At 18 weeks pregnant, you are almost halfway through your pregnancy. You are halfway through your second trimester, and most likely are feeling pretty good. Any nausea you experienced during the first trimester has most likely waned, and a baby bump may be more obvious to outsiders at this point. You are probably feeling more energy now than you have in a while, and you are so close to being halfway done with your pregnancy. If you haven’t already had your big ultrasound, you will probably have one in the next coming weeks. You may be feeling anxious to find out if you are having a boy or a girl, and to make sure your baby is healthy and growing properly.
18 Weeks Pregnant: Preparing For Your Ultrasound
Most women schedule their ultrasound between 18-22 weeks of pregnancy. There is little preparation which is required prior to the ultrasound. Your doctor may or may not want you to arrive with a full bladder. During most uterine ultrasounds, a full bladder will act as a marker for the technician in order to get a good reference point. After a few minutes of measurements, your ultrasound technician may allow you a break then to use the bathroom and empty your bladder. Many women consider the ultrasound one of the highest points of their pregnancy. They get to see their babies for the first time, and will get fairly accurate measurements of how their babies are growing and developing at this point. Many parents-to-be take advantage of the ultrasound to find out their baby’s gender in order to better prepare for the arrival of their babies. The placenta is also measured, and it’s location within the uterus is noted. If the placenta is covering the cervix, your doctor may discuss checking later in your pregnancy via ultrasound to see if it has moved, or may discuss a cesarian section as a means of delivery.
Your Body
Many women claim to feel better during the middle of the second trimester than any other point during their pregnancies. At 18 weeks pregnant, you are probably just starting to noticably show, especially if this is your first pregnancy. The nausea and tiredness of the first trimester has passed, and your skin, hair, and nails are healthy, shiny, and vibrant giving you the telltale pregnancy glow. Take advantage of this time to get some preparation done for your baby’s arrival while you are still comfortable enough to move around and still have the energy to do it.
If you are able, try to accomplish some of the following things while you have the energy:
- Prepare your baby’s nursery
- Begin purchasing must-haves
- Start shopping for pediatricians for your newborn
- Start planning meals for after baby’s arrival
- Prepare other siblings or pets for baby’s arrival
Preparing your baby’s nursery or living space at 18 weeks pregnant is one of the ideal times. Your belly is most likely not so cumbersome, so any rearranging in a bedroom or painting can be done with relative comfort and ease. By purchasing items you know you are going to use, you can avoid having to dole out a lot of money at once when your baby arrives. Essentials like diapers, bottles, and onesies can all be purchased in gender-neutral colors or for a specific gender if you have already found out. At 18 weeks pregnant, it is also the ideal time to begin looking for your baby’s pediatrician. Most pediatricians will schedule time for parents-to-be so you can get a feel for who your child’s doctor will be. For most of these visits there is no charge, and pediatricians will often welcome the opportunity to meet expectant parents. Something else to consider at 18 weeks pregnant is what kind of meals to have on hand. While you don’t necessarily have to start cooking and freezing casseroles just yet, getting an idea for what you are going to prepare, as well as gathering ingredients is something you will be very thankful for later on in your pregnancy when your energy wanes. Finally, at 18 weeks pregnant, you should begin preparing other children as well as pets for the arrival of a new baby. For other children, they may already be feeling threatened by all the attention the new baby is already getting. Pets may feel disoriented and out of place when you begin changing rooms around and creating a nursery. Getting them comfortable with the idea of a new family member’s arrival will benefit everyone in the family in the long run.
At 18 weeks pregnant, you are probably feeling pretty great. You have probably already felt your baby’s movements by this point, and if not you will soon. You are almost halfway through your pregnancy, and your baby weighs about 7 ounces and is about 5 inches long. Your uterus is measuring just below your belly button, and your once-flat tummy is now showing a definite bulge indicating your baby is growing and thriving. At 18 weeks pregnant, it is a great time to start doing some basic preparation to get ready for the arrival of your baby, as pretty soon you may be far too uncomfortable and tired to get much accomplished. You will probably have your baby’s ultrasound performed at this time, and may be counting down the moments until you can lay eyes on your baby for the very first time.
