18 Weeks Pregnant
How is Your Baby Growing at 18 Weeks?
When your growing baby reaches 18 weeks, their nervous system is developing rapidly. The nerve cells are firing and this causes lots of movement, which you’ll definitely be able to feel (it will feel more like fluttering in your stomach as opposed to true movements at this stage).
The brain is also rapidly growing and new neural connections are being made. The eyes and ears are receiving signals from the brain and they continue to react to lights and sounds.
How Big is Your Baby at 18 Weeks?
At week 18, your baby is 15 cm (about the size of a bell pepper) and weighs 200 g.
What Happens at 18 Weeks?
If you haven’t yet booked your mid-pregnancy scan at this point, contact your midwife to arrange a date.
What Symptoms Will You Have at 18 Weeks?
You may notice a few different changes in your body at week 18. In particular, you might experience:
- Aching joints (especially around the hips and pelvic region) due to the release of a hormone called relaxin
- Abdominal cramps and constipation
- Dizziness due to changes in your blood pressure
- Increased appetite
- Baby movements (often felt as butterflies in your stomach)
- Headaches
