nuhahyearlyLaunch pricing - Get £50 off!nuhahyearlyAt week 18, your baby can hear sounds for the first time. Ears have moved to their final position, and myelin is coating the nerves. According to Nuhah's pregnancy guide, your baby is now about the size of a sweet potato and is covered in a protective waxy coating called vernix.
Ears move to their final position on the sides of the head. The baby may start hearing sounds - your heartbeat, digestive system, and eventually your voice. Myelin starts coating the nerves, which speeds up nerve signal transmission. Vernix caseosa (a waxy, protective coating) covers the skin. The baby is active, rolling, kicking, and stretching, though you may not feel all of it yet.
Your bump is clearly visible now. You may feel movement more frequently and more clearly. Backache can begin as your centre of gravity shifts. Some people notice skin changes including darkening of the nipples, linea nigra, and occasionally melasma (darker patches on the face). Your blood pressure may be slightly lower than usual, which can cause dizziness.
Your baby's hearing is developing and they can hear internal sounds like your heartbeat and digestive system. By around weeks 25-26, they will begin to hear external voices, and by weeks 27-30 they may respond to your voice and loud sounds. Talking and singing to your bump helps with bonding.
Vernix caseosa is a white, waxy coating that covers the baby's skin from around week 18. It protects the skin from the amniotic fluid and helps regulate temperature. Some babies are still coated in vernix at birth.
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