Pregnancy calendar - week #18

Pregnant mothers - week #18

Pillow talk.

Is your pooching belly causing you sleeping problems yet? You may want to use several pillows to make yourself comfortable, or invest in a pregnancy pillow. These pillows are specially shaped to make you as comfortable as possible, while providing support to your back, neck, and tummy. If you're having problems sleeping, we highly recommend this pillow. You can't put a price on a good rest.

Around week 18, your doctor will likely want to schedule an ultrasound. This ultrasound might be able to detect the sex of your baby, so make sure to tell your doctor whether or not you want to know! Also, if you're lucky, you might see baby doing something adorable: sucking her thumb. How cute!

Your doctor might also recommend a Multiple Marker Test. This test can tell you if your baby is at an increased risk of developing certain birth defects.

We must remind you to keep up on your nutrition and physical activity. After all, if you eat right and exercise, you'll feel better during pregnancy. Not only will this plan help you during pregnancy, but when you deliver your baby, you'll have the energy to become an active and healthy mom. When you think of nutrition and exercise as insurance for the future, it just makes sense.

Baby and fetal development - week #18

18 down, 22 to go!

Right around now, you can start physically interacting with your baby. How, you ask? Baby can hear more and more every week. Right now, for example, he can probably hear your heartbeat and blood moving through your body. If you were to lay out in the sun, he would see a red glow coming through your tummy. However, you'll still have to wait awhile before you start showing him pictures and playing games.

Baby is growing every week. Right now, he is about 8.1 inches long, and weighs around 7 ounces. That's about the same weight as a small bottle of shampoo.

Also in week 18:

• Baby's limbs are getting longer, and have reached normal proportions
• Baby's ears have moved to their final position
• The hardening of bones, or ossification, starts
• Fingerprints are developing

Pregnant dads - week #18

Plan ahead.

We think it's a great time to start planning for life with baby outside of the womb. Doing small things now will free up some time before things get really close. Start by baby-proofing your house. Work on the nursery. You'll be grateful for any little thing done now when you're running all over the place in a few months!