Location: Home
» Pregnancy
Week By
Week
11/15/2008 - by Anne Marie Nielson
Pregnancy Week
18
You're Pregnant! Week
18
You're about halfway through now! If you haven't thought about
childbirth classes before, you may want to think about them now
if this is your first pregnancy. There are many different types
out there to choose from. Hospitals usually have some for
couples intending on birthing at their facilities. They will
familiarize you with the hospital routines and protocols, as
well as pain relief options. If you are more interested in a
natural birth or are choosing to birth at a birth center or at
home, you may prefer a class that is not hospital-affiliated.
ICEA (International Childbirth Education Association), Bradley,
Birthing from Within, ALACE, Lamaze and many other flavors of
childbirth classes may be available in your area. Be sure to
ask around. All of them will cover the mechanics of labor… what
the stages of labor are, how baby moves to get through the
pelvis and comfort measures to deal with labor pain. Aside from
that, they may use art therapy to help deal with fears and
concerns, or offer you information about every possible option
so you can choose what works best for you. If you're not sure
what type of childbirth class you want, check your local
library for books or videos that may help you make up your
mind. A quick internet search should help you find out more
about these choices as well.
YOUR BABY
If your baby is a girl, her uterus is now fully formed. If your
baby is a boy, his testes are now descending into his scrotum.
Your baby will have definite sleep/wake patterns now that
you'll be able to discern if you pay attention. Baby's brain
continues to grow. From now until birth, besides finishing
touches on everything, your baby's primary job is to grow and
put on weight. At a little more than half a pound, your baby is
about six inches in length.
YOUR BODY
By now you're familiar with many of the discomforts of
pregnancy: lower back pain, cramping, swelling of your feet,
flatulence, stretch marks… yes, it is true. Very few women will
escape stretch marks. They happen when the skin is stretched
quickly. Initially, the marks will be red or purple in color
and very noticeable. Given time, they will turn silvery and
fade a bit. Genetics will play into how many you get, as will
your ethnicity. Darker skinned women tend to get fewer stretch
marks than paler skinned women. Keeping hydrated can help, so
drink your water! Moisturizing your skin can be beneficial as
well, though moisturizers cannot completely prevent them from
occurring. Gaining weight quickly may contribute to stretch
marks, but you may not be in complete control of that. Many
women do a sudden weight gain of five to ten pounds between
weeks 24 and 28. This is a good thing… it helps prove your
blood volume has sufficiently expanded, since the biggest
expansion takes place during that time. Eating well can also
help a bit, since good nutrition results in good skin. If you
get them anyway, they are your badges of motherhood. Wear them
proudly!
At From Pregnancy To Baby, we try
to provide you with all of the latest information about going
through your pregnancy from your first trimester to the first
years of your new babies life. We also provide the highest
quality books and products to help you through that time.
Source: http://www.frompregnancytobaby.com/pregnancy-week-18.html
|
