Im 18 Weeks and Still Can't Feel My Baby

Noticing a rumbling in your tummy?

It could be pregnancy hunger pangs — or it could be the very first signs of fetal movement, which can happen at around week 18 of pregnancy.

Your Baby at Week 18

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At 18 weeks, your little chick is about the same size as that chicken breast on your dinner plate — about five inches long and five ounces in weight.

But don't let his small size fool you — there are big goings-on in that little body of his this week. Meconium — your baby's first poop — is slowly starting to accumulate in his bowels. If your baby's a boy, his prostate gland is forming. And both girl and boy babies now officially sport finger and toe prints. Those tiny swirls and wrinkles mark your baby as uniquely himself from here on out… though there's probably little need to tell you how especially unique your baby is!

Under major construction now is your baby's nervous system. That's the network that coordinates your cutie's every move. Right now your baby's brain, spinal cord, and nerves get a boost from myelin, a substance that coats the nerves and speeds up the time it takes for messages to travel between nerve cells.

Myelin also helps baby's nerves form more complex connections, enabling your teeny mover and shaker to perfect more intricate moves such as sucking a thumb, clasping hands, and curling his fingers around the umbilical cord.

And guess what, momma! Somebody's listening to you. Baby's ears have arrived at their final destination — the sides of his head — and the tiny bones inside the inner ear have hardened, allowing your baby to hear some sounds, including the sweet sound of your voice! Now hear this: thanks to all the time they spend listening to it in utero, studies show that babies are able to identify their mom's voice right after birth. Keep that in mind the next time you serenade your womb with your lullabies…or rock out in the shower. Your little one is all ears!

At a Glance

Tiny fingerprints

Your one-of-a-kind baby is truly one of a kind now, with unique fingerprints on those little fingertips and toes.

Nerve protection

Myelin, a protective insulation, is starting to form around baby-to-be's nerves. This covering continues to grow until your baby's first birthday.

Girl and boy parts defined

Having a girl? The fallopian tubes and uterus are now in proper position. A boy? Genitals may be visible on your next ultrasound.

18 weeks pregnant is how many months?

If you're 18 weeks pregnant, you're in month 5 of your pregnancy. Only 4 months left to go! Still have questions? Here's some more information on how weeks, months and trimesters are broken down in pregnancy.

How big is my baby at 18 weeks?

At 5½ inches long from crown to rump and 5 to 6½ ounces in weight — about the size of that boneless chicken breast you're making for dinner — your baby may be large enough now or anytime in the next few weeks for you to feel twisting, rolling, kicking and punching in the womb.

Baby is yawning

Now for the skill of the week: The art of the yawn has been mastered by your baby, along with hiccupping, which you may feel soon, too!

In fact, you might catch a glimpse of that adorable yawn and all those other fetal movements at your ultrasound this month.

Baby's nervous system is maturing quickly

Something you won't see on the ultrasound — but you'll learn is in working order — is your baby's nervous system, which is maturing rapidly when you're 18 weeks pregnant.

A network of nerves, now covered with a substance called myelin that helps speed messages from nerve cell to nerve cell, are forming more complex connections.

And those in the brain are further developing into the ones that serve the senses of touch, taste, smell, sight and hearing.

Speaking of hearing, your baby's is growing more acute and baby can finally fully hear you this week, making your little one more conscious of sounds that come from inside your body. Meaning you could both be listening to each other hiccup!

Your Body at Week 18

Quick growth

Is it a girl? A boy? How about a sizeable fruit or vegetable? At 18 weeks, your baby is about the length of a cucumber and your uterus is around the size of a sweet potato — see how you're working your way through the produce department? It can be felt about 1½ inches below your belly button — so have a feel.

How Big Are 18-Week Bumps?

Your 18 weeks pregnant belly

When you're 18 weeks pregnant, you'll likely look noticeably pregnant, since your baby and uterus are growing rapidly. But remember that every woman is different as is each pregnancy, so even this far along, some still have small bumps while others have popped a lot.

All baby bumps at 18 weeks pregnant are fine and normal and may vary based on how much weight you and baby are gaining, your height and build, and whether this is your first pregnancy or not.

