18 weeks pregnant

Your baby's ears are now fully formed. Loud sounds from outside, like music, may get a reaction.

How big is my baby at 18 weeks?

At 18 weeks your baby is about the size of a bell pepper, around 22.2 cm long and 222 g. Before about 14 weeks babies are measured from crown to rump; after that the figure is head to heel. These are typical figures from fetal growth charts. Your own baby may be bigger or smaller, and your scans are what count.

What is my baby doing at 18 weeks?

• Your baby's ears are now fully formed.
• Loud sounds from outside, like music, may get a reaction.
• Your baby is gaining weight but has little fat yet, so their skin looks wrinkled.
• Hearing, swallowing and sucking are all developing.

What changes for me at 18 weeks pregnant?

• You may start to feel movements like soft fluttering or rolling, though many first-time mums notice them later.
• Your blood pressure may be a bit lower than usual, so get up slowly to avoid feeling dizzy.
• A dark line down the middle of your tummy is common and usually fades after the birth.

What is a good tip for this week?

There's no set number of movements you should feel. Over the coming weeks, simply notice what's normal for your baby.

What can a partner do this week?

Put a hand on the bump when things are quiet, though it may be a while before you feel anything from the outside.

What should I know in Ireland at 18 weeks?

• The fetal anatomy scan is usually done between 18 and 22 weeks. It checks how your baby is developing and where the placenta is.
• If you don't want to know your baby's sex, tell the person doing the scan before it starts.

Want these updates on your phone? The Lullagram app has a free pregnancy section with this week-by-week guide, Irish dates worked out from your due date, a contraction timer and more. When your baby arrives, the baby tracker is ready in the same app.