Week 18 of Your Pregnancy

You likely have some new energy during week 18 of your pregnancy. Here's what other symptoms and milestones you need to know.

Pregnancy Journey Week 18

Design By Alice Morgan / Illustration by Tara Anand

During week 18 of your pregnancy, you've likely finally hit an upswing. You're probably not as tired as you were earlier in your pregnancy, and your nausea may have subsided. You may want to use this new phase to do more, like planning your unborn baby's nursery. Feeling comfortable in your growing body is a daily adjustment, but it should start getting easier. Here’s what else you need to know about this week of pregnancy. 

Pregnancy Week 18 Quick Facts

  • At 18 weeks, you're five months pregnant
  • You have 22 weeks until your due date
  • You're in your second trimester

Your Unborn Baby's Size At 18 Weeks

At 18 weeks, your unborn baby measures about 5.59 inches and weighs about 6.70 ounces. That's the size of a sweet potato!

Pregnancy Journey Weekly Reminder

Design by Alice Morgan

Pregnancy Symptoms Week 18

"This is the sweet period of pregnancy," says Amanda Little-Richardson, M.D., OB-GYN, and public equitable birth advocate based in Menlo Park, California. Many common symptoms from the first half of pregnancy have eased up, such as nausea and intense fatigue, but you may start feeling new sensations.

  • Hip and back aches
  • Fetal movement

During my first trimester, I was tired all the time. But the second trimester was different. "You may start to gain back energy that was lost in the first trimester and feel more like yourself," says Dr. Little-Richardson. The restored strength gave me more balance in life. Don't get me wrong, I still took plenty of naps. But that extreme feeling of being drained wasn't a constant thing anymore. With that said, it’s not unusual to still feel fatigued. 

As your pelvis widens, you may also notice lower body aches, especially in your hips and back. It can help to make some adjustments to your normal routine like finding more comfortable seating options. "Some find they have to adjust their seating halfway through pregnancy when that flimsy office chair just isn't giving the support your back needs when sitting at a desk all day," says Carrie Murphy, a full-spectrum doula based in Austin, Texas. Lumbar support pillows can be helpful. 

It’s also possible for pregnant people to feel their unborn baby move at this point, especially if this is a subsequent pregnancy. It can feel like a flutter in the lower abdomen. But if you’re a first-time pregnant person, you will likely feel movement in the coming weeks.

Developmental Milestones

Your unborn baby's digestive system starts working in week 18. Although they can’t see yet, their eyes are beginning to face forward. The bones and nerves in their ears are starting to function, and their ears are now sticking out from their head. 

Prenatal Tests And Doctor's Appointments

By now, you've likely completed your genetic screenings, including blood tests. But Dr. Richardson says if you've chosen to have an amniocentesis, your health care provider will likely schedule it between 18 and 20 weeks of pregnancy.

This procedure tests a small amount of amniotic fluid (the fluid surrounding the fetus) that’s removed with a small needle. Amniotic fluid contains cells with genetic information that can help to diagnose genetic disorders and open neural tube defects, including spina bifida. An amniocentesis can also check for inherited gene defects and metabolic disorders. Results typically take up to two weeks. 

A health care provider may recommend an amniocentesis during the second trimester because of family history, previous pregnancy birth defect, an abnormal prenatal screening test or ultrasound, or if a patient is 35 and older since that increases risk of chromosomal disorders. An amniocentesis may also be performed in the third trimester to check for fetal lung maturity or infections and health conditions in the unborn baby.

Common Questions At This Pregnancy Stage

When can my unborn baby hear?

Even though those ears are developing, the fetus can’t fully hear just yet. By week 18, the fetus should have started to hear some of its first sounds like your heartbeat and gurgles in your digestive system. It’s later on, typically between 27 and 29 weeks, that your unborn baby can hear sounds outside the body like your voice. 


How can I get more comfortable while sleeping at night?

While falling asleep felt like walking on heavenly clouds at this point in my pregnancy, I would often wake up just from trying to get settled in the perfect spot. "If you aren't already using one, this can be the perfect time to spring for a full-body pregnancy pillow or at least make sure your belly is supported if you sleep on your side,” explains Murphy. “Ditto for a pillow between your knees.” I have to say, the pregnancy pillow was my salvation!

Things You Might Consider This Week

Now that you've likely come out of the nausea and "fog of fatigue,” it’s a good idea to start adding some light exercises to your schedule—if you haven’t already. "I always encourage everyone to start an exercise program," says Dr. Little-Richardson. “Start simple with walking and daily stretching. Stretching should focus on hip mobility and lower back in preparation for pain that often develops in the third trimester."

You can use this time (and new energy!) to start your pamper stock. When people asked my husband if there was anything we needed, he always replied, "Diapers and wipes." And his answer never wavered. We went through them like tissues needed for a runny nose. (Keep in mind, newborn diaper sizes are for 10 pounds and under.) It also doesn’t hurt to start researching what else you might need to prepare for your baby’s arrival and get their nursery ready too.

Support You May Need This Week

Sometimes the best support is getting around people who have been there and done that. Reach out to loved ones who can relate to what you're experiencing at 18 weeks pregnant or the second trimester overall. Ask them what helped them during pregnancy and what recommendations they may have for specific things like a pregnancy pillow. 

Also, make some time for yourself. Whether it’s getting a prenatal massage from an experienced professional, meditating, or simply enjoying a good plate of food that will make your cravings happy, it’s important to focus on your own well-being.

Head over to week 19 of pregnancy

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