18 Weeks Pregnant: What To Expect

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EP 88:

Welcome back to Oh Baybee! In today’s episode, we’re diving into everything you need to know about week 18 of pregnancy! From your baby’s latest milestones to the symptoms you might be experiencing, I’ll break it all down so you feel confident and prepared.

🎙️ In this episode, we’ll cover:
✅ How your baby is growing at 18 weeks 
✅ Common pregnancy symptoms at this stage and how to manage them
✅ Changes in your body you might notice this week
✅ When to start feeling baby’s first kicks 💕
✅ Essential tips to stay comfortable and healthy

📢 Mentioned in this episode:
➡️ My Bump to Bundle Blueprint (Your complete pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding course!) – [Insert link]
 

✨ If you found this episode helpful, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a fellow mama!

Episode Transcript

(00:05):
Hi, I'm Stephanie Poole, founderand CEO of Birth Prep Academy.
I'm on a mission to helppregnant moms prepare for their
first hospital birth.
I'm sharing revealingconversations about what it
really takes to successfullytransition into motherhood.
So join me.
We're here to discover thingslike what to expect in

(00:26):
childbirth, how to prepare foryour birth.
We'll also talk aboutbreastfeeding and so much more.
I'm so grateful to share it allwith you right here on Oh, Baby,
the podcast created for pregnantmoms, preparing for their first
hospital birth.
Let's get started.

(00:47):
Did you know that at 18 weekspregnant, your baby is
developing a sense of taste?
Yep.
That means that whatever youeat, your little one is actually
tasting tiny hints of it throughyour amniotic fluid.
I know.
Crazy, right?
But that's just the beginning.
This week, their ears are nowfully formed and can hear your

(01:11):
voice, music, and even yourheartbeat.
Their lungs, well, they'vestarted practicing for life.
Outside of the body by inhalingand exhaling some of the
amniotic fluid and your body.
Well, let's just say pregnancyat 18 weeks comes with some

(01:31):
unexpected surprises.
Like, why does it feel likeyou're running out of breath so
quickly?
Hmm.
Why are you suddenly dealingwith leg cramps in the middle of
the night?
And why do some moms noticetheir belly buttons starting to
pop out already?
Oh, and stick around until theend, because I'm going to share

(01:53):
one wild but true pregnancy factthat most moms don't know about
until it really happens.
To them.
All right, mama.
Grab a snack, get comfy.
You know what to do, and let'stalk about everything you need
to know.
about being 18 weeks pregnant.
By now, your little one is aboutfive and a half inches long,

(02:16):
which is slightly around thesize of a sweet potato and
weighing in at seven ounces.
But here's where it gets reallycool.
Your baby is tasting what youeat.
That's right.
Flavors from your meals areactually passing through the
amniotic fluid.
So if you're munching on.
Garlic, spicy food, or evenchocolate, your baby is getting

(02:40):
a little taste test.
In fact, studies show thatbabies exposed to a variety of
flavors in the womb tend to beless picky eaters after birth.
So this is a great time to starteating a mix of healthy food.
All right, next up.
Your baby can now hear you.

(03:01):
That's right.
We talked about it a little bitlast week, but their ears are
fully formed, which means thatthey can hear inside and outside
of your belly.
They can hear things like yourvoice, your heartbeat, even loud
noises from the world aroundyou.
So here's a mama tip.
Okay, I've said it before.

(03:22):
I'm gonna say it again'cause Ireally wanna encourage you to
increase the amount of time thatyou're talking to your baby.
Start talking to them, readingto them, or even playing music
for your baby.
It helps them to recognize yourvoice.
And ultimately it has been shownto help soothe them after birth.
Okay.
Let's move into the third thinggoing on with your sweet baby

(03:46):
right now, and that is that yourbaby's nervous system is
exploding with growth.
Tiny nerve endings areconnecting all over their body,
meaning that they're starting tofeel touch for the very first
time.
How exciting is that?
Now let's talk about you becausethis week brings some unexpected

(04:10):
changes that no one really warnsyou about, which is why I'm
here.
And so, yeah, let's hop into it.
First up, the pregnancy waddle.
It actually might start a littleearly starting this week.
Now why is it?
It's because your center ofgravity is shifting and your
belly is definitely growing,which means that you might catch

(04:33):
yourself waddling already, andthat is totally normal.
So here's a mama tip.
Try to focus on your posture andbe sure to wear supportive shoes
to help with your balance.
It's all right.
Number two, you might bewondering, why am I out of
breath so fast?
You probably are wondering thatbecause you feel like you just

(04:56):
climbed a mountain when allyou've really done is walk
across the room, but that'sbecause your body is pumping 50%
more blood now making your heartand your lungs work overtime.
So you might be wondering, well,what helps.
First of all, slow down.

(05:16):
Give yourself permission toreally slow down and take
breaks.
And if I've said it once, I'vesaid it a thousand times, you'll
probably hear it a thousand morejust in this video alone.
But of course, I'm gonna sayhydrate, hydrate, hydrate like a
pro because water helps yourblood flow more efficiently.

(05:38):
All right, tip number three,let's talk about those leg
cramps at night.
O.
Oh my goodness.
If you've woken up in the middleof the night with a Charlie
horse in your calf, you are notalone, my friend.
These cramps happen because yourgrowing uterus is putting
pressure on your nerves andblood vessels.

(05:59):
So here's a few things to fixthat fast.
Number one, I want you to startdoing some light stretches
before bed.
That really helps.
Number two, say it with me.
This is the second time in theepisode, stay hydrated.
And number three, I want you toeat foods high in magnesium and

(06:22):
potassium.
Things like bananas, spinach,and nuts will help you out in
that area.
All right, mama.
As promised, here is that wildpregnancy fact that we talked
about in the beginning.
At 18 weeks, your baby startshaving hiccups in the womb.

(06:42):
Yep.
Those little rhythmic twitchesthat you feel in your belly,
well, that's your baby.
Practicing breathing by inhalingamniotic fluid, and sometimes it
makes them hiccup.
How cool is that Now that youknow what's happening at 18
weeks, you are probablywondering, okay, so what do I

(07:06):
need to do to actually preparefor birth and breastfeeding and
that my friend, is why Icreated.
Bump to bundle blueprint.
It's my step-by-step proprietarysystem that walks you through
how to prepare for birth withoutfeeling overwhelmed.
How to get ready forbreastfeeding so that you are

(07:26):
not struggling after birth, andwhat to expect in the hospital.
And how to advocate foryourself.
And the best part is The link isin the description.
All right, if you love thisepisode, please make sure to
like it so that other newmommies can find it too.
And comment below.

(07:46):
What's been the biggest surprisefor you at.
18 weeks.
Have you had any of thesymptoms?
I wanna know.
Let's chat in the comments.
Alright, next week.
We are talking about week 19 andtrust me, you do not want to
miss it.
So be sure to subscribe and staytuned.
I will see you next week forweek 19.

(08:09):
Pregnancy updates.