Pregnancy Pregnancy Development Your Pregnancy Week by Week MORE IN Your Pregnancy Week by Week Overview First Trimester Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9 Week 10 Week 11 Week 12 Week 13 Second Trimester Week 14 Week 15 Week 16 Week 17 Week 18 Week 19 Week 20 Week 21 Week 22 Week 23 Week 24 Week 25 Week 26 Week 27 Third Trimester Week 28 Week 29 Week 30 Week 31 Week 32 Week 33 Week 34 Week 35 Week 36 Week 37 Week 38 Week 39 Week 40 Week 41 Week 42 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. By Tiffany Eve Lawrence Updated on July 3, 2023 Medically reviewed by Iya Mystique Hargrove, M.S., CFSD, CBS, CLE, CBE Trending Videos Close this video player 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 pregnantYou have 22 weeks until your due dateYou'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! 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 achesFetal 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. Your Pregnancy Symptoms Week by Week 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! The 12 Best Pregnancy Pillows to Help You Sleep for Two 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 Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit