Your Nutrients of This Week¹

Even with a complete and balanced diet, it may be difficult to obtain the necessary amount of important nutrients your body needs through diet alone. The Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) guidelines recommend that you increase your intake of protein, iron, folic acid, vitamins A, B6, B12, and C, zinc, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, fiber, and more.

Here are some of the key nutrients you need and why they are crucial¹:

Folic Acid
Folic acid helps develop the central nervous system including brain, spinal cord, and other nerve cells and tissues.

Calcium
Calcium is an integral component of the baby’s bones and teeth and it helps strengthen the circulatory, muscular, and nervous systems.

Iron
Iron is needed in blood to help oxygenate all other tissues in the body including brain and muscle cells; it is critical throughout pregnancy.

Your Wellness Tips This Week

Going for another prenatal visit? Here’s what will happen at the doctor’s at 18 weeks pregnant:²

• Your doctor will check your weight, blood pressure, urine, and other vitals.
• Your doctor might check your uterus and measure the height of your fundus between the 18th week of pregnancy and the 34th week.
• If you have felt your baby move, let your doctor know when quickening began.
• Knowing when your baby started moving and the frequency of his kicks can help your doctor do two things. Your doctor can better estimate your baby’s fetal age and better estimate your due date.
• Depending on your medical history, age, and other information, your doctor might talk to you about amniocentesis around the 18th week of pregnancy, a test that checks for genetic abnormalities, such as Down syndrome.

Your Baby's Development at Week 18

At 18 weeks pregnant, growing is your baby’s number-one priority. Take a look at some of the developmental changes:

• This week, your baby is about 14 cm long, or about the length of a large tomato.
• Your baby’s skeleton continues to harden during the 18th week of your pregnancy. His leg bones and inner ear bones are the first to ossify (harden).
• Your baby now can hear! He might hear your heart beat or your tummy gurgle.
• He might hear loud sounds outside the womb.

Your Changing Body at Week 18

The good news about the 17th week of pregnancy and beyond is that while your body changes accelerate, early pregnancy symptoms dissipate.

Your Changing Body at Week 18³

• One of the most prominent changes in your body during the 18th week is a feeling of dizziness and light-headedness if you stand up too quickly. The reason for this could possibly be that the increasing size of the uterus could push an artery, which could reduce blood flow, which may result in the dizzying sensation when you stand up. Another reason for this could be the increasing volume of blood is being used up by the growing baby and this too could add to the feeling of dizziness.
• Backaches and pains are also increasingly common during this stage as the centre of gravity shifts forward which may place strain on the spine.

Tips to make your pregnancy better at week 18⁴

• Drink a lot of fluids and eating iron rich foods to help compensate for the extra requirements.
• Catch a nap during the afternoons to help you deal with tiredness and exhaustion.

References:

¹ ACOG. Nutrition during pregnancy. Available [Online] at: https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/nutrition-during-pregnancy. Accessed on 30 Aug 23
² NHS. Week 18. Available [Online] at: https://www.nhs.uk/start-for-life/pregnancy/week-by-week-guide-to-pregnancy/2nd-trimester/week- 18/ Accessed on 30 Aug 23
³ Medical News Today. Your pregnancy at 18 weeks. Available [Online] at: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/302731 Accessed on 1 Sept 2023
⁴ American Pregnancy Association. Available [Online] at: https://americanpregnancy.org/healthy-pregnancy/week-by-week/18-weeks-pregnant/ Accessed on 1 Sept 2023
* Comparison among all maternal milk in Singapore as of January 2022, as declared on the label.

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