Your Baby's Development at 18 Weeks

What Are My Baby’s Weight & Size at 18 Weeks?

When you are 18 weeks pregnant, your baby weighs about 6 to 7 ounces and is about 5.5 inches long, around the size of a large bell pepper.

Development Milestones at 18 Weeks

Start brushing up on your lullabies — in the coming weeks, your baby will probably be able to hear!

This week the ears move to their final position, and stand out from the head. The bones of the middle ear and the nerve endings from the brain are developing so that your baby will hear sounds like your heartbeat and blood moving through the umbilical cord. Babies this age can even be startled by loud noises.

Your baby's eyes are also developing — they're now facing forward rather than to the sides.

By now, most of your baby’s bones are actively hardening, especially those of the hips, ears, legs, and arms. These bones now have enough calcium that they would look “white” on an ultrasound.

Your Body When You’re 18 Weeks Pregnant

Pregnancy Symptoms at 18 Weeks

By now you are “showing” more as your baby and belly are growing. Your belly may show more or less than other moms-to-be, but a range of sizes is normal. So don’t worry!

In week 18 of pregnancy, some moms-to-be experience a variety of symptoms like:

• Bleeding gums that happen due to pregnancy hormones. Be sure to brush and floss regularly and see your dentist as scheduled.
• Back pain due to the changes in your body and necessary weight gain. Ease pain by sitting often and putting your feet up as needed, taking a warm bath, or using a heating pad.
• Heartburn, bloating, and gas. These may stay with you throughout pregnancy, but you can reduce symptoms by eating smaller meals more often, drinking plenty of water, and eating high-fiber foods.
• Leg cramps or swelling in feet and ankles (edema). Staying hydrated, physically active, and stretching your legs before bed can help.

If leg cramps are severe and don’t go away, or if you have sudden swelling that is extreme or is worse on one side (like one leg), call your doctor right away. These symptoms can be signs of serious conditions like pre-eclampsia, (high blood pressure that develops in the second half of pregnancy or soon after the baby is born), deep vein thrombosis (DVT, also called a blood clot) and require immediate medical attention.

Also call your doctor if any of your pregnancy symptoms are interfering with your sleep or daily activities.

Tips for This Week

You're probably beginning to prepare for life with baby. This is a good week to begin your search for a pediatrician. Schedule visits to meet with potential doctors.

Some good questions to ask:

• How many healthcare providers are in the practice, and will your child see the same provider?
• Who covers nights and weekends, and is there a dedicated nurse triage line?
• How do they communicate with families between appointments (phone calls, portal messages, etc.)?
• What insurance do they accept, or what support is available for uninsured kids?
• What specialists or hospitals do they most often coordinate with for referrals?

It's important to feel comfortable with your child's doctor, so ask questions that will help you make your decision.