Welcome to week eighteen!
By this time in the pregnancy your baby is very actively flexing tiny arms and legs.
By this time in the pregnancy your baby is very actively flexing tiny arms and legs. You may even be feeling some of the movement but don’t worry if that isn’t happening yet because for many women, they will not feel the baby move until 20 weeks. How is that baby list of names that you started coming along? You might enjoy taking a peek at your own baby pictures just for fun and those of the baby’s father. Or maybe talking with your mom about her experience carrying you as a baby, what were her thoughts and expectations?
You might enjoy taking a peek at your own baby pictures just for fun and those of the baby’s father.
How my Baby Grows
- By 18 weeks a myelin sheath which is a sleave of fatty tissue has developed to provide protection to your baby’s nerve cells which make up the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord)
- You can now call your bump “my little sweet potato” because that is about how big he/she is now
- Your baby’s lungs further develop and now have tiny branches called bronchioles that are forming
- These little branches will have tiny respiratory sacs at their ends
- These sacs provide a way for oxygen to be exchanged when your baby takes his/her first breathes after birth
Symptoms Mama may Feel or Experience
- Mood check-how are you feeling emotionally now, if you are struggling with sadness, loneliness or feelings like this, it might be a good time to let your doctor or midwife know
- Many women experience stress during this phase of life and could use additional support, below is a list of reasons that it might be good to reach out to a close family member, friend or other pregnant women you know:
- If you have moved during the pregnancy and are now living somewhere new that is also away from family and friends
- If your spouse is in the military and has been deployed for the majority of your pregnancy-military bases have additional support for you if this is the case and checking with your spouse’s commander or the commander’s wife may be helpful
- If you have a significant loss during the pregnancy and the sadness seems overwhelming
- For many, the pregnancy experience is filled with joy
- Make sure to document your thoughts and feelings in your journal if you started one, these will be very special to you when you look back
- Perhaps being pregnant has given you time to reflect on your own childhood or a desire to return to things that you enjoyed at an earlier time in your life
- You might decide to pick up something like an instrument or painting again because you remember how much you enjoyed it
- Maybe you will remember a special toy or book and purchase one to share with your baby
Thoughts to Consider
- Babies are swaddled and rocked all day long as you walk around, this is comfortable and soothing to them so most of them will enjoy that as an infant as well
- This happens when you carry them as you walk
- If you place them in a swing
- When they ride in cars (for some babies this is not true)
- Or when you use a baby carrier, and there are SO many options out there
- They are wonderful ways to get things done because they allow you to be hands free
- They help you in bonding with your newborn because of the closeness
- Baby carriers fall under one of three categories- wraps, slings, and structured carriers.
- If you would like a detailed product review of these types of baby carriers, please visit the StorkAdvisor article on baby carriers as it will give you lots to think about
- Pay attention to any weight limitations so that the carrier is safe for your baby
- Are you considering breastfeeding?
- This decision is very personal, and we are not suggesting that you should feel guilty if you do not make this choice, that is not the intent of this section, we want to support the moms who do make this decision with information
- The American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization believe that mother’s milk is created to be exactly what a human baby needs for the first 6 months of life at least and that if possible, breastfeeding is recommended for that period of time
- Below is a list of some of the benefits of breastfeeding for you and your baby, many of them are life-long health benefits
- It is the most bio-available and natural way to feed your baby, meaning that the nutrients in breastmilk are the easiest for your baby to digest
- Breastmilk passes on certain immunity to your baby that will help keep him/her healthy
- Holding your baby close during skin-to-skin contact is great for bonding with your baby and as a mom can be rewarding to know that you are providing exactly what your baby needs
- Breastmilk provides everything that your baby needs during the first 6 months of life and the content and volume of milk will change to meet your baby’s needs, isn’t that miraculous
- In many ways it is easier for mom because it is always with her and at the right temperature
- You will definitely lose weight after birth faster because it takes a significant number of calories to produce breastmilk
- Breastfeeding helps you relax because it increases the “feel good” love hormone called oxytocin
- It is helpful to your reproductive health because while you are exclusively breastfeeding (that means not supplementing with formula or other nutrition) most women do not have a period for up to 6 months
- Sucking is good exercise for your newborn and reduces the need for orthodontic needs later in life
- There is also a correlation with eye health for your baby and a decrease in having to wear glasses that is likely due to lutein that is produces in breastmilk
- Breastfeeding is environmentally friendly too because you are using fewer plastic bottles and cans or other containers
- Finally, and very importantly, a baby that has been breastfed has a reduced lifetime risk for diabetes, some cancers, heart disease and more
Tips for a Healthy Pregnancy
- Keep walking, swimming or moving and don’t forget your oral hydration with adequate water
- Are you having times of relaxation scheduled into your week?
- If not, that is important to your overall well being
- What is your preferred way to relax, make time for it so that your work, family and you can benefit from the down time
