18 Weeks Pregnant: Preparing for the Bundle of Joy

Pregnancy as many people say is a beautiful as well as a very tiring experience. Besides feeling extremely ecstatic at the prospect of giving birth to a new living being, the amount of pain and trouble that a woman has to go through is also very taxing. For the baby to grow healthy and strong, the right nourishment and food is extremely important. When a woman is 18 weeks pregnant, she is now growing steadily and her uterus is also shifting. It is now the shape of a lemon and is above her belly button. She is no longer inconspicuous as a pregnant lady. Her abdomen is fast growing and is bloated now. The baby bump is evident and showing. Insomnia is a very big problem at this stage and most expectant mothers are at loss trying to catch some of that elusive sleep. A pregnancy pillow is a very good idea and once can invest in one of them to catch some sleep. The baby’s movements are also very prominent at this point of time. Most women might feel as if it is butterflies in the tummy! Now, for the first time in the baby’s life span, he/she has grown even larger than the placenta. At 18 weeks pregnant, the baby is now as big as 5.6 inches long from the top to his or her slightly formed toes. He or she weighs now approximately 6.7 ounces. The baby's genitals are now distinguishable on an ultrasound and it may still be a week or so more to actually distinguish and find out whether the baby is a girl or a boy. When a woman is 19 weeks pregnant, pregnancy is now more pronounced than ever. The uterus is fast rising and as such there is a tad bit shift in the center of gravity. This means that the lady is now no longer steady on her feet. Doctors advise a lot of rest at this stage and also the woman might find it a taxing task to walk uphill or downhill. Another symptom to keep in mind is the sensation of being dizzy or lightheaded. This is not a serious symptom to consider, however with a lot of dizziness it is probably good to have a talk with the physician. The baby at this point of time has grown further. He or she is now a whopping 6 inches, that is as big as a small ruler and has gained up to 8.5 ounces! The baby is now developing his or her unique fingerprint as the ridges in his or her fingers are fast forming. The brain is also developing and very soon the parts of the brain that can distinguish between the different senses will be fully developed!