As pregnant women enter weeks 18 and 19, they begin to notice newer symptoms while the fetus continues to grow rapidly. This is the time for a pregnancy 18 weeks ultrasound to look for anomalies in the development of the fetus and consult an obstetrician or genetic counsellor for further guidance. Some women experience movement in the abdomen as the fetus moves and turn in the uterus.
What happens during week 18 of pregnancy?
The fetus continues to gain weight by the 18th week and is about 200g by the end of the week. They are about 14cm long and move in the uterus. The body has developed enough for the fetus to have hair, eyebrows and fingernails. They can also have hiccups or yawns at this point. Since they begin to move and turn, many women begin to feel the flutters and bubbles in their abdomen while resting. This is because the activity of the fetus is more likely to be felt when women are resting than when they are active.
As the uterus grows in size by 18 weeks, many women feel lightheaded or dizzy when they lie down on their backs or when they sit down. This pregnancy 18-week symptom is caused by the uterus applying pressure against a major artery as the space in the abdomen gets crowded. This can be relieved by sleeping on the side and by standing up slowly. Women also continue to gain weight into the second trimester as more nutrition is needed to nourish the fetus’s growth spurt. Gaining weight at a rate of 1.5 to 2 kg a month from this point onward can be considered a healthy weight gain until delivery.
A pregnancy 18 weeks ultrasound scan, also called a morphology or fetal anomaly scan, is done to check for normal development of the fetus. The scan checks for a range of parameters such as the fetal size and physical features such as the brain, heart, spine and kidneys. If there are any problems in the development, an obstetrician or a genetic counsellor may be consulted for further tests and advice.
What happens during week 19 of pregnancy?
During week 19, the fetus is about 15cm long and weighs close to 260g. They have regular sleeping and waking cycles and might sleep up to 18 hours a day and stay awake for about 6 hours when most women experience their pregnancy baby movement feeling. They can also respond to sounds from outside, and this is a good time to play music which they may be able to recognize once they are born.
Most women would have a clearly distinguishable pregnancy belly at this point. The size of the belly can vary in different women according to their natural build. This is also the time when women need to work on their stretches and adjust posture to ease the weight on their lower back and relieve pain. Back pain is a common complaint among pregnant women as the fetus grows bigger.
Wrapping up
By the 18th week, pregnant women are often advised to have a morphology scan to ensure the fetal development is healthy. As the pregnancy progresses, women can expect new symptoms such as dizziness while sitting or lying down. The fetus still continues to double its weight every two weeks and grows rapidly.
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