18th week of pregnancy: The 18th week of pregnancy at a glance
In the 18th week of pregnancy, the first beginnings of nipples can be seen on your baby’s skin. The approach of a small tummy is also visible to you.
Your digestion goes crazy in the 18th week of pregnancy and you suffer fromconstipation? With healthy recipes especially for pregnant women you get your digestion going again.
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ToggleYour baby’s development in the 18th week of pregnancy
If you listen deeply to yourself, you may already be able to feel the first delicate child movements in the 18th week of pregnancy – especially if you are already expecting yoursecond child. In the 18th week of pregnancy, your child’s mammary glands form and the first beginnings of nipples can be seen on the skin of your child’s rib cage. If you’re expecting a girl, her ovaries have developed and she will now have about five million eggs in her ovaries.
Atthe time of birth, however, there will only be about one million eggs. The older your daughter gets, the fewer eggs will be left – at the age of 17, a young woman has only about 200,000 eggs left in her ovaries. Despite the progressive growth, your baby’s head still occupies about a third of the total body size. Your child is 12.5 centimeters tall and weighs 150 grams in the 18th week of pregnancy and can still move well. Theumbilical cord, which sometimes wraps it around the body, does not interfere – the child’s movements continue anyway.
Your body in the 18th week of pregnancy
The fact that half of the pregnancy is soon reached is noticeable in theweight gainand also in your growing belly. The edge of the uterus gradually approaches the navel in the 18th week of pregnancy, so that your baby gets enough space for his gymnastic exercises. If you have already given birth to a child, you often feel the first child movements this week. But even some first-time mothers can feel a flutter or slight tremor at any point in the abdomen. Sometimes it is also a feeling as if small air bubbles rise to the abdominal wall and tickle.
But don’t worry if no new feelings have made themselves felt in the abdomen – it may take until the 22nd week of pregnancy. Proper kicks or puffs are then clearly felt around the 24th and 25th week of pregnancy. And your partner can also contact the baby if small hands or feet are clearly visible through the abdominal wall. Don’t be surprised if you only feel the first flutter once or twice a day. This is normal, you do not feel all the movements of the child equally strongly.
Where is the baby in the 18th week of pregnancy?
Questions about the 18th week of pregnancy
What helps with constipation and constipation?
The calming effect of the hormone progesterone makes the intestines work more slowly, which can promoteconstipation. Therefore, drink enough and consume fiber throughout the day. They can be taken not only well with the muesli, but also with a drink. Gum arabic, for example, is a tasteless dietary fiber that is obtained from the plant sap of various acacia species and can be stirred into liquids. It is well suited for daily fiber supplementation.
What to consider in case of bleeding in late pregnancy?
Whenever youare surprised by a sudden bleeding during your pregnancy, you should definitely take these signs seriously and have yourself examined immediately by your gynecologist. In most cases, it can be quickly clarified whether it is a harmless bleeding or whether your health and the well-being of your baby are at risk. First, the doctor searches for the cause of the bleeding usingultrasound. This is followed by an examination of the vagina and cervix. The subsequent treatment then depends on the cause of the bleeding, the week of pregnancy, the bleeding strength and the well-being of mother and child. If bleeding occurs as a result of an examination of the cervix by the midwife or gynaecologist, there is no reason to worry, as with contact bleeding. The slight bleeding stops on its own and there is no danger to mother or child at any time.
What does placenta previa mean?
If the placenta is in front of the cervix, pregnancy is monitored more closely. Nevertheless, most pregnancies go smoothly. Only a spontaneous birth is excluded: the child is delivered bycaesarean section. Learn more about the placentaprevia and how dangerous a misalignment of the placenta is.
Why daily pelvic floor training?
Start now with a daily pelvic floor workout. This will prepare you optimally for the birth and lay the foundation for you to get back into shape quickly after the birth. The pelvic floor consists of muscle strands about four centimeters thick, which close the abdomen downwards. Well trained, it gives the body stability and can even relieve the back.
Tips and hints for the 18th week of pregnancy
Healthy recipes for pregnant women
During pregnancy, you have an increased need for vitamins and nutrients. But eating for two is not a good idea. The risk that you gain too much weight is then great. We have put together many different recipe suggestions for main courses, breakfast variations and snacks that taste good and help you with yourhealthy diet during pregnancy.