18 weeks pregnant

What to expect this week

What's happening in week 18

You have reached week 18 and are not far away from being half way through your pregnancy!

Your baby at 18 weeks

By week 18 your baby will be about 14cm long, weighing around 200g and similar to a bell pepper in size.

Their nerves will now be forming a protective covering of myelin which is vital for their nervous system to develop and function properly after birth.

Your baby is using your tummy as quite a little activity gym by week 18 and doing a whole lot of kicking, rolling and tumbling around. Now that they have developed a grip, they will be grasping hold of their umbilical cord too – a built-in play thing!

If you are having a little girl, she will already be developing eggs in her ovaries at 18 weeks – how amazing is that?

Your babies genitals will now be formed and in place, and if you’re having a boy they might be visible during your anomaly scan around week 20, although it might not be possible depending on your baby’s positioning.

You at 18 weeks pregnant

You will probably have the date for your anomaly scan now, and it will be happening in the next couple of weeks. The sonographer will be making sure your baby's organs are all as they should be, and that your placenta is healthy and in the right place.  While they are carrying out these checks, they might have the monitor turned away from you, but you will be able to see your baby once they have finished.
You might be able to find out the sex of your baby at this scan too, if you want to, although some hospitals have their own policies on this. If you do not want to know what you are having, make sure you tell the sonographer, so they do not inadvertently let any important information slip!
It can sometimes be hard to decipher ultrasound images, so don't feel bad if you can't quite work out what part of your baby is what – just ask the sonographer to point it all out to you. And of course, don't forget to get the latest pic of baby for your album!

What to think about in week 18

How tempting are all the little baby clothes in the shops and catalogues? Very! If you are starting to build up a collection already, think about planning ahead too, and not just buying newborn items, particularly if you spot bargains in the sales (but think of what season you will be in when your baby reaches that size! Sleeveless rompers in November? Brrr!)
Bear in mind too, that you will no doubt end up with a ton of tiny baby clothes as gifts once your little one arrives. So our top tip? Stock up on the next sizes up so your bubba will be well stocked with gorgeous garments for a good few months after their arrival.