicle for it to do so.
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Are your gums bleeding? Are you sensitive to smells? All of your senses may be heightened as you have extra hormones and extra fluid in your system. Not to mention the fact that you may still have a touch of morning sickness. Some women will remain having bouts of morning sickness for a few more weeks. Other might even have bouts for their whole pregnancy.
If you never had any or yours are over, you may still be sensitive to certain things. If your gums bleed easily when you floss or brush, it may be due to the excess blood in your system. Your sensitivity to smells may also be from the mucous membranes swelling and producing fluid for your baby. These will pass with time, so try to divert your thinking when they occur. Floss lightly and avoid buying foods that smell noxious to you!
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