18 weeks of pregnancy - what happens?

If you look at the baby's photo at the 18th week of development, it's hard to imagine how such a miracle could have come from two sex cells that met some five months ago. Handles, legs, little fingers, trunk, head - everything is in place, and internal organs and systems are actively preparing to perform their immediate functions in the near future. This tiny little man living in my mother's tummy is growing by leaps and bounds and is looking forward to meeting loving parents.

In this article, we will examine in more detail what happens to the crumb and his mother at the 18th week of pregnancy.

Features of fetal development at the 18th week of pregnancy

For many women, this week is the most memorable, because already a big enough and active kid, begins to please Mamma with the first tangible movements. The size of the fetus on the 18th week of pregnancy reaches up to 22 cm in length, and its weight is up to 220 g. The external appearance and internal organs of the baby continue to develop and improve. So, at this stage:

• already completely formed handles and legs, and on the pillows of the fingers appears a unique pattern;
• on the body of the crumb formed fat tissue;
• the retina of the eyes becomes more sensitive, the baby already sensitively reacts to bright light;
• the hearing aid is improved - a little man learns to distinguish between voices, frightened of loud foreign sounds;
• at the 18th week of pregnancy, an experienced uuzist can easily determine the sex of the child, since his genitals have finally formed and occupied the correct position;
• the bone system of the baby continues to strengthen, so Mom should not forget to include in the diet of extremely useful foods.

Feelings of a woman at the 18th week of pregnancy

The middle of pregnancy is the most wonderful period. Toxicosis and malaise are already behind, and the growing tummy is not yet so big as to cause inconvenience. What is still good about 18 weeks is that anxiety for the preservation of pregnancy and possible complications gradually go away. And they are replaced by new pleasant chores. For example, you can already think over the interior of the children's room, look after the clothes for your child and, of course, for yourself. By the way, yes. It's time for the future mom to update the wardrobe, and do it right. To avoid wasting twice, it is better to buy clothes made from elastic, natural fabrics, you can size it more, shoes - on a flat course, and underwear - only quality.

But, unfortunately, not everything is so rosy, and some difficulties at the 18th week may still arise. In particular, many future mothers complain about:

• discomfort in the abdomen. As a rule, such unpleasant moments arise due to the accumulation of gases or constipation. Such problems are caused by inaccuracies in the diet and physiological changes in the body of a pregnant woman;
• pain in the lower back and inconvenience during sleep. The fact is that at the 18th week of pregnancy the dimensions of the fetus are not so great yet, but together with the uterus, which constantly grows and rises, they create a very appreciable load and occupy a decent space in the abdominal cavity. Therefore, to relieve the condition of a woman, it is necessary to find the optimal pose for sleep, in which it will be convenient. Probably, for this purpose it is necessary to get a special pillow for pregnant women;
• Many mothers at this time can scare the "terrible" figure on the scales. However, the reason for concern and revision of the menu should be an increase of more than 4-6 kg;
• dark skin on the midline of the abdomen and on the nipples, many may seem unaesthetic. But do not worry - soon after birth, everything will fall into place.

By the way, it is worth noting that at the 18th week of pregnancy the child becomes quite active. Therefore, the first "pinches" and stir Mommy can feel quite often.