Just don't size up your 18 weeks pregnant belly next to those of pregnant friends at the same stage, or worry that you're measuring too big or too small. If you're really concerned, you can always talk to your practitioner, but rest assured that if you and your baby are tracking normally at your prenatal appointments, everything is likely just fine.

Your back aches

Something else you may be feeling right now: back pain. Your growing uterus shifts your center of gravity — which means your lower back is pulled forward while your abdomen is thrust out — good for tipping off the person who got the last seat on the bus that you're pregnant, bad for your back muscles.

Couple that with the changes that the pregnancy hormone relaxin is instituting — namely relaxing all your ligaments, including those that attach your pelvic bones to your spine, and loosening joints — and that leaves you with backaches and pains, not to mention a shifting posture.

Reduce pain by using a foot rest to elevate your feet slightly when sitting. When standing, place one foot on a low stool when possible to take some pressure off your lower back. A long, warm bath can also do wonders. And if your back pain just won't quit, be sure to talk to your practitioner.

Reducing heartburn

Forget the burrito with extra jalapeños — sometimes even a bite of toast will set your gut on fire these days. That's the problem with heartburn — an all-too-common symptom that can persist throughout your pregnancy. An ounce of prevention may be worth a pound of Tums — although you might want to keep those handy, too, since they'll banish the burn while boosting your calcium intake.

For starters, eat slowly and chew thoroughly. Try not to eat lunch on the run or gobble your dinner standing up, and eat smaller meals and snacks rather than five-alarm gut bombs.

After you finish eating, sit upright for a few hours, or as long as you can last without collapsing into bed, and sleep with your head elevated, which also helps with the snoring. And do skip anything on the menu with a picture of a flame next to it!

Pregnancy Symptoms Week 18

Fetal movement

If you've noticed an unusual rumbling in your tummy these days, you may be starting to feel your baby's movements in the womb! But don't worry if you haven't felt anything out of the ordinary — it may take a few more weeks for you to pinpoint those first kicks. Read More

Bloating and gas

Finding it hard to contain the gas bubbles? Try to relax — tension can cause you to swallow air, which only adds to the problem. Read More

Leg cramps

As if it weren't enough that your precious sleep is interrupted by trips to the bathroom to pee, now you may find yourself suddenly woken up during the night by shooting spasms in your calves. Experts aren't entirely sure what causes them, but you can help fend them off by doing calf stretches before hitting the sack. Some women also swear by magnesium supplements or milk of magnesia — which can also help ease constipation — but talk to your doctor before taking them. Read More

Bleeding gums

Those pesky pregnancy hormones cause mucous membranes in your body, including those in your mouth, to swell, which can mean inflamed, irritated and bleeding gums. It's important to continue flossing and brushing regularly to prevent periodontal disease, but try not to be too aggressive in your technique since that can further aggravate sensitive gums. Read More

Edema (swelling in feet and ankles)

As your body tissues accumulate excess fluid —your pregnant body requires extra fluid to support you and your baby — you may notice swelling in your ankles and feet. The reason: Fluid tends to pool there thanks to the law of gravity. Reduce water retention in your feet by avoiding standing or sitting for long periods of time — and try to keep your legs elevated when you can. Read More

Stretch marks

If the appearance of a new stretch mark has got you feeling down, here's an activity that may cheer you up: Get your partner to rub moisturizing lotion over your belly — and maybe even give you a massage! Read More

Tips for You This Week

Don't make any sudden moves

During pregnancy, progesterone increases the flow of blood to your baby, resulting in lower blood pressure and reduced blood flow to your brain — giving you that faint feeling all over.

To help stave off dizziness, always stand up from a sitting or lying position slowly.

Interview pediatricians

Now's a great time in your pregnancy to interview potential pediatricians. After all, there's a good chance that the doctor will first see your baby within 24 hours of your little one's birth.

So ask a lot of questions before you make your selection and broach topics like appointment availability, hospital affiliations, vaccines and circumcision.

Time for relaxin?

Unfortunately, we don't mean "relaxing." During the second trimester, your body releases relaxin, a hormone that (as the name implies) loosens the ligaments that hold your bones together. The result: an achy pelvis and hips — and maybe even bigger feet!

