Month five
By now many women have started to feel the first flutters of movement in the womb, known as 'quickening' - an exciting experience. As the month goes on, the baby remains very active, making movements that may be felt when the abdomen is touched.
A baby at 18 weeks is forming their own unique fingerprints. Also, teeth have formed in the gums as well as buds for the permanent teeth. At week 20 babies develops special waterproofing in the form of a greasy coating called vernix. Babies can also hear muffled sounds at this stage, so it is nice for the parents in waiting to have a friendly chat to their offspring.
In terms of size, the baby is continuing to grow and plump up with fatty adipose tissue. At week 18, a baby's length is about 16 centimetres, with a weight of around five ounces, but by week 20 the weight will have increased to about 14 ounces, with length reaching 25 centimetres.
At this stage, a woman looks clearly pregnant and her waistline will have expanded, as the uterus is rises and pushes the abdomen further out. Also, an increase in the amount of blood circulating around the mum-to-be's body means that she gets hot more easily, so loose and comfortable clothing is important. Many women also start to bloom at this point, however, with their complexion looking more radiant and their hair becoming more lustrous - an added bonus of pregnancy!
Prospective parents who would like to know the sex of their baby can ask at their scan appointment now, or can state that they do not want to know before the birth. This is also the right time to request a MAT B1 form from the doctor or midwife, which will enable claims to be made for maternity pay and benefits.
