Many people say that the pregnancy’s second trimester is its honeymoon stage. This is because during this phase, the expecting mother has gone through a number of symptoms brought by the first semester such as morning sickness, vomiting, nausea and others. It is also during these times that she gets more comfortable with the physiological changes caused by pregnancy and that she is in a much better stage. An 18 weeks pregnant woman gains various experiences. The conditions gone through during pregnancy vary from one woman to another. In the second trimester, her appetite will be stimulated once more and the baby inside her womb begins to make some movement.

One of the most exciting parts of pregnancy is the time when the mother already feels the little angel inside her. At this stage, the baby already measures about 5 inches in length and weighs 5 ounces. His size is already enough for the mother to feel his punching, twisting, kicking and rolling inside the womb. With the use of a stethoscope, the heartbeat of the baby can already be felt by the mother. The angel during these times can already recognize and hear voices and other sounds.

At the 18th week of pregnancy, there are physical and physiological changes that noticeably take place in a woman. There are various symptoms of an 18- week pregnancy. The growth of the baby causes changes in the body of the mother due to the pressure applied on the inside of the womb. Some of these changes include protrusion of the abdomen and lower back, and increase in the size of the uterus. The symptoms of 18-week pregnancy include indigestion or heartburn, skin problems (such as redness, acne, itch, edema, etc.), stomach bloating, stretch marks appearance around the tummy, varicose veins pain, leg cramps and mild swelling in the feet and ankles.

What are the things that an 18 weeks pregnant mother should expect? At her second trimester of being pregnant, she needs to double her food consumption to satisfy the dietary needs of herself and more importantly, of the baby’s. There are unhealthy foods that should not be fed to the baby like heavy and friend ones. When ingested, these foods can cause different problems inside the body of the mother like heartburn, indigestion and the like. As for eating, the things that the conceiving woman should do are taking frequently small meals, chewing thoroughly and eating slowly. She must also not lie down right after she eats. A little bit of regular exercise is also beneficial for her health and baby’s.

An 18 weeks pregnant mother usually experiences a decrease in blood pressure which causes nausea and dizziness. To combat these symptoms, it is recommended that she keeps snacks and fruits all the time. The increase in size of the belly is expected to cause some discomfort when lying to sleep. This problem can be solved by using a pregnancy pillow which is designed to support the knees and belly of the pregnant woman.

In the 8th week of pregnancy, the conceiving woman is likely to have a higher sex drive. It is always advisable for the couple to consult a doctor to know whether it is safe or not to have some sexual intercourse during this phase of her pregnancy. During this time, the doctor can also let her know if she is carrying more than one baby. At some time, being pregnant is somewhat boring since your activities are limited only to light ones. When boredom strikes, the mother is advised to read books, magazines and other printed materials that contain helpful articles regarding pregnancy and how to keep the baby healthy.