You may be cursing this pregnancy hormone now, but when you're trying to push out your baby's big head, you'll be thanking relaxin for doing its job.

Pump iron

Even red-meat eaters can have a hard time getting enough iron from their diets. If you're someone who sticks to plant-based foods, you'll have to double your efforts to pump up the iron — vegan and vegetarian moms-to-be have a higher risk for iron-deficiency anemia.

Foods like beans, soy products, oat bran, barley, pumpkin seeds, dried fruits, spinach, seaweed, Jerusalem artichokes and blackstrap molasses all have some iron in them, but you may also need to take an iron supplement to make sure you're meeting your daily quota. Ask your practitioner whether that's the case.

Be wary of supplements

Herbal supplements do make the most tempting of promises — especially when pregnancy leaves you with few self-medicating options. Would it really hurt to pop a couple of ginkgo biloba capsules to give your brain cells a fighting chance of remembering to pay this month's electric bill? After all, the bottles say "all natural"…and you did buy them at the health food store.

Actually, it could hurt — particularly now that you're sharing those pills with a little someone else. Herbs and herbal remedies are not tested or approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) prior to going on the market and are not required to undergo clinical trials, so their safety, or lack thereof, is unknown.

Even supplements that you've heard could be helpful could actually be harmful at different points during your pregnancy — by causing premature labor if taken too early, for instance.

And a number of herbs — such as basil oil, black or blue cohosh, clove oil, sassafras, wild yam and many others — can be downright dangerous if taken anytime during pregnancy. Be safe and check with your practitioner before you pop any pill.

Avoid some workout moves

Certain exercises may work great for the non-pregnant set, but now that you're expecting, don't even think about trying them.

Just say no to upside-down "bicycles," shoulder stands, or flat-on-your-back positions after the fourth month.

Also off-limits: deep-knee bends, back bends, jumping and bouncing.

Get ready for tiny kicks

You'll probably notice baby's first little kicks anytime between weeks 18 and 22 — and sometimes as late as weeks 23 or 24 for first-time pregnancies.

Those tiny feet can be felt in many different ways: as the merest flutter, the most insistent slug or gas bubbles that aren't gas at all.

As for when and how you'll feel your baby move? Several factors come into play: a mom's size (the slimmer you are, the more likely you'll feel movements earlier); your muscle tone (the laxer the uterine muscles, the easier it is to feel those kicks — which is why second-timers generally feel them sooner); and the baby's position (it's trickier to notice movement when your baby kicks facing in).

An incorrect due date can also throw off the recognition of those monumental first kicks. Don't worry: There's no mistaking the real thing once your baby gets the technique down — and gets big enough to pack a serious punch.

From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author ofWhat to Expect When You're Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.

• What to Expect When You're Expecting, 5th edition, Heidi Murkoff.
• WhatToExpect.com, Exercises to Avoid During Pregnancy, December 2019.
• WhatToExpect.com, Your Guide to Pregnancy Hormones, January 2021.
• WhatToExpect.com, How to Find the Best Pediatrician for Your Baby, May 2020.
• WhatToExpect.com, When You'll Feel Your Baby Move and Kick, June 2021.
• KidsHealth From Nemours, Week 18, 2021.
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, How Your Fetus Grows During Pregnancy, August 2020.
• National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, Myelin, June 2021.
• Mayo Clinic, What Causes Ankle Swelling During Pregnancy—And What Can I Do About It?, August 2020.
• Society for Endocrinology, Relaxin, March 2018.
• National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports, The Effect of Relaxin on the Musculoskeletal System, August 2014.
• American Academy of Pediatricians, How to Choose a Pediatrician, January 2020.
• National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements, Iron, March 2021.
• Food and Drug Administration, FDA 101: Dietary Supplements, July 2015.
• UT Southwestern Medical Center, The Truth About "Natural" Ways to Induce Labor, April 2017.
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Exercise During Pregnancy, July 2019.
• UT Southwestern Medical Center, Feeling Your Baby Move During Pregnancy, April 2015.
• National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine,Neuropsychology Review, The Basics of Brain Development, November 2010.

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Im 18 Weeks and Still Can't Feel My Baby

Source: https://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/week-by-week/week-18.aspx

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