Week 18 of Pregnancy

During the 18th week of pregnancy your baby should weigh around 5.25 ounces and your uterus is continuing to expand. Feeling the baby's movements are common around this week and each following week. The feel like butterflies or wind and some women feel them more than others.

Changes in your body at Week 18 of Pregnancy

Your heart will be working up to 50% harder from around 18 weeks in order to pump the additional blood you have during pregnancy. You should be able to feel you uterus just below your navel.

• You may feel your baby move
• A dark line known as the "linea nigra" may appear from your navel to your pubic bone.

Baby's Development at Week 18 of Pregnancy - Baby size: 20.0cm

If you were to have an ultra sound at week 18 of pregnancy you will be able to see the baby's skeleton clearly outlined. Your baby's bones will be hardening around this time so keep up a high intake of calcium will be beneficial. Your baby will be producing faeces and stores it in the colon

Some typical developments which occur during the 18th week of pregnancy are:

• Bones will harden
• Baby's ears stand out from the head
• Lanugo (soft, fine hair) covers the entire body
• Fat pads are forming on the fingertips and toes
• The eyes are looking forward rather than out the sides of the head
• Prostate gland is beginning to develop in boys
• Taste buds will be able to distinguish sweet from bitter
• Bones in the ears and nerve endings from the brain will develop allowing your baby to hear