Pregnancy Week 18 Development, What To Expect And One Beneficial Food
Being pregnant is such a wonderful and overwhelming journey. Everyday is a new experience for pregnant women, especially for the first time moms. However, not everyday is a good day. While some women enjoy the new experience which their pregnancy brings about, some women have to deal with the difficulties, troubles and changes associated with their pregnancy.
While it is satisfying to discover new experiences everyday, it is never a bad thing to equip and prepare yourself for the changes you are to experience in the next days and weeks to come. So what should you expect on the 18th week of pregnancy?
What Changes with your Baby? Your baby is now over 6 inches long and more than 5 ounces in weight. Though most mother start feeling their baby's movements after the 20th week, you may begin feeling that your baby is kicking, punching, rolling and twisting inside your womb this week.
By this time, your baby has now its own set of finger and toe prints. He may also develop other skills such as hiccupping and yawning.
What Bodily Changes Should You Anticipate? This week, more and more people are noticing your growing figure. Most of them can now recognize that you are pregnant. While you are enjoying the attention which many people give during this stage, you may also have to suffer from backaches which is due to the growing size of your baby and of course, the surge of pregnancy hormones inside your body.
However, inside your body, your cardiovascular system is affected by your pregnancy. You may experience low blood pressure. Bleeding gums, flatulence, heartburn and existence of varicose veins and stretch marks are still normal during this week.
Leg cramps begin to occur this week. You might just find yourself waking up in the middle of the night due to the shooting spasms in your right and left calf. The cause is still unknown but you can fend them off through calf stretching. By this time, your body continues to accumulate fluid to support you and your baby's needs. This may result to the swelling of the feet and ankles.
The Mother's Diet In many cases, pregnancy brings about food aversions and cravings. However, make sure that you are getting nutrients from the food you take. It is really hard to swallow foods which you don't feel like eating but bear in mind that your baby's health is at stake. No matter what the circumstances are, your baby should obtain sufficient amount of nutrients to optimize its growth and development.
Watermelon for Pregnant Women Eating watermelon during pregnancy is not just safe. More importantly, it is delicious and nutritious. It provides a number of nutrients which make pregnancy even bearable. According to research, watermelon helps in easing muscle cramps, dehydration, swelling, heartburn and morning sickness. Some women consider watermelon as an excellent solution to nausea. Due to its high water content, watermelon is a very beneficial fruit during pregnancy.
Watermelon is also said to be richer in lycopenes compared to tomatoes. Lycopenes are antioxidants that protect the body against cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Also, these antioxidants are beneficial in increasing the skin's SPFs as well as in boosting the body's immunity against a wide range of infections. In pregnant women, lycopenes play a vital role in reducing their risk for preeclampsia by as high as 50%.
Recent researches showed that watermelon is fortified with Vitamins A, B6 and C as well as magnesium and potassium which are known for their massive benefits to the human body. Potassium is said to be effective at regulating amount of water in the blood, thereby preventing the swelling of the ankles and feet. When working together, potassium and magnesium are helpful in preventing muscle cramps which normally occur on the third trimester of pregnancy.
Watermelon also plays a vital role in the development of the baby's nervous system, vision and the brain. On the other hand, Vitamins A and C are beneficial in the development of the baby's immune system and bones. Apart from this, Vitamin C performs an important role in expediting the healing of wounds, promoting healthy gums and teeth as well as in preventing cellular damage. Meanwhile, Vitamin B6 helps in optimizing brain functions.
About the Author
Find FREE expert and brilliant information about the progress of your baby on the 18th week of your pregnancy, from the blog of Merrion Fetal Health. The ultrasound clinic in Dublin has long years of experience in providing state of the art pregnancy and ultrasound scans. http://www.merrionfetalhealth.ie/
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