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Week 18 of Your Baby’s Development

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Your baby is the size of a sweet potato!

What Your Baby is Doing

The baby may be able to hear all kinds of sounds now, including your heartbeat. If you are having a boy, his genitals are now noticeable on an ultrasound. If you are having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place.

What Your Body is Doing

If you haven’t already, you may start to feel your baby moving soon. You may also notice an increase in your appetite this week. Food cravings and more frequent hunger are normal; remember to eat healthy foods often that the baby will benefit from. You may also notice your feet and ankles starting to swell; elevate them as much as you can, and continue to drink lots of water.

What You Should Eat

Mangoes are high in Vitamin A and C, which are both critical in developing your baby’s bones. Vitamin C also helps boost your immune system.

See How Your Baby Is Growing

We send weekly emails and text messages to help expecting mothers teach them about the changes they, and their baby, are going through.

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See How Your Baby Is Growing

We send weekly emails and text messages to help expecting mothers teach them about the changes they, and their baby, are going through.

Sign Up Today

Have you joined Centering Pregnancy yet?

Centering Pregnancy is a group approach for expectant mothers where you will receive your prenatal care, along with learning more about pregnancy and building relationships with other women at the same stage of pregnancy as you are. Also, get a chance to pick up some free baby items when you attend!

Join a Group Today
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Local Resources for Mothers

Public Health – Dayton & Montgomery County is part of a network of healthcare providers who are committed to the health and safety of your baby.

Baby and Me - Tobacco Free

Baby and Me - Tobacco Free

The Baby & Me – Tobacco Free Program is a smoking cessation program which aims to reduce the use of tobacco products among women during and after their pregnancy.

Get Help to Stop Smoking
Five Rivers Center for Women’s Health

Five Rivers Center for Women’s Health

Five Rivers Health Centers began as a medical home for the low-income patients of Dayton, Ohio, by providing both primary and specialty care services to patients.

What Babies Need
Help Me Grow

Help Me Grow

The Help Me Grow Program is a broad system of services for eligible families with infants and toddlers. We provide services from prenatal to the child’s third birthday.

Learn More About Them
Help Me Grow

Help Me Grow

The Help Me Grow Program is a broad system of services for eligible families with infants and toddlers. We provide services from prenatal to the child’s third birthday.

Learn More About Them
Lifestages Centersfor Women

Lifestages Centersfor Women

Your transformation during pregnancy may be life-changing. You can take comfort in knowing that we’ll give you all the information, education, and expert medical care you’ll need to handle the transition comfortably.

Learn More About Them
Moms and Babies First

Moms and Babies First

Moms & Babies First: Ohio’s Black Infant Vitality Program helps to reduce the number of low birth weight babies, infant deaths and sickness within the ethnic communities of Montgomery County.

Learn More About Them
Catholic Social Services

Catholic Social Services

Our services include pregnancy counseling and a variety of programs to strengthen parenting skills, and prevent and treat behavioral problems in children. Confidential pregnancy counseling is available.

Learn More About Them
Catholic Social Services

Catholic Social Services

Our services include pregnancy counseling and a variety of programs to strengthen parenting skills, and prevent and treat behavioral problems in children. Confidential pregnancy counseling is available.

Learn More About Them
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