18 Weeks Pregnant Symptoms, Belly Size, Baby Development, Foods to Eat and Tips
18th Week Pregnancy Highlights
Mid-Gestation Ultrasound
An important aspect of the pregnancy journey, ultrasounds help check on your baby’s growth milestones. At this stage, doctors will look for any signs of medical complications.
Healthy Snacking and Birthing Classes!
As your hunger keeps increasing with a growing baby, add healthy snacks every three hours or between meals. Also, now is the time to enrol for the ante-natal classes and prenatal yoga sessions to help you during labor and childbirth.
Pregnancy Milestone
At week 18, you’re in the fifth month!
weight (g)
190 g
Length (cm)
14.2 cm
Approximate size
Sweet Potato
How Big is Your Baby?
The brain and nervous system are rapidly maturing in the baby along with good sensory development. The protective covering of nerves, myelin, is forming this week to help in the development and proper functioning of the nervous system after birth. The fetal movements of the baby can be traced by ultrasound scan, so this time you can see your little one yawning, frowning or rolling. Your baby’s genitals will be formed by this week and if it is a girl, then the eggs will already be developing inside her body.
Baby’s Length: 14.2 cm
Baby’s Weight: 190 g
Mother’s Changing Body:
What to Expect
This week, you can feel your little sweet pea moving inside your tummy. You can sense your baby rolling, kicking, twisting etc., as slight flutters and finally you can feel that your pregnancy is real.
As the baby’s first movements are usually felt between week 18 and week 22, some women may not have experienced it yet, so do not panic; wait for a week or two and then consult your gynecologist.
You might not have a continuous good night’s rest due to uncomfortable pregnancy symptoms; relax your body through prenatal massages, yoga or aerobics during day time to sleep properly at night.
18th Week Pregnancy Symptoms
Food Cravings
The famous pregnancy cravings will land this week. As your appetite increases, you’ll find yourself craving various kinds of foods.
Dizziness
As your heart starts working extra to meet the growing body’s demand, your blood pressure might lower from time to time. All this might make you feel dizzy if you suddenly get up while sitting or lying down.
Sound Sleep
Some women may develop snoring, partly due to the growing belly and partly due to change in sleep position.
Unsteadiness
As the growing belly shifts your center of gravity, it could leave you feeling dizzy and lightheaded. So take extra care during fitness sessions. Wear flat footwear as heels can make you fall during your bouts of unsteadiness.
Pregnancy Tips for Week 18
- This time, take your husband along with you for the ultrasound scan so that he can see and connect with the baby emotionally.
- To avoid edema and backaches, try to relax in a straight posture at regular intervals. Keep your feet on an elevated foot rest to avoid further aches.
- While getting up from bed, do not stand up too quickly. Try to get up gradually as it will balance your body from fainting.
- Perform some simple calf stretches before going to bed to tolerate the leg cramps during the second trimester.
- Walk regularly or involve yourself in routine fitness activities to avoid body pain and leg cramps.
