Second trimester · 18 weeks pregnant
Week 18: your baby can hear you
Hearing is established and the anatomy scan window opens.
The bones of the inner ear have hardened enough for your baby to hear your heartbeat, your voice and the gurgle of your digestion. Nerves are being coated in protective myelin.
Size and weight
About the size of
a bell pepper
Length
14.2 cm
Weight
190 g
Averages from standard growth charts. Measured crown to rump until week 20 and head to heel afterwards.
How your baby is developing
- Hearing is established; sudden loud noises may make the baby startle.
- Myelin, the protective coating around nerves, starts to form.
- The baby yawns, hiccups and twists.
- In girls the uterus and fallopian tubes are formed; in boys the genitals are visible on a scan.
How you may feel
- First movements for many first-time mothers
- Lower back ache
- Leg cramps at night
- Swollen feet and ankles by evening
- Feeling off-balance
Movements at this stage feel like flutters, bubbles or gentle taps and are not yet regular. A daily pattern usually settles in by 24 to 28 weeks.
What's next
Tests and appointments
- Second screening ultrasound (anatomy scan): in Uzbekistan it is done between 16 and 20 weeks at the polyclinic, a detailed check of organs, placenta position and growth.
- Rh-negative women have an antibody test at 18–20 weeks.
What to do this week
- Stretch your calves before bed and stay hydrated to reduce cramps.
- Put your feet up when you can; compression socks help if you stand a lot.
- Decide whether you want to know the sex before the anatomy scan.
Call your doctor or maternity hospital if
- Any vaginal bleeding, or fluid leaking from the vagina
- Regular, painful tightenings or period-like cramps
- A severe headache, blurred vision, or sudden swelling of your face and hands
- Severe or persistent abdominal pain, fever, or pain when you pass urine
If something feels wrong, trust yourself and call 103 or your maternity hospital. You will never be wasting anyone's time.
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