Mid-Pregnancy — Quickening & Vernix Caseosa
Educational content only — not medical advice.
Embryonic Age: 18 weeks post-fertilization — The anatomical midpoint of gestation. Mothers clearly feel fetal movements (quickening). The skin is shielded by protective vernix caseosa and fine lanugo hair.
Biometric Measurements
- Approximate Length: 25.6 سم (من الرأس للقدم) (CRL/CHL - INTERGROWTH-21st)
- Estimated Weight: 300 جم (Hadlock)
- Fundal Height: 20 cm
- Size Comparison: Banana / Mango
Key Fetal Milestones
- Auditory, gustatory, and tactile pathways functional via cortical synaptogenesis
- Regular swallowing of amniotic fluid forming meconium in lower bowel
- Optimal window for comprehensive second-trimester anomaly ultrasound
Maternal Changes
The uterine fundus reaches precisely the level of the umbilicus (fundal height = 20 cm), a key clinical milestone measured with a tape.