Your developing baby – week 19

by Kaiser Permanente |
Fetus at week 19, illustration

Your baby is about 6.5 inches long and around the size of a large heirloom tomato at Week 19. If you haven’t already, you may be able to feel your baby moving soon.

Your baby’s nervous system is forming, and soon they’ll be able to taste, smell, touch, see, and hear. What an exciting time!

The bones and nerves in the middle ear are continuing to form. This means that your baby can:

  • Hear sounds, such as your heartbeat and your voice.
  • Hear loud noises outside of your body, such as loud music. Loud sounds can even startle your baby.
  • Get used to noises that are heard regularly, such as a barking dog

Your baby can yawn and  also hiccup around this time, which you might see if you have an ultrasound this week and may be able to feel in the months ahead.

This article has been created by a national group of Kaiser Permanente ob-gyns, certified nurse-midwives, pediatricians, lactation consultants and other specialists who came together to provide you with the best pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and newborn information.

Some of the content is used and adapted with permission of The Permanente Medical Group.

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