The development of the baby at 18 weeks' gestation, which is the end of the 4th month of pregnancy, is marked by movements increasingly perceived within the mother's belly. Although they are still very subtle, it may be possible to feel kicks and changes of position, reassuring the mother. Normally at this stage it is already possible to know if it is boy or girl through ultrasonography.
Fetal development at 18 weeks' gestation is evidenced by its auditory development, where one can already hear the mother's heartbeat and the noise caused by the passage of blood through the umbilical cord. In a short time, you will be able to listen to the voice of the mother and the environment around you due to the rapid development of the brain, which already begins to decipher senses such as touch and hearing. Other important changes are:
- Eyes are more sensitive to light, causing the baby to respond with active movements to stimuli from the external environment.
- Baby's thorax already simulates the movement of breathing, but it still continues to swallow only amniotic fluid.
- Fingerprints begin to develop through the accumulation of fat at the tips of the fingers and toes, which will then be transformed into wavy and unique lines.
- Large intestine and many digestive glands are developing more and more . The intestine begins to form the meconium, which are the earliest feces. The fetus swallows the amniotic fluid, which will pass through the stomach and intestine, being then combined with dead cells and secretions to form meconium.
Normally between 18 and 22 weeks of gestation, an ultrasound is performed to closely monitor the baby's growth and development, check for possible malformations, evaluate the placenta and umbilical cord, and confirm the baby's age.
If you still do not know if it is a boy or a girl, usually on the ultrasound done after this week, you can already identify because the female genital organ, uterus, ovaries and uterine tubes are already in the right place.
18-week fetus size
The size of the fetus at 18 weeks' gestation is about 13 centimeters and it weighs approximately 140 grams.
Pictures of the fetus at 18 weeks
Changes in woman
The changes in the woman with 18 weeks of pregnancy are the positioning of the uterus 2 cm below the navel. Itchiness may occur on the body, pimples and spots on the skin, especially on the face. Regarding weight, the ideal is an increase of up to 5.5 kg at this stage, always depending on the weight at the beginning of pregnancy and the physical type of the pregnant woman. Other changes that mark the 18 weeks of gestation are:
- Dizziness because the heart starts to work harder, there may be a drop in blood sugar and the presence of the growing uterus can compress the veins, causing fainting. It is necessary to avoid getting up too fast, to rest whenever possible, to lie on the left side to facilitate circulation.
- Constant white discharge, which usually increases as you approach delivery. If this discharge changes color, consistency, smell or irritation, the doctor should be informed as it may be an infection.
This is a good phase to choose the maternity, to prepare the trousseau and the baby's room because the pregnant woman feels better disposed, without nausea, the risk of aborting is smaller and the belly still does not weigh much.
Your pregnancy by quarter
To make your life easier and you do not waste time looking, we separate all the information you need for each trimester of gestation. What quarter are you in?
- 1st Quarter (1st to 13th week)
- 2nd Quarter (14th to 27th week)
- 3rd Quarter (from the 28th to the 41st week)
