18 weeks pregnant
At 18 weeks pregnant, your baby is about the size of a bell pepper: around 14.2 cm crown to rump and 190 g. The ears are in their final position, and baby may start to hear sounds.
Your baby at 18 weeks
The ears are in their final position, and baby may start to hear sounds.
| Size | About the size of a bell pepper |
|---|---|
| Length | 14.2 cm crown to rump |
| Weight | 190 g |
Your baby's ears have moved into their final position, and the tiny bones of the inner ear are hardening, so your baby may start to hear muffled sounds such as your heartbeat and voice. A protective coating called myelin is forming around the nerves. If you are having a girl, her womb and fallopian tubes have formed. Your baby is yawning, hiccuping and moving a lot.
How far along are you at 18 weeks?
At 18 weeks pregnant you are in the fifth month of your pregnancy and the second trimester. You have about 22 weeks to go until your due date. Doctors count pregnancy from the first day of your last period, not from conception, so at 18 weeks your baby has been growing for about 16 weeks. Not sure of your dates? Use our due date calculator.
Your body at 18 weeks
You may feel the first flutters. The detailed anomaly scan usually happens around now. Backache is common as your posture changes.
Common symptoms at 18 weeks
Every pregnancy is different, and you may have some, all or none of these.
- Quickening. The first movements often feel like bubbles, flutters or a light tap.
- Back and hip pain. Hormones loosen the joints in your pelvis ready for birth.
- Trouble sleeping. It's harder to get comfortable as your bump grows.
- Leg cramps. Painful tightening of your calf, often at night.
- Swollen feet. Mild swelling at the end of the day is normal.
- Heartburn. Still common; eat little and often.
Your checklist for week 18
- Check your anomaly scan is booked. It is usually done between 18 weeks and 20 weeks 6 days.
- Decide whether you want to know your baby's sex, if your country allows it to be shared, and tell the sonographer.
- Start practising sleeping on your side, with a pillow between your knees.
- Keep a note of when you feel your baby move.
- Ask your partner to come to the anomaly scan if possible.
Tip of the week: Getting comfortable at night
Lying flat on your back in later pregnancy can press on a large blood vessel and make you feel dizzy. Start getting used to sleeping on your side now. A pillow between your knees and another under your bump helps. Either side is fine. If you wake up on your back, just roll onto your side.
For your partner
She may feel the first kicks. You might soon too.
- Put your hand on the bump in the evening
- Join the anomaly scan
- Talk to the bump; baby will hear you soon
When to call your doctor at 18 weeks
Contact your doctor, midwife or maternity unit the same day if you have:
- Leg pain, swelling, redness or warmth in one leg only. This can be a sign of a blood clot.
- Bleeding, fluid leaking or regular, painful tightenings.
Call your doctor or hospital straight away for bleeding, severe pain, fluid leaking, severe headache or vision changes.
Questions about 18 weeks pregnant
What does quickening feel like?
The first movements are often described as fluttering, bubbles popping, a fish swimming or a gentle tap. At first they can be easy to confuse with wind. Over the next few weeks they become stronger and more regular, and turn into recognisable kicks.
When can my partner feel the baby kick?
Usually from about 20 to 24 weeks, once the kicks are strong enough to feel from the outside. Evenings, when you are lying still, are often the best time to try.
How do I ease leg cramps?
Stretch your calf by pulling your toes up towards your shin, then walk around or massage the muscle. Regular gentle exercise, calf stretches before bed and drinking enough water may help prevent them.