- Preparing for Pregnancy
- Diet and Exercise
- Emotional Wellbeing
- Health
- Antenatal Care
- Preganancy at 1-3 Weeks
- Preganancy at 4 Weeks
- Preganancy at 5 Weeks
- Preganancy at 6 Weeks
- Preganancy at 7 Weeks
- Preganancy at 8 Weeks
- Preganancy at 9 Weeks
- Preganancy at 10 Weeks
- Preganancy at 11 Weeks
- Preganancy at 12 Weeks
- Preganancy at 13 Weeks
- Preganancy at 14 Weeks
- Preganancy at 15 Weeks
- Preganancy at 16 Weeks
- Preganancy at 17 Weeks
- Preganancy at 18 Weeks
- Preganancy at 19 Weeks
- Preganancy at 20 Weeks
- Preganancy at 21 Weeks
- Preganancy at 22 Weeks
- Preganancy at 23 Weeks
- Preganancy at 24 Weeks
- Preganancy at 25 Weeks
- Preganancy at 26 Weeks
- Preganancy at 27 Weeks
- Preganancy at 28 Weeks
- Preganancy at 29 Weeks
- Preganancy at 30 Weeks
- Preganancy at 31 Weeks
- Preganancy at 32 Weeks
- Preganancy at 33 Weeks
- Preganancy at 34 Weeks
- Preganancy at 35 Weeks
- Preganancy at 36 Weeks
- Preganancy at 37 Weeks
- Preganancy at 38 Weeks
- Preganancy at 39 Weeks
- Preganancy at 40 Weeks
- Labour and Birth
- The First Few Days
Pregnancy at 18 Weeks
No new structures will be formed now. Your baby has everything she needs, but she is not mature enough to survive if she was born at this stage. You will probably start to feel her moving around this time. Babies appear to move more when their mothers are still so it may be movement that lulls them to sleep. It seems that babies continue to find being'on the move'comforting after they are born.
Development
The last organ to develop is the lungs, and will take many weeks. This is why premature babies often need help with their breathing. At this stage, tiny air sacs (alveoli) are beginning to form in the lungs. Her muscles are strengthening. Her kidneys are working and she is swallowing amniotic fluid and also urinating, thus maintaining the volume of amniotic fluid.
Appearance
Your baby's head and body are more in proportion now, and the facial features are very clear. Her skin looks red and her body is still very thin because the majority of fat will not be laid down until the final weeks.
Movement
There is plenty of room for your baby to move around. This movement is vital for the proper development of the muscles, joints and bones. Ultrasound scans have shown babies crossing their legs, somersaulting, or resting while sucking their thumb. She might already have a pattern of activity and rest time.
|
This ultrasound scan at 18-20 weeks of pregnancy checks for obvious abnormalities with your baby and for the position of the placenta. Some sonographers will tell you the sex of your baby at this point.
|