In 60 seconds
What to know now
- Energy may improve, but reflux, headaches, pelvic or back pain, sleep changes and breathlessness with exertion can appear. Common does not mean you must cope without help.
- Growth, movement, hearing, brain connections and lung structures develop throughout these weeks. The mid-pregnancy scan assesses anatomy at one point in that continuous process.
- Keep appointments and write down questions before each visit.
What you may notice
Your body and how you may feel
Energy may improve, but reflux, headaches, pelvic or back pain, sleep changes and breathlessness with exertion can appear. Common does not mean you must cope without help.
Movement may first feel like flutters or taps. Timing varies, especially in a first pregnancy and with placenta position.
What is happening
Baby’s development this week
Growth, movement, hearing, brain connections and lung structures develop throughout these weeks. The mid-pregnancy scan assesses anatomy at one point in that continuous process.
Plain-language examples
What this means in real life
What 'months 4–6' means here: weeks 14–17 are month 4, weeks 18–22 month 5, and weeks 23–27 month 6.
A short checklist
What to do now
- Keep appointments and write down questions before each visit.
- Stay active in ways that feel stable and are appropriate for your pregnancy.
- Learn what movement changes should prompt a call later in pregnancy.
Pause and check
What not to do—or what to ask first
- Do not use an app, home Doppler or another pregnancy's movement pattern to overrule a concern; ask your service when and how to report a change.
- Ask when a recommendation depends on your history, symptoms or pregnancy.
What may be coming up
Appointments, tests and decisions
Common windows include the anatomy scan around weeks 18–22 and gestational-diabetes discussion or testing around weeks 24–28; your doctor confirms the actual dates.
For the support person
One useful thing a partner can do
- Learn the urgent route, attend key conversations if invited, and make physical and workplace adjustments practical rather than theoretical.
Contact your care team
Contact your doctor or maternity team promptly
Some concerns need advice before the next routine appointment even when they do not feel like an emergency. If a symptom becomes severe, sudden or frightening, use urgent care instead.
See when to contact careUrgent or emergency
Urgent signs during pregnancy or within a year after birth
Get medical care immediately for these symptoms. The list is not exhaustive; if something feels seriously wrong, seek help.
Open urgent warning signs