18 Weeks Pregnant

You'll probably notice baby's first little kicks anytime between 18 and 22 weeks — and sometimes as late as weeks 23 or 24 for first pregnancies.

Those tiny feet can be felt in many different ways: as the merest flutter, the most insistent nudge, or gas bubbles that aren't gas at all.

As for when and how you'll feel your baby move? Several factors come into play: a mom's size (the smaller you are, the more likely you'll feel movements earlier); your muscle tone (the laxer the uterine muscles, the easier it is to feel those kicks — which is why second-timers generally feel them sooner); and the baby's position (it’s trickier to notice movement when your baby kicks facing in).

An incorrect due date can also throw off the recognition of those monumental first kicks. Don't worry: There's no mistaking the real thing once your baby gets the technique down — and gets big enough to pack a serious punch.

And it's not quite time for kick counts yet if you do feel them already, but that will be coming soon!

During the second trimester, your body releases relaxin, a hormone that (as the name implies) loosens the ligaments that hold your bones together. The result: You may feel off balance when you walk. 

What to do? Take it nice and slowly: Be careful in the shower, try to keep the hallways clear of tripping hazards, and don’t stand on any chairs. Yes, you may be cursing this pregnancy hormone now, but when you're trying to push out your baby's big head, you’ll be thanking relaxin for doing its job.

If you're struggling with edema, or swelling, you might find it useful to invest in a pair of support hose or compression socks.

Full pantyhose (with extra tummy room) or knee- or thigh-highs that aren't tight on top are good choices. Put them on in the morning before the daily swelling starts so they can do their job more effectively.

Also helpful for edema, as well as for leg and back pain during pregnancy: a comfortable pair of shoes.

Eating a healthy amount of fiber during pregnancy can help you go when you have to go. The downside: Adding too much fiber to your diet too quickly can trigger bloating, cramping and gas (and let's face it, you probably already have enough of that).

If you're trying to fit in more fiber than ever, increase your intake slowly and gently — for example, a sprinkle of chia seeds in your breakfast cereal or a snack of trail mix in the afternoon — so that your body has time to adjust to its new normal.

It's one thing to make the commitment to exercise — it's another thing to make time for it, particularly if you're dealing with ongoing fatigue, tummy troubles and shortness of breath (to name a few!).

If you can and your schedule allows, try to block out a specific time in your day (or at least certain days of the week) for getting a walk or workout in — rather than waiting until you find half an hour to get around to it.

But in the end, fitting in exercise whenever you can is a good thing, so do what suits you best.

Do the palms of your hands look as if you've touched a hot pan? You could have palmar erythema, a skin condition in which the palms of the hands or the soles of the feet appear redder or darker than normal.

The good news: It disappears after you give birth. But definitely check in with your doctor just to make sure everything is normal.

Herbal supplements do make the most tempting of promises — especially when pregnancy leaves you with few self-medicating options. Would it really hurt to pop a couple of ginkgo biloba capsules to give your brain cells a fighting chance of remembering to pay this month's electric bill? After all, the bottles say "all natural" … and you did buy them at the health food store.

Actually, it could hurt — particularly now that you're sharing those pills with a little someone else. 

Herbs and herbal remedies are not tested or approved by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) prior to going on the market and are not required to undergo clinical trials, so their safety, or lack thereof, is unknown.

Even supplements that you've heard could be helpful could actually be harmful at different points during your pregnancy — by causing premature labor if taken too early, for instance.

And a number of herbs — such as basil oil, black or blue cohosh, clove oil, sassafras, wild yam and many others — can be downright dangerous if taken anytime during pregnancy. Even some herbal teas should stay off the menu. So be safe and check with your practitioner before you pop any pill.