Pregnant: What happens in week 19 of pregnancy

Your baby's development in the 19. week of pregnancy

Suddenly grown: If you have an ultrasound appointment in the 19. week of pregnancy, you may notice that your baby has suddenly become a a whole lot bigger is. This is not only due to the growth spurt of the past weeks, but also to the new measurement basis: From now on the crown-rump length is measured, but the total length of the fetus from crown to heel.

Fully developed heart: In the chest of your little person its already fully developed heart is beating. In the 19. week of pregnancy it beats about twice as often as yours. Each day it pumps around 28 liters of blood through the small body of the fetus and supplies it with oxygen and nutrients. Even though the heart is fully developed, the two ventricles and atria are not yet separated from each other. The heart septa only close completely after the birth of your baby.

Intestine takes on functions: The tiny intestine of the fetus begins to take on its functions in week 19. Thus it collects metabolic waste products, which are excreted after birth as the so-called meconium.

Sensory perceptions develop: By the end of the first half of pregnancy, the regions in your baby's brain that are responsible in particular for the sensory perceptions are responsible: The fetus now learns to hear, feel and taste more distinctly. Vision and sense of smell also develop, although these are not really used in the womb at first.

Internal sexual organs are fully formed: The external sexual characteristics were, with luck, already visible in the 15. or 16. week of pregnancy visible. By the 19. week of pregnancy at the latest, the genitalia are fully developed. In boys the scrotum is visible; in girls the fallopian tubes already contain the complete structures for all eggs.

What can be seen on the ultrasound image?

If you already have an appointment in the 19. week of pregnancy for the 2. major prenatal check-up, your gynecologist will certainly perform an ultrasound to check on your little miracle and to document its development. Your baby now weighs around 200 grams and measures from crown to rump a proud 13,5 to 15 cm (i.e. approximately a crown-to-heel length of 24 cm). The size roughly corresponds to that of a mango. The development compared to the 1. major ultrasound examination will impress you. Now you can see the button nose, the mouth and maybe even the odd grimace of your child. In addition, the sex of your baby can already be determined fairly reliably in the current week of your pregnancy.

Physical changes – what happens to the mother in SSW 19?

As your child grows, your belly also expands by a few more centimeters again in the 19. week of pregnancy. Various pregnancy complaints are possible. Which those are and how your body changes exactly in the current phase of the 2. trimester, you can find out here:

The belly grows: It has been doing that for some time, however the uterus increases by about one centimeter per week from the 19. week of pregnancy. Its upper edge can now also be felt through the abdominal wall at the level of the navel.

Placenta development nearly complete: In the 19. week of pregnancy the development of the placenta in a pregnant woman is completely finished. In the coming weeks it only grows in width. Increased risk of injury: In the 19. week of pregnancy additional pregnancy hormones are released, for example estrogen. The hormones make connective tissue, ligaments and joints mostly softer – this increases the risk of injury. You should therefore avoid sports that involve jumping or sudden movements, such as tennis or squash.

Irritated nasal mucous membranes: Pregnancy hormones are still throwing the mother's body into confusion. Among other things they cause a loosening of the nasal mucosa, so you may now feel congested. The swollen mucous membranes are harmless, but can together with the typical shortness of breath be very exhausting be. A saline nasal spray provides short-term relief.

A bit more of everything: In the 5. month of pregnancy many women feel very thirsty: metabolism and circulation have to work for two, so the need for fluids increases significantly. Drinking a lot is not that easy, because the growing uterus increasingly squeezes the internal organs. It is now important, to drink as regularly as possible and to eat many small portions. This also helps control the famous food cravings that occur more frequently now.

What's the deal with the amniotic fluid?

From the moment the embryo begins to grow in the placenta until the day of birth, the baby swims in the amniotic fluid (also called amnion fluid). The fluid is produced in the inner amniotic membrane, which surrounds the baby in the uterus. Your body continuously renews the amniotic fluid, so it is not 'contaminated' by the baby's urine, hair or skin cells. The fluid contains many components of the mother's blood, including proteins, sugars, potassium and sodium. To some extent it also takes on the flavors of the food the mother eats, allowing the baby to perceive distinct taste nuances in the second half of pregnancy.

The amount of amniotic fluid varies with the stage of pregnancy: while the woman in the first weeks of pregnancy carries only 300 to 500 ml carries, in the 2. half of pregnancy it is about 1 liter of the watery fluid. This serves to protect the baby because it prevents body parts from fusing with the placenta and later cushions the fetus's movements. In addition, the amniotic fluid helps your child already in the womb to develop its swallowing and breathing reflexes and to start the urinary system.

Tips for feeling good in the 19. week of pregnancy

Enjoy fully: That a healthy and balanced nutrition during pregnancy is important, everyone knows. But that doesn't mean you can't indulge sudden food cravings now and then. Pregnancy is exhausting enough that it's completely legitimate to treat yourself to something tasty and enjoy it from time to time. Also, your body is usually pretty accurate about what it wants. In particular, cravings for salty or sour foods can be associated with the increased nutrient needs during pregnancy.

Buy comfortable shoes: High heels and other fancy shoes become somewhat uncomfortable for most women by the end of the 5. month. Often favorite shoes no longer fit properly because the feet swell slightly during pregnancy. Therefore buy yourself, depending on the season, a pair of comfortable shoes such as boots, sandals or low-heeled shoes with a flat sole – it's worth it.

Take care of first purchases for the baby: At the latest from the 19. week of pregnancy, most parents begin to take care of the baby essentials and nursery furnishings to take care of. The earlier you approach it, the more relaxed the rest of the pregnancy will be, during which you can fully focus on your physical well-being.

For the 20th week of pregnancy