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You better start brushing up on your storytelling and song singing abilities this week, because your baby may be listening! Now that your baby’s ears have moved to their final position on the head, the bones of the middle ear and auditory nerve endings from the brain are developing. This means that your fetus will probably be able to hear sounds like your heartbeat and blood rushing through the umbilical cord. At this point, your little one may even be startled by a sudden loud noise! And if you haven’t yet done so, you’ll probably start to feel those butterfly kicks of surprise, as well as some more strident jabs this week. From crown to rump, your ever-growing baby will measure about 5 ½ inches long, and weigh seven ounces about the size of a bell pepper! In addition to ongoing brain development, a protective, insulating coat of myelin has begun to grow around your baby’s nerves, a process that will continue through your baby’s first year. This is why many pregnant women are advised to supplement with Omega-3 essential fatty acids so talk to your practitioner about what is right for you. For more on your little one’s development, check back during your nineteenth week!