In week 18 of pregnancy, the focus is primarily on your baby's growth. It is growing rapidly and gaining significant weight. Your belly is becoming rounder and your baby's movements are getting stronger. If you have already had a baby, you might already be noticing the fetal movements.
In our pregnancy calendar, you will find all the important information regarding the 18th week of your pregnancy. We show you how your baby is developing this week and how big or heavy it is by now. We also summarize for you how your body is changing and what symptoms you might have. In doing so, we also introduce you to our automatic baby hammock from swing2sleep and show you how it helps your baby get better sleep.
How your baby develops in week 19 of pregnancy
The fetus in your belly now resembles a real baby. It has grown significantly in recent weeks and has gained weight. Your baby is already moving a lot, thereby training its muscles. All organs and the sex organs have already formed, and various fine details are developing bit by bit.
In week 19 of pregnancy, your baby goes through several developmental steps:
Your baby perceives your voice
Your baby now perceives various stimuli from its environment. It hears your voice, which it will recognize after birth. The maternal voice therefore has a calming effect on newborns. Expectant fathers and siblings should also talk to the baby during this time.
The brain continues to develop
Your baby's brain is currently developing rapidly. Especially the areas for sensory perception are becoming more and more defined. In addition to hearing, your baby can now already feel and distinguish between light and darkness.
Your baby trains its grasping reflex
In recent weeks, your baby has repeatedly trained its sucking reflex. From the 19th week of pregnancy, it also practices grasping. It clenches its fist and thus trains the still weak muscles in its hands.
Your baby's skin thickens
Until now, your baby's skin was transparent and the organs shimmered through. It is now slowly developing a layer of fat and the skin is also becoming denser before it takes on the state it will have at birth.
The development of your baby also holds exciting innovations in this week of your pregnancy. Your baby is now increasingly preparing for the time after birth and training for it. Even though it will spend many more weeks in your belly, these preparations are very important.
Size & weight in pregnancy week 19
From your own weight gain and the growth of your belly, you have probably already realized that your baby is currently growing fast. In the 19th week of pregnancy, the size is 15 to 19 cm. The weight is between 200 and 224 g. This makes your baby about as big as a mango or a banana. At 200 grams, it is about as heavy as a cup of yogurt or a potato.
Although your baby is getting bigger, it still has enough space in your uterus. It is already moving a lot and doing gymnastics in your belly. It may be that you are slowly starting to notice the movements. The fetal movements initially feel like a slight tingling. If you have already had a baby, you will probably notice the movements sooner.
How expectant mothers feel in the 19th week of pregnancy
If you are 19 weeks pregnant, you are currently experiencing a hormonal surge. In this phase of your pregnancy, you will probably get the pregnancy glow that many expectant mothers have. Your skin has better blood circulation and radiates particularly. Your hair shines and your fingernails become particularly strong.
At the same time, you continue to gain weight. Not only is your baby growing: the uterus and the placenta are also becoming heavier. The amniotic fluid and the fat deposits that your body builds up also contribute to your weight gain. Give your body enough rest. Even if you feel elated and overjoyed, your body is doing hard work.
You might also notice this through slight pain in the lower abdomen and back. Your ligaments are stretching to make room for your baby and to be able to hold it. This can be associated with pain and stinging, but is no cause for concern.
Possible symptoms in week 19 of pregnancy
In recent weeks, you have probably gotten used to your pregnancy and are looking forward to the coming time with your baby. In the second trimester, symptoms are usually less severe than at the beginning of a pregnancy. Your baby is still quite small, so your belly hardly restricts you in everyday life and you can still do everything.
The following symptoms can occur in week 19 of pregnancy and the coming weeks:
Strong urge to urinate
Many pregnant women have a strong urge to urinate and have to go to the toilet more often. This may be because your baby already weighs around 200 grams and might be pressing on your bladder. Make sure to go to the toilet regularly to flush bacteria out of your bladder.
Pigment spots
You may discover dark pigment spots on your face. These are caused by hormonal changes in your body. These also cause the linea nigra on your belly. After birth, the pigment spots will disappear again.
Cravings
Your body now needs many nutrients and a lot of energy. Therefore, you might feel cravings for certain foods. Follow these cravings – your body is showing you which nutrients it needs. However, make sure not to exceed a normal level.
Heavy legs
Many pregnant women suffer from heavy legs and swollen feet. Especially in summer, this can already occur in week 19 of pregnancy. Therefore, take regular breaks and put your legs up if necessary.
Not all pregnant women have these symptoms. So it may well be that you only observe some of them or that your cravings, for example, are particularly strong. Every pregnancy is individual – so don't worry.
Automatic baby hammock from swing2sleep: Gentle sleep for your baby
Your unborn baby is developing in big steps. You can surely hardly wait to make the first preparations and prepare for the arrival of your baby together with the expectant father. For this, we recommend the automatic baby hammock from swing2sleep.
It serves your baby as a proven sleep aid. You place your baby in the cozy hammock, where it can sleep safely. The motor rocks your baby to sleep with gentle up and down movements. This allows your baby to fall asleep more easily and with less stress. This also relieves the parents.
Over 150,000 families already trust the automatic baby hammock from swing2sleep. It is also recommended by osteopaths and midwives, as it has been proven to improve babies' sleep. This also promotes the healthy development of your baby.
