19th week: The second big ultrasound

Weeks and days
18+0 to 18+6
Month
5
Trimester
2

This week, the fetus grows from about 142 to 153 millimeters and weighs around 270 grams by the end. Growth in length slows down, and the body parts have reached their proportions. In Germany, the second ultrasound paid for by health insurance is now possible.

A single yellow corn cob lies crosswise in an open palm on beige linen
Corn cob150 to 200 mm, the size of your baby at the end of the week

Week 19 of 40

Calculate your week
1st trimester2nd trimester3rd trimester

How big is the fetus?

020406080100120140160180200 mm16th week101 to 11617th week116 to 13018th week130 to 14219th week142 to 153Corn cob at the same scale

142 to 153 mm

By the end of the week, the fetus is about as long as a corn cob. The outer ears stand out from the head, and the eyes face forward.

Crown-rump length according to the UNSW Embryology table, weight according to the WHO growth charts. A corn cob without husks is 150 to 200 mm long in the medium commercial size.

This week

Your baby

  • Growth in length slows down; the body parts have reached their final proportions.
  • A soft down of hair gradually covers the whole body and later helps to hold the vernix on the skin.
  • In one study, unborn babies first responded to low-pitched sounds at 19 completed weeks, that is, at the beginning of the 20th week of pregnancy.

Your body

  • The median hCG level is 19,817 mIU/ml; 8,099 to 58,176 is normal. More in the hCG levels chart.
  • With a first child, many only feel the movements after the 20th week. At first, there is no fixed number per day.
  • Back pain is common: in one study, 68 out of 100 pregnant women had lower back pain during their pregnancy.

What matters now

  • In Germany, the second basic ultrasound is scheduled between 18+0 and 21+6.
  • Birth preparation classes usually start between the 24th and 28th week of pregnancy, so sign up early. In Germany, health insurance pays for 14 hours in a group.
  • In Switzerland, insurance covers CHF 150 for a birth preparation class or a consultation with a midwife.

Get checked right away: heavy bleeding, severe or persistent abdominal pain, fever, pain when urinating, or vomiting where you cannot keep anything down.

Gestational sacPlacentaFetus with heartbeat

On ultrasound

  1. 18+0

    Second screening: The heart activity, growth, amount of amniotic fluid, and position of the placenta are checked.

  2. 18+0

    Extended basic ultrasound additionally takes a closer look at the head, heart, abdominal wall, stomach, and bladder.

  3. 18+0

    Sex can often be seen if the baby is in a favorable position. Say so beforehand if you do not want to know.

At the second ultrasound, the crown-rump length is no longer measured; instead, the head, abdomen, and thigh bone are measured. The weight is estimated from these.

Frequently asked questions about the 19th week of pregnancy

Is it normal not to feel any baby movements yet in the 19th week of pregnancy?

Yes, this is common with a first child. In one study, first-time mothers felt the first movements on average at 18+0 to 19+0. If you have not felt anything by the 24th week, let your midwife or doctor know.

What does the baby hear in the 19th week of pregnancy?

In one study, unborn babies first responded to a low-pitched sound at 19 completed weeks, that is, around the transition to the 20th week of pregnancy. Earlier weeks were not examined there.

Can a baby survive in the 19th week of pregnancy?

Not outside the womb. The German guideline sets the lower limit at the beginning of the 22nd week.

Which month is the 19th week of pregnancy?

The 5th month of pregnancy, in the 2nd trimester. Figures such as 18+3 weeks also belong to the 19th week of pregnancy.

Sources

Updated on 30 October 2026 · Fertilio Editorial Team