Pregnancy week 18

Your baby’s development

At 18 weeks your baby is about the size of a bell pepper. This week the focus is the nervous system: a protective coating called myelin begins to form around the nerve fibres, allowing signals to travel faster. The ears are starting to work, and your baby may begin to hear inner sounds such as your heartbeat, your stomach and your voice. Loud noises from outside may reach the baby to some extent as well. The spine and muscles keep developing, and movements are becoming stronger. The reproductive organs are taking their place. Your baby alternates between sleeping and waking. Fingerprints continue to take shape. Around this time, ultrasound can show the baby's structures in some detail, but the timing depends on your doctor. Measurements are averages. Development moves at its own pace in every pregnancy; your doctor interprets ultrasound measurements, and small differences are usually ordinary.

Changes in the mother

You may start to feel the first flutters this week; in a first pregnancy this usually happens between weeks 18 and 22, so there is no need to worry if you have not felt anything yet. As the uterus grows, lying flat on your back for long can make you dizzy, because it can press on large blood vessels. Most people find side-lying more comfortable. This is a good week to think about your second antenatal visit: in Turkey it usually takes place between weeks 18 and 24. The detailed ultrasound that looks at the baby's structures is usually planned between weeks 18 and 22, and your doctor decides the right time. Mild leg swelling, constipation and heartburn can occur. Drinking water, eating fibre and moving during the day help. Writing your questions down and bringing them along makes the visit easier.

To do this week

• Book your second antenatal visit (usually weeks 18–24).
• Talk with your doctor about timing the detailed ultrasound (usually weeks 18–22).
• If the triple or quadruple test has not been planned yet, ask your doctor (usually weeks 15–20/22).
• Try side-lying with a support pillow.

Tip for the partner

Joining the appointments and preparing questions together builds reassurance.

Nutrition tip

Washing fruit and vegetables thoroughly is a good food-safety habit during pregnancy.