18 Weeks Pregnant: Pregnancy Symptoms & Baby Development

At 18 weeks your baby is about 14.2cm long - the size of a sweet red pepper - and weighs around 190g¹.

Around weeks 18-20, you may also start to feel your baby’s first movements as they switch between sleep and active wakefulness. These first movements are usually little kicks and rolls that feel light and fluttery². If it’s your first pregnancy you may not notice them or even mistake them for mild indigestion as many mums-to-be report feeling more movement after a meal or late at night².

Around this time, your baby may also start responding to noises from the outside world, making this an ideal time to start talking to your bump³. Your baby’s reflexes are also continuing to develop - swallowing, sucking and hearing⁴.

Inside your baby’s lungs, air sacs called alveoli are starting to develop and it’s common for your baby to experience hiccups at this stage³, although it’s unlikely you’ll feel them.

Your uterus will have moved into position and is around the size of a cantaloupe melon. You should be able to feel it about one and a half inches below your belly button³. It’s also possible that you’ll notice the appearance of the Linea Nigra (Latin for ‘black line’). It’s actually a brownish streak, about a centimetre wide and perfectly natural. It’s caused by an increase in a hormone made by the placenta⁵.

Many women report feeling a little clumsier as they adapt to their growing bellies. You may notice your breasts start increasing in size, especially if this is your first pregnancy⁴. Your blood pressure is likely to be a little lower, so don’t leap up from a sitting position as it could make you dizzy⁴. To help keep your blood sugar levels stable and maintain steady energy levels eat little and often.

This sounds a little scary, but it’s actually a standard ultrasound scan to ensure all is well with your baby. You should be offered an anomaly scan between weeks 18-20. You’re not obliged to have the scan, but we recommend it.

The scan looks at your baby in detail to see if there’s anything unusual about their appearance and development. It’s possible to identify a range of conditions from a scan, but not all. Most scans reveal healthy babies, but if it does pick up something you’re not expecting then you may be offered a series of further tests. Again, it’s your choice whether to have them.

The scan won’t hurt you or your baby but it could feel a bit uncomfortable as the sonographer may have to apply a little pressure on your stomach for the clearest view.

It may be possible for the sonographer to tell the sex of your baby with this scan. However, not everyone wants to know and it’s not always hospital policy to reveal the sex of a baby. Whether you’d like to know or not, make it clear before having your scan.

Vitamin A contributes to the development of two of the most intricate and extraordinary parts of your baby’s body – their eyes. It’s also important for their immunity and skin cell production and supports the development of alveoli air sacs in your baby’s lungs. These help transfer oxygen into the blood, and remove carbon dioxide10.

There are two forms of vitamin A:
 

• Retinol – found in high levels in some meat and fish products, and in safe levels in dairy foods and eggs11.
  
• Beta-carotene – a substance in fruit and vegetables that the body can convert into vitamin A11.

Too much vitamin A can be harmful, as can too little - but a well-balanced diet should provide you with the right amount of vitamin A. Learn which sources to include in your pregnancy diet, and which foods and supplements to avoid.