Week 18

Your Baby's Development
Start brushing up on your lullabies now - this week, your baby can hear! The bones of the inner ear and the nerve endings from the brain have developed enough so that your baby will hear sounds such as your heartbeat and blood moving through the umbilical cord. He or she may even be startled by loud noises! Your baby's eyes are developing, too - the retinas may be able to detect the beam of a flashlight if you hold it to your uterus. Your baby is also now able to swallow, and he or she may swallow up to a liter of amniotic fluid throughout the day. Recent research indicates that your baby may already be able to feel thirsty! Thirst may be responsible for the amount of fluid swallowed in order to keep the protective amniotic fluid at a constant level.

Until now, your baby's bones had been developing, but they were still soft. This week, they begin to harden, or ossify. Some of the first bones to ossify are the bones in the legs and the inner ear.

Your Body
You're probably beginning to prepare for life with baby. Your preparations should extend beyond gathering the layette and painting the nursery, though. This week is a good week to begin your search for a pediatrician or other health care provider for your child. Schedule visits to meet with potential doctors to discuss issues such as appointment availability, immunization scheduling, and when to call in an emergency. You'll also want to learn as much as you can about their practices and procedures (some good questions to ask: How many health care providers are in the practice? Who covers nights and weekends? What is their policy on phone calls? Which hospitals are they affiliated with? What insurance do they accept? What specialists do they work with? How are emergencies handled?) It's important that you feel comfortable with your child's doctor, so do your homework and make your decision carefully.