When is 18 weeks from today

That fluid will combine with dead cells and secretions in the intestines to form meconium — a black, tarry substance you'll see at the very first diaper change. Your baby will need bile to digest nutrients, and at 18 weeks, the gall bladder may begin to work.

The illustration below shows how things may be looking inside your belly this week:. If this is your first pregnancy, you may feel the baby begin to move inside your belly sometime soon. This fluttering feeling is known as quickening. As your baby gets bigger, you may notice stronger movements and maybe even kicks in the weeks to come. Because each mom is different, you may feel this movement earlier this is common if this is not your first baby or in some cases even later.

At this stage of your pregnancy, your body is going through a lot of circulation changes, such as increased blood volume and rapidly expanding blood vessels, which can cause your blood pressure to drop.

You may also notice around 18 weeks that your feet are getting bigger. A part of this is due to swelling caused by water retention, known as edema, which can occur from the second trimester onward.

Hormones also play a part in growing feet. The pregnancy hormone relaxin, which relaxes your pelvic joints so your baby can fit through the birth canal, loosens the ligaments in your feet, causing the foot bones to spread. At 18 weeks pregnant, here are some of the symptoms you may be experiencing:. Dizzy spells. Your heart is working 40 to 50 percent harder than it did before you were pregnant.

This effort, combined with the pressure of your growing uterus on blood vessels, can occasionally leave you feeling faint, particularly when you get up quickly. Be sure to rest frequently. Lie down on your side when you feel faint or dizzy. Low blood sugar can also lead to wooziness.

Resting, lying down on your side, or eating a piece of fruit will help boost blood sugar levels and settle dizzy spells. Exercising to keep the fluid moving, and avoiding wearing contact lenses can help. Notify your doctor if you have vision problems.

Even if you work full time while you're pregnant, this doesn't have to have a negative effect on your relationship with your baby. As your baby grows, you will probably find that you start to develop a relationship with your "belly" as you anticipate your baby's movements and perhaps talk to him. Make sure you plan enough maternity leave before your due date since this gives you time for practical and emotional preparations, as well as time to rest.

There's some evidence to suggest that too much stress in a mother can affect her unborn baby's brain development see You are 16 Weeks and 3 Days. This highlights the importance of ensuring you have regular opportunities to relax during pregnancy and so, if your work is stressful, maybe this would be a good time to look at your priorities. Excerpted from Pregnancy Day by Day. Purchase on Amazon. You are 18 Weeks and 1 Day Pregnant. You are 18 Weeks and 2 Days Pregnant.

Registry Builder New. Due Date Calculator When is your baby due? Use this pregnancy calculator to find your due date based on the date of your last menstrual period, conception date, IVF 3-day or 5-day transfer date or date of your last ultrasound. Calculation Method. The first day of your last period. Date of Conception. Date of Transfer. Date of Ultrasound. Medically Reviewed by Aaron Styer, M. Medical Review Policy All What to Expect content that addresses health or safety is medically reviewed by a team of vetted health professionals.

How to Calculate Your Due Date. First day of last period Most pregnancies last around 40 weeks or 38 weeks from conception , so typically the best way to estimate your due date is to count 40 weeks, or days, from the first day of your last menstrual period LMP. Conception date Calculating your due date based on the first day of your last period works well for women who have a relatively regular menstrual cycle.

IVF transfer date There are more than , assisted reproductive technology cycles performed each year in the United States, resulting in about 77, or more babies born a year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC. The size of your uterus, which will be noted when your initial internal pregnancy exam is performed, can also be a factor in pinpointing the EDD.