The mother must have gained at least twenty pounds by the pregnancy week 18, but after this the weight gain should slow down. Because of the uterus expanding it will not be very comfortable for the mother to lie down and turn around easily. 18 weeks pregnant mother should try and lie more on their left side so that there is less strain on the vena cava and allow the blood to flow freely or else there will be more strain on the heart too. The mother’s heart is working harder as it is and it is not good to put more strain on it. To keep the 18 weeks pregnant mother more comfortable there are pregnancy pillows which make it easier for her to rest.

On reaching 18 weeks of pregnancy an ultra sound scan can show the sex of the baby, but one should remember that there can be errors with ultra sounds too. What does give a fool proof sex determination is amniocentesis, but this procedure is risky. It is much better to complete a full term pregnancy and wait for a pleasant surprise where the sex of the baby is concerned instead of conducting tests during this pregnancy 18 week. At this pregnancy stage the foetus is much more sensitive to sound and stage.

The baby at pregnancy 18 week is very nearly of a weight of five ounces and the length is at least six inches. The body of the foetus has now developed a coating which is a protective covering for the nerves which is called Myelin. An ultrasound scan done when a mother is 18 weeks pregnant will show if there are any defects in the heart of the baby. To know this is to help the baby to lead a healthy life after birth with the right kind of treatment being given immediately. It is interesting to know that the baby now yawns in the womb, sucks its thumb and can even grimace.