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Sign InWeek 18 — Your Baby Can Hear You
Overall Pregnancy
Your Baby is About
bell pepper
At about 14cm and 190 grams — the size of a bell pepper — your baby's ears are now fully developed and standing out on the sides of the head. This week, your baby can actually hear sounds — your heartbeat, your stomach rumbling, your voice, and sounds from outside. The digestive system has started working, and the baby is regularly swallowing amniotic fluid. A protective coating called vernix caseosa — a waxy, cheese-like layer — is beginning to cover the skin.
Your anatomy scan — the big mid-pregnancy ultrasound — is typically scheduled around Weeks 18–20. The sonographer will check your baby's organs, measurements, position, and the placenta. You'll often get the option to find out the sex. This appointment takes 20–45 minutes and requires a full bladder, so plan accordingly.
The first sound your baby hears isn't your voice from outside — it's the constant internal soundtrack of your body: your heartbeat, blood rushing through vessels, and your stomach digesting food. Your voice reaches your baby both through air vibrations and through bone conduction through your body. Research shows that newborns recognise and prefer their mother's voice over all others from the moment of birth — because they've been listening for months.
Talk, read, or sing to your bump — it genuinely matters. Your baby is now hearing you, and hearing familiar voices in the womb helps with bonding and language development after birth. Even reading a book out loud or chatting about your day while driving is enough. Encourage your partner to do the same; babies recognise voices they heard regularly in the womb.
Choline is critical for brain and spine development and is often missing from prenatal vitamins. Eggs are the best source — 2 eggs a day covers a significant portion of your daily choline needs.
Your baby can hear voices now. Talk to the bump daily — introduce yourself, chat, sing a song. It sounds silly but your baby will recognise your voice after birth.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider for guidance specific to your situation. Read full disclaimer