Pregnancy Calendar - 18th Week
- Use several pillows to support your body during sleep.
- Try to maintain a balanced upright posture of your body.
- Avoid lifting heavy weights!
For the mother:
- The production rate of your heart has grown and this extra blood makes the veins in your hands, legs and your breasts more prominent.
For the baby:
- During this period, the brain develops the neural pathways that enable the embryo to begin to feel the rest of his/her body.
- The embryo continues to exercise his/her hands. It has the ability to close the palms and form a punch.
- The embryo’s fingers and toes acquire their final shape while the unique spiral lines which will be his/her fingerprints in the future make their appearance.
- The fetus’s urinary system is fully operational.
- The size of the fetus (head-tail distance) now reaches approximately 14cm and weighs about 200grams.
