At 18 weeks pregnant, the baby is approximately 14.2 cm (about 5.5 to 6 inches) long from head to bottom (crown to rump) and weighs around 190 grams (about 5 to 7 ounces), roughly the size of a bell pepper, cucumber, sweet potato, or artichoke
. Key developmental highlights at this stage include:
- The baby's bones are beginning to harden.
- The nervous system is developing with a myelin layer forming to speed nerve signals.
- The baby can yawn, hiccup, and swallow amniotic fluid.
- The ears are starting to stand out and the baby may begin to register sounds.
- Gender-specific development is underway, with external genitalia fully formed
This size and development correspond to about the fifth month of pregnancy. The baby’s growth is rapid, and movements may soon be felt by the mother as fluttery sensations known as quickening
