Week 18: Feeling hot and bothered?
Image: @emilyelisabethconway
Welcome to week 18 of the Happy Parents Happy Baby guide to pregnancy, birth and beyond.
This week we'll be covering:
We hope you enjoy it!
What pregnancy means for your teeth
When you become pregnant it’s unlikely one of your first thoughts will be “what is going to happen to my teeth?” However, for some women hormonal changes during pregnancy can cause a number of dental issues.
There’s an increased risk of gum disease and decay during this time so it is even more important than usual that you maintain a good cleaning regime. You may find that your gums are swollen and bleed when you brush your teeth. This is called pregnancy gingivitis which is caused by a build up of plaque.
There are plenty of things you can do to keep your mouth as healthy as possible:
Oral hygiene
Make sure you brush your teeth for a full two minutes twice a day, using a toothpaste which contains fluoride which kills bacteria.
Floss your teeth once a day to remove small bits of food which can cause plaque to build up.
Use a small-headed toothbrush with soft filaments.
Avoid using mouthwash which contains alcohol.
Smoking during pregnancy is not recommended but it can also make gum disease worse.
Diet
Try to avoid eating too many foods which contain acid and sugar as this can cause decay. Replace sugary snacks with vegetables, fresh fruit or plain yoghurt. Sugary drinks should also be kept to a minimum.
If you have morning sickness and are vomiting regularly then it is recommended that you rinse your mouth with water afterwards. This will stop the acid from your stomach from damaging your teeth. Wait an hour or so before brushing your teeth as they will have been softened by the acid.
Dental care
Women are entitled to free NHS dental care throughout their pregnancy and for the full year after their due date. You need to fill in a maternity exemption form which you can get from your doctor, nurse or midwife.
Make sure you tell your dentist that you are pregnant. X-rays and some other treatments such as fillings will not be carried out while you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
If you have any problems during your pregnancy contact your regular dentist or call 111 if it is an emergency.
Your baby’s development in week 18
Size of a pepper
Weighs around 180g
Around 14cm long
You might not be feeling your baby move yet and that is nothing to worry about at this stage. But if you do, it might feel like a fluttering or gentle rolling sensation.
As well as moving more, your baby's senses are developing this week, notably touch and their ability to hear. Their swallowing and sucking reflexes are also developing this week.
Week 18 Checklist
You might like to:
Decide if you want to know the sex of baby. Your next scan will be coming up in a week or so and you will be given the option of finding out the sex of your child if you don’t know already.
Look at maternity clothes. If your current clothes are feeling a little snug, you might like to start thinking about updating your wardrobe.
Spotlight on: Feeling hot
Each week we'll be delving into the common symptoms of pregnancy and bringing you top tips for managing them from our team of specialists and parent community.
Someone bring me a fan!
Arriving everywhere looking like a bit of a sweaty mess? Don’t worry, again this is a totally normal symptom of pregnancy and let us tell you why…
Why?
There are two reasons why you’re feeling hotter than normal - hormones and your body pumping a greater volume of blood than usual.
Top tips:
Wear layers so if you find yourself getting too hot you can take some items off.
Choose loose, breathable fabrics which will make you sweat less than synthetic fabrics.
Keep your house cool and use fans to circulate the air if you need to.
Stay hydrated and make sure you carry water with you when you’re out.
Birth story of the week
This week we catch up with Caroline and Vince from our Clapham course and hear about their positive birth experience with baby Emma
"I had a hard time in the first trimester of my pregnancy - I was exhausted all the time and constantly nauseous. I couldn’t stand the sight or smell of anything except butter and toast! Things eventually eased up around week 15 although I found myself feeling quite anxious. Happy Parents Happy Baby really helped to calm me down and ease my anxieties - especially the hypnobirthing relaxations that I listened to at the end of each day.
At 39 weeks I woke up in the middle of the night with cramps. Using the knowledge from the course I was able to deduce that this was probably the start of early labour... I knew I had a long road ahead and understood the pattern I was to look for before heading to the hospital. Although I wasn’t experiencing much pain or discomfort at first, I began to apply the breathing and hypnobirthing techniques I was taught by Hannah during our HPHB course right away! I ran a bath and had my partner read the HPHB relaxation scripts. Together we breathed through each contraction which we’re coming quicker at this point…
Treat of the week
We’ve highlighted the importance of keeping your mouth healthy so why not treat yourself to a new toothbrush?
The Oral-B Pro 3 toothbrush can help to keep your teeth cleaner and gums healthier. Just what you need to keep your whole mouth fresher and to help you keep any dental problems in pregnancy at bay.
Products are based on suggestions from our specialists and community of parents. We may earn commission from shopping links.
Join our community
Happy Parents Happy Baby is here to support you through every step of your pregnancy, birth and parenting journey.
Connect with other parents-to-be and learn everything you need to know, by joining our award-winning antenatal classes.
That's all for now...
Thank you so much for joining us!
Have a great week.
Team HPHB x
Information you
can trust
Our articles are based on the latest-evidence based guidelines and scientific research and are written by our team of medical experts.
Coming up
next week
Everything you need to know about the 20-week scan
Spotlight on: pregnancy headaches
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