Pregnant: What happens in week 19

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

Suddenly grown: If you have an ultrasound appointment in the 19th week of pregnancy, you may notice that your baby has suddenly become a considerably bigger is. This is not only due to the growth spurt of the past weeks, but also to the new measurement standard: From now on, the crown-to-rump length is no longer measured, but rather the total length of the fetus from crown to heel.

Fully developed heart: In the chest of your little person their already fully developed heart is beating. In the 19th week of pregnancy it beats about twice as often as yours. Daily 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 chambers and atria are not yet separated. The heart septa only close completely after the birth of your baby.

Intestine takes over functions: The tiny intestine of the fetus begins its functions in week 19. It collects metabolic waste products, which are expelled after birth as 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 for the sensory perceptions are responsible: The fetus is now learning 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 sex organs are fully developed: The external genitalia were, if you're lucky, already visible in the 15. or 16th week of pregnancy visible. By the 19th week of pregnancy at the latest, the genitals are fully developed. In boys the scrotum is visible; in girls the fallopian tubes already contain the complete formations for all eggs.

What can be seen on the ultrasound image?

If you already have an appointment in the 19th week of pregnancy for the 2nd major prenatal check-up, your gynecologist will certainly perform an ultrasound to check on your little miracle and to record its development. Your baby now weighs around 200 and measures from crown to rump a proud 13,5 to 15 cm (so approximately a crown-to-heel length of 24 cm). The size is roughly 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 also the odd grimace of your child. In addition, in the current week of your pregnancy, the sex of your baby can already be determined fairly reliably.

Physical changes – what happens to the mother in week 19 of pregnancy?

With the increasing growth of your child, your belly also grows by a few more centimeters in the 19th week of pregnancy. Also various pregnancy complaints are possible. Which these 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 the whole time, however starting in the 19th week of pregnancy, the uterus grows by about one centimeter per week. By now its upper edge can also be felt through the abdominal wall at the level of the navel.

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

Irritated nasal mucous membranes: Pregnancy hormones are still putting the mother's body in a bit of a tizzy. They cause, among other things, a loosening of the nasal mucous membranes, so you may now feel congested. The swollen membranes are harmless, but can be very exhausting together with the typical shortness of breath be. A saline nasal spray provides temporary relief.

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

What about 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 urine, hair or skin cells of the baby. The water contains many blood components of the mother, including among others proteins, sugars, potassium and sodium. To some extent it also takes on the flavors of the food the mother consumes, allowing the baby in the second half of pregnancy to perceive distinct taste nuances.

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

Tips for feeling good in the 19th 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 give in to sudden cravings now and then. Pregnancy is strenuous enough, so it's completely legitimate to treat yourself to something tasty from time to time and enjoy it. Furthermore, your body is usually pretty accurate about what it wants. In particular, cravings for salty or sour foods can be linked to the increased nutritional needs during pregnancy.

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

Start shopping for the baby: At the latest from the 19th week of pregnancy most parents start to take care of the baby starter kit and nursery furnishings to get. The earlier you get started, 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