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Your Pregnancy Week by Week
2st Trimester: Pregnancy Week 17
Welcome to the world of parenting!
An exciting journey is about to start and Mothercare, through this journal, is going to be by your side and advise you throughout your pregnancy weeks.
Get informed about everything that parents need to know such as pregnancy, baby growth, body and psychology changes, doctor examinations and appointments and of course parturition, breastfeeding and baby care.
Our midwife and lactation consultant IBCLC Ms Georgia Leze every week is going to show you a special path to a healthy and happy baby.
Pregnancy Week 18
With hunger pangs setting in and your baby starting to make itself known, it could only be week 18! These are exciting days for first-time parents, as your little one starts to wriggle and kick a little more inside your bump.
This week your growing womb might feel like a pain in the back, but your body is doing a fantastic job of growing your baby.
- you could start having food cravings and feel hungrier in general
- you might feel back pain, heartburn and exhaustion
- warm baths, chewing slowly and generally taking it easy can help
Υou at Pregnancy Week 18
As your womb gets bigger and heavier (it's around the size of a small melon now) you might notice your posture changing. Your lower back gets pulled forward and your tummy thrusts itself out, which can be a bit sore on your back muscles. To add to that, the hormones in your body are relaxing your ligaments and loosening your joints to get ready for birth. All of this can lead to a bit of back pain. Using a foot rest when you sit down can help or try a Pilates ball, and it’s also the perfect excuse to take a long, warm bath.
Υour baby at Pregnancy Week 18
Your baby is about the same size as a pepper. They're really active, and as well as turning somersaults in your womb they may also be playing with their umbilical cord. You might be able to feel all this activity as a fluttering feeling in your tummy. Their nervous system is developing, and so are the parts of their brain that register sensations like taste, touch, sound and smell. Their genitals are fully formed now, and if you're having a boy you might be able to see evidence of this at your next scan: unless he's camera shy!
Τhings to do in Pregnancy Week 18
If you haven’t done it already, visit again your doctor or midwife. During this visit you will again admire your baby to the ultrasound, you will measure its growth and definitely see his sex!!! You may be luck to experience his unique moment sucking his finger, you will hear his heart beating strong and moving vividly in your tummy!
Between now and week 20 you'll need to jot down a date for an anomaly scan to make sure your baby's development is on the right track. You'll get to see your baby moving around for the first time, and the sonographer might be able to tell you whether you're going to have a boy or a girl! If you want it to be a surprise, make sure you let them know beforehand so that they don't accidentally spill the beans. Now is also a good time to start shopping for your maternity wardrobe, if you haven't started already, as normal clothes will start to feel a little tight and clingy.
