Your baby's development in the 17th week of pregnancy
The baby is gaining weight:
In addition to steady growth, your baby will also gain weight in the coming months. From the 17th week of pregnancy, the fetus not only stretches in length, it also begins to build a protective fat layer (fat stores) to build up. This regulates its body temperature and provides sufficient reserves for the time after birth.
Umbilical cord grows:
In week 17 not only does the little body of your tiny person grow. The umbilical cord also gains in size. It ultimately reaches a length of 50 to 60 cm and a diameter of about 1.5 cm. The cord consists of a gel-like connective tissue, which is additionally surrounded by a mucous layer. The protects the umbilical cord from knotting and kinking. The inner blood vessels of the cord connect your circulatory system with that of your baby.
Heart sounds audible:
In recent weeks your baby's rapid heart sounds have already been measurable – from the 17th week of pregnancy you can hear the heartbeat with your own ears for the first time using a stethoscope or listening tube.
Practicing breathing:
In week 17 the fetus diligently practices breathing and swallows amniotic fluid in the process, which it then excretes as urine. By the way, this is why there are occasional bouts of hiccups.
The face takes shape:
In the 17th week of pregnancy, the eyes and ears of the fetus move to their final position on the head. At the same time, the skeleton and skull bones continue to harden, so that your child's body and face become more and more distinct.
First reactions to external stimuli:
When you stroke your growing belly, your baby can already clearly perceive this stimulus in week 17. Its hearing is not yet fully developed, yet it 'hears' loud sounds and may even startle. More and more, the fetus now perceives its surroundings and stores them.
What can be seen on the ultrasound image?
Your child is in the 17th week of pregnancy weighing between 100 and 140 grams and between 11 and 17 cm long. The size now corresponds to that of a pear. Arms and legs appear larger on the ultrasound image than before. With a bit of luck you may notice slight grimaces and occasional bouts of hiccups of your little tiny person. It is also possible that you observe your baby playing with the umbilical cord. The little fingers and toes are now clearly visible, which makes observing via ultrasound even more exciting.
Physical changes – what happens to the mother in week 17?
In the 17th week of pregnancy most women are relieved of their severe pregnancy complaints of the first weeks. Now you are blessed with significantly more energy. However, the physical changes do not decrease. On the contrary: Currently it can lead to loss of minerals or back pain occurring. Find out here what your body is going through in the 17th week of your pregnancy.
Pigment changes may occur:
Estrogen stimulates the production of the skin pigment melanin. Because estrogen levels are greatly increased during pregnancy, more freckles, moles and pigment spots. The areolae also darken. It is assumed that this is meant to make it easier for the baby to find the nipple immediately after birth. Often, dark pigment spots also appear on other parts of the body in week 17. Typical is the brownish line (linea nigra), which runs from the navel to the pubic bone. Also on the face many women develop pigment spots for the duration of the pregnancy.
Pulling sensations in the lower abdomen:
The woman's uterus grows significantly in the 17th week of pregnancy. As a result the round ligaments increasingly under strain. This strain often manifests as a slight pulling to the right and left of the navel and in the groin and back area noticeable.
Back pain:
Long periods of standing or lying in a certain position cause lower back pain in many pregnant women in the 5th month. At night it helps, to place a nursing pillow between your knees – this relieves the sciatic nerve.
The abdomen reacts to stress:
Perhaps you have noticed in recent weeks that you are becoming more sensitive with the pregnancy or react more sensitively to stress and tension. And the further the baby develops, the more the belly also reacts to stressful situations. If you exert yourself or get upset, it can happen that your belly suddenly becomes hard and tightens. In such a case take a break and lie down for a while. If you are exposed to heavy stress at work, it's best to talk to your doctor about a possible work restriction.
Increased sweating:
Because during your pregnancy more blood flows through your veins to ensure the supply of your child, it is possible that you sweat more than was the case before . As a result, your body may lose more minerals such as iodine, calcium and iron.
Increased need for iodine, calcium and iron:
Iodine and calcium are crucial for the baby's development from the start. As pregnancy progresses, the need for iron also increases – in some pregnant women it doubles or multiplies compared with the usual requirement. The result: many women experience a strong appetite for dairy products, eggs (not raw) and meat (not raw) during pregnancy. However, you should still discuss with your doctor whether your nutrient needs can be met through your diet or whether you should take supplements to, for example, prevent a prevent iron deficiency.
This is important in the 17th week of pregnancy
Sufficient exercise for circulation: Many women have low blood pressure during pregnancy because the vessels are dilated and the placenta requires large amounts of blood. This can repeatedly cause circulatory problems such as dizziness and listlessness. Even if it takes effort: regular exercise, light sports (e.g. yoga, brisk walking or swimming) and plenty of fresh air help get the circulation going. It's best to plan a longer walk or bike ride every day now – this also helps relieve digestive complaints. And movement is good for your child too: the gentle rocking during physical activity promotes the development of the fetus's sensory organs.
Get a nursing pillow: A nursing pillow already serves you well during pregnancy. For example, to stabilize yourself in bed at night and prevent back pain. Also when sitting, the long rounded pillow supports your back. Another reason to get a nursing pillow early: by the time of birth the pillow has taken on your scent, making it immediately familiar to your child.
Get baby essentials: Maybe you have already been on the lookout for the first rompers or have looked at changing tables and baby cribs checked out? It's a good idea to take care of your baby essentials – on the one hand you'll still have plenty of time to decide, on the other you can really use the last, tiring months to relax.
