Week 18 of Your Pregnancy
Baby’s Development
At this stage, your fetus can kick, swallow and sleep. Although still primarily cartilage, its skeletal system is continuing to ossify (harden) daily. The little chest moves up and down as it prepares to breathe and its heart pumps an average of 25-30 quarts of blood a day. Not bad for a human no bigger than a mango.
This is a major week for most couples! Week eighteen is generally accepted as the time for THE ultrasound. The big one. It’s the one you never forget so be sure to bring your partner and do your best to relax. During this ultrasound, the technician will be checking for proper fetal growth and examining the placenta and umbilical cord. Gestational age will be determined and all the organs and structures will be inspected thoroughly and measured. Your technician will carefully screen every aspect of your fetus for defects, ensuring that the proper development is taking place. Because at this point the genitals are now obvious, you will be able to tell if you are expecting a boy or a girl as well. Be sure to pay close attention to the screen as the procedure is taking place, you may be able to catch your little one moving or even sucking their thumb!
Your Body and Emotions
This is probably a very exciting week for you, as sometime in these seven days you’ll be getting your ultrasound! Fear may be mingled with your excitement as you finally get to see what’s been growing inside of you these last months. Concerns over proper fetal development, size and position are all common and those quiet moments when the technician is taking measurements and examining your little one can be very nerve wracking! You may even forget that you have a chance to learn what gender to expect, as you’re so busy hoping for ten fingers and ten little toes!
30 minutes before your ultrasound, you’ll be asked to drink 20 ounces of water so that you can get a good picture of your baby. Words to the wise…only drink the required amount and no more. If you drink too much water due to over enthusiasm, not only will you be very uncomfortable, but your technician will probably ask you to go empty your bladder a little bit. Not to mention, the wait times for ultrasounds can be quite long and the last thing you need is to be pregnant with a full bladder for longer than necessary.
Remember to ask your partner if they want to come. Seeing your fetus for the first time is something you’ll never forget. It’s your first official meeting and you should both share in the emotions you’ll experience.
Dad’s Tips
Make it a point to go to her doctor’s appointments with her. Because of work and other commitments, it may not be realistic to make it to all of them, especially when she starts going once a week. However, there are some key appointments that you should be loathe to miss. The appointment this week is one of them. If you miss out on the 18 week ultrasound, you’ll be missing your first glimpse of your child and the bonding that will occur between yourself and your partner. Take a personal day, take a vacation day…just make the time. You’ll be glad you did. |
