By week 18 your baby can probably hear, and the anatomy scan is coming up soon.
Your baby this week
- Hearing
- The ears have moved into place, and your baby may start to hear sounds.
- Nerves
- A protective coating is forming around the nerves, so signals travel faster.
- Busy
- Your baby is twisting, rolling, kicking and punching.
What you might notice
- Flutters becoming clearer, though some people don't feel them yet, especially with a front-facing placenta.
- Dizziness if you stand up quickly or get hot.
- Leg cramps at night, which can come and go from now on.
- Swollen feet at the end of the day.
Call your midwife, doctor or maternity unit today if
- You have bleeding, or fluid leaking from your vagina
- You have tummy pain that doesn't go away, or regular tightenings
- You're being sick so often you can't keep fluids down
- You have a fever, or it burns or stings when you pee
Any time of day or night. You will never be a nuisance for calling.
Coming up
Your anatomy scan, a detailed check of your baby's growth and organs.
Your blood pressure becomes something to keep a closer eye on.
Questions to bring to your next appointment
- How long is the anatomy scan, and can someone come with me?
- What happens if the scan finds something that needs a closer look?
- When should I be worried if I haven't felt movement yet?
For your partner
Clear your diary for the anatomy scan. It's longer than the first one, and there's a lot to see.
NUGA follows you week by week
Enter your due date once and NUGA knows you're at week 18. The day before each appointment, it gathers what you've noted and the questions to bring.
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This page draws on public guidance from:
General information, not medical advice. Every pregnancy is different, and your midwife or doctor knows yours. Last updated October 2026.