Pregnancy week 18 - baby's development and your body
The information in this article is intended for general information only and does not replace medical advice. Always contact your midwife or maternity care provider if you are concerned about your or your baby’s health.
Are you in week 18 of your pregnancy? Learn all about how the fetus develops this week, changes in your body, and pregnancy symptoms.
During this week, the ears start to protrude, and the fetus may begin reacting to sounds.
Size:
The fetus is about 14–15 cm or 5.51–5.91 inches in size, from head to rump.
Weight:
Approximately 190 grams or 6.70 ounces.
Fetal development:
The fetus can now hear and may react to loud sounds. It moves intentionally and has started to establish a sleep cycle.
With plenty of room in the womb, the fetus moves its arms and legs freely. Its skin is covered with fine hairs called lanugo, and fetal fat is beginning to form, helping retain warmth and protect the skin.
The fetus now has eyelids, hands, feet, and toenails, and this week, fingerprints are clearly visible.
Your body:
Your belly is growing, and you may start feeling fetal movements around this time, though this can vary depending on the placenta’s position.
By now, many early pregnancy symptoms have often subsided, and most people experience fewer bothersome symptoms, though this varies from person to person. If you’ve experienced nausea, it may have eased by now or will likely do so by week 20. However, for some with stronger nausea, it may persist a bit longer.
1. 1177 Vårrdguiden (Sweden's national online healthcare portal). “Pregnancy week by week”, https://www.1177.se/barn--gravid/graviditet/om-graviditeten/graviditeten-vecka-for-vecka/
2. Cleveland Clinic. Pregnancy: Second Trimester, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/16092-pregnancy-second-trimester
3. Mayo Clinic. Prenatal care: Healthy pregnancy week by week, https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-depth/prenatal-care/art-20045302