18th week of pregnancy for mom and baby - 5th month of pregnancy
Pregnancy is a wonderful journey that every woman goes through in her own way. In this article we will accompany future mothers to discover everything that happens during the eighteenth week of pregnancy, without neglecting anything: exams to do, things to think about, symptoms, pains, development of the fetus and whatever. "article take a" look at the video below to find out the things not to do during pregnancy.
Symptoms of the 18th week of pregnancy
Before discovering in detail everything that the expectant mother has to do at the eighteenth week of pregnancy, we have collected the list of the most common symptoms typical of this period.
- frequent urge to urinate
- lightheadedness or dizziness
- stretch marks
- varicose veins
- leg cramps
- pain in the round ligament of the uterus
- pain in the coccyx
- back and joint pain
- increased appetite
- indigestion and heartburn
- tiredness
- bloating, bloating and constipation
- bleeding of the nose and gums
- linea nigra
- chloasma gravidarum
- itchy skin
- shortness of breath
- swollen arms, legs, hands and feet
- itching on the belly
- runny or congested nose (pregnancy rhinitis)
- increased vaginal secretions
- insomnia
- anxiety and mood swings
See also
Eighteenth week of pregnancy: how the body of the expectant mother changes
At the eighteenth week of pregnancy, the belly will be quite evident and you can be sure that everyone will feel compelled to give you advice on how to carry on with the pregnancy. Don't be discouraged and try not to be bothered by it, focusing only on your most beautiful journey.
Most dresses will start to fit you tight, so it's the best time to buy new maternity dresses! In reality, if you look closely in your closet you will find several clothes that can also be adapted to pregnancy: a few simple tricks will be enough to brush up on clothes you didn't even know you had. In this way you will save on specific clothing for the gestation period. Gaining weight is normal, but pay attention to the foods you choose to eat: they will be very important in this phase, so as not to exceed the weight gain in the second trimester.
During the eighteenth week of pregnancy you can also see a lowering of blood pressure, in addition, the hormone relaxin it will continue to relax the joints, the muscles of the abdomen and the pelvic area, causing pain in these areas of the body.
If you are wondering if it is possible to exercise during pregnancy, the answer is yes. Whether you are more or less sporty, during these weeks you may want to do some physical activity. As you can imagine, you will certainly not be able to practice violent sports, such as wrestling, much less dangerous ones, such as diving. Tennis, horse riding and athletics are also not recommended. On the other hand, there are some sports that you could practice, provided you are careful: golf, cycling (avoiding mountain biking or dangerous routes) or cross-country skiing (not exaggerating with the efforts). Walking, swimming and gymnastics can be practiced without problems. Moderate physical activity is recommended when pregnant!
The development of the baby at the eighteenth week of pregnancy
At the 18th week of pregnancy we witness the development of the internal organs of the newborn.
Its large intestine moves towards the posterior wall of the abdomen and the various digestive glands also begin to form. If the unborn child is a girl, the formation of her uterus will be completed along with the fallopian tubes during this time.
As for the development of the fetal nervous system, the myelination process goes on: the nerves are wrapped in an insulating layer (the myelin sheath) which helps nerve impulses to travel faster from one neuron to another. The myelin sheath will continue to develop even after the baby is born. The brain further specializes in sending signals to the 5 senses, hearing, smell, taste, sight and touch.
If you are carrying out a twin pregnancy, studies have shown that twin fetuses are able to sense each other right around the 18th week of pregnancy.
In general we could say that the fetus now measures about 20 cm. His fingers are perfectly differentiated, and nails are starting to form as well. The bones of the skeleton increase in volume. At this stage of its growth, they are still very flexible, consisting mostly of cartilaginous tissue. After birth, the bones will retain this cartilaginous tissue, called fetal cartilage, for a long time. It is found inside the bones and allows them to grow. This cartilaginous tissue will only disappear in late adolescence (and is very different than what is found around the joints).
Have you already chosen the name for your baby? If you run out of ideas, get inspired by our list of names for all tastes!
Our advice
Help your man become a dad
If, for women, becoming a mother is not always easy, despite the fact that they have carried the baby for 9 months ... for the father, it is often even more complicated! Your man finds himself, overnight, having to build his paternity and get a place in the "trio".
How can I help him find his place?
Mothers must take into account the wishes of the father and not focus all their attention on the baby. Some couples, for example, even choose to bottle-feed the baby, so that the father can actively participate in breastfeeding.
Take advantage of the months of pregnancy to organize the new family balance: propose to the future father to attend the ultrasound scans, the analyzes, the preparation sessions for childbirth. Try to involve him in the adventure you are experiencing!
Does the father have to attend the birth?
After having forced fathers to be present during childbirth for years, we have moved on to the cliché that birth is a "traumatizing" moment for man. The truth is that, for fathers, the way of experiencing childbirth it is very subjective.
First of all, don't forget that childbirth takes a long time! The father, therefore, can choose to be present only in certain moments of labor, and then go out at the moment of birth, if he does not want to witness the expulsion. Anything is possible!
Is it so hard to be a dad? Maybe more than becoming a mother. After all, some men are afraid of the moment of childbirth, out of anguish or fear of the responsibilities that go with it. Becoming a father is not something that happens overnight, but something that is built slowly and daily: learning to pick up a child, take care of him, wash him, feed him, change him ... builds a father-son relationship!
What should her role be compared to that of the mother?
The father must not try to replace the mother or imitate her in all respects. He must become the "third", able to mediate between the mother and the child, putting an end to the permanent fusion between them, and helping the little one to open up to the outside world.
That of the father is a magnificent role, essential to the growth of every human being. It is the father who will teach the child to play, to discover the world. It is he who will teach him what authority is. It won't always be fun, but it will be indispensable.
Useful information not to be forgotten
- Think about who can help you after giving birth (grandparents, nurse, daycare)
- Learn about the various methods of preparing for childbirth
- Make an appointment for the second mandatory ultrasound, called morphological
- Mandatory third prenatal gynecological examination, blood test, complete urine examination
