Your Pregnancy: Week 18

As your growing uterus starts shifting your center of gravity (belly forward, bottom out), hormones are causing your ligaments to relax and joints to loosen. The result? Back pain and soreness. On the bright side, if you want to know baby's gender, this might be your first week for a sneak peek.

> Help for hip pain?
> Are acupuncture and massages safe?
> Getting enough folic acid?
> See all second trimester Q&As

Baby's now the size of a sweet potato!
Baby's become amazingly mobile (compared to you, at least), passing the hours yawning, hiccupping, rolling, twisting, kicking, punching, sucking, and swallowing. And baby is finally big enough that you'll soon be able to feel her movements.

To-do:
> Consider a doula and start interviewing
> Pick up some good baby books
> Go to your checklist

[ tip ] Now that baby can hear what's going on outside the womb, it's time to get out the tunes. Her faves? Classical, lullabies, new age...and anything else that resembles your own thumping heart (about 60 beats per minute).

> Chat with other moms-to-be who share your due date

> Read more about being 18 weeks pregnant

All medical information reviewed by Dr. Geeta K. Swamy, Duke University Medical Center OB/GYN Department

Apr 24, 2009