You rescued him, nursed him to health, and after many passionate nights, he disappears. You go on with your life and find out you are carrying his child. Just as you think you've moved on an inch, he reappears.
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By the 18th week, your baby weighs about 200g/.44 lbs, is 14cm/5.5 in long and is approximately the size of a bell pepper. Their nerves will be already forming myelin, a protective covering which is important for proper development and functioning of the nervous system after birth. Not only is the baby yawning and swallowing at 18 weeks, the baby is tumbling, kicking and rolling all over the place. By this time s/he has turned your tummy into a small gym. S/he have even developed grip and can hold the umbilical cord like some form of a toy flutters, taps, swishes or even popcorn popping. The movements appear intermittently once you start noticing them. You may feel nothing one day followed by intense movement the next day. Your baby may also respond to different activities happening around you. It could be you experiencing a strong emotion, loud noise or eating/drinking something sugary like a candy bar or orange juice. If you are expecting a girl, she will already be developing eggs in her ovary at 18 weeks. Their genitals will be formed and in place. By week 20, a boy's genitals may be visible during your anomaly scan. In some cases, it may be difficult to see depending on the positioning of your baby.
The most noticeable symptom at this stage of pregnancy is the feeling of dizziness and lightheadedness on standing up too quickly. The uterus pushes against an artery and slows the flow of blood which the baby is demanding more of in addition, so that sitting up or standing up quickly presents a rush of blood and dizzying sensation. Drinking fluids and iron rich foods help, and take naps. Be sure to have something on hand; sometimes hunger can cause upset and anxiety. There also may be back aches due to the baby's growth, shifting your center of gravity and placing stress on the spine. Your appetite will also increase, and healthy snacks are advised. Staying active is good for you and baby as well, be it prenatal exercise classes, daily walks and housekeeping chores, etc...
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Never have I been happier to do research, and this time, it feels like it's saving my sanity, therefore my life:
If we have sex the night before, I cook breakfast to give her extra time to rest. I make sure there is a water bottle next to the bed at all times for her. She takes lunch or orders in now so she can take her twenty minute power nap during her lunch time or take a break later in the afternoon when she really needs it. I always slip snacks into her backpack for work, or I send a huge week's supply for the breakroom fridge there. I always send fruits, vegetables, and cheeses. It's easy enough. She even laughed when I sent kids snacks. They're already packed and a great go-to.
