Your baby's development in the 17th week of pregnancy

The baby gains weight:

In addition to continuous growth, your baby will also gain weight in the coming months. From the 17th week of pregnancy, the fetus not only grows in length, it also begins to form a protective fat layer (fat stores) to build up. This regulates its body temperature and provides enough reserves for the time after birth.

Umbilical cord grows:

In week 17, not only does your little one's body grow. The umbilical cord also increases in size. It eventually reaches a length of 50 to 60 cm and a diameter of about 1.5 cm. The cord consists of a jelly-like connective tissue that is additionally covered by a mucous layer. This protects the umbilical cord from knots and kinks. The internal blood vessels of the cord connect your circulatory system with your baby's.

Heart sounds audible:

In recent weeks your baby's rapid heart sounds were already 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 practices breathing diligently and swallows amniotic fluid, which it later excretes as urine. This is why occasional hiccup episodes occur.

Facial features develop:

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 your child's body and face become increasingly distinct.

First reactions to external stimuli:

If you stroke your growing belly, your baby can already perceive this stimulus clearly in week 17. Its hearing is not yet fully developed, but it still "hears" loud noises and may even startle. More and more, the fetus now perceives and stores its surroundings.

What can be seen on the ultrasound image?

Your child is in the 17th week of pregnancy between 100 and 140 grams in weight 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 some luck you may detect slightgrimaces and occasional hiccup episodes of your little one. 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 watching via ultrasound even more exciting.

Physical changes – what happens to the mother in week 17?

In the 17th week of pregnancy most women are freed from their severe pregnancy complaints of the first weeks. You are now blessed with significantly more energy. However, the physical changes do not lessen. On the contrary: you may currently experience loss of minerals or back pain occurring. Find out here what your body is going through in the 17th week of pregnancy.

Pigment disturbances occur:

Estrogen stimulates the production of the skin pigment melanin. Since estrogen levels are significantly elevated during pregnancy, freckles, liver spots and pigment spots increase. Areolas also darken. It is thought that this may help the baby find the nipple immediately after birth. However, in week 17 darker pigment spots often appear on other parts of the body as well. Typical is the brownish line (linea nigra), which runs from the navel to the pubic bone. Many women also develop pigment spots on the face 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 are put under increasing tension. This strain often manifests as a slight pulling on the right and left of the navel and in the groin and back area noticeable.

Back pain:

Long periods of standing or lying in one position cause pain in the lower Page 4 of 5 back area for many women in the 5th month. At night it helps, to place a nursing pillow while lying on your side between your knees – this relieves the sciatic nerve.

The belly reacts to stress:

You may have noticed in recent weeks that you become more thin-skinned during pregnancy or more sensitive to stress and tension. And the more the baby develops, the more the belly reacts to stressful situations. If you exert yourself or get upset, your belly may suddenly become hard and feel tight. In such a case, take a break and lie down for a while. If you are exposed to a lot of stress at work, it is best to discuss a possible work ban with your doctor.

Increased sweating:

Because more blood flows through your veins during pregnancy to ensure your child's supply, it is possible that you sweat faster than before was the case. 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, iron requirements also increase – in some pregnant women this doubles or multiplies compared to the usual need. The result: many women experience strong cravings 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 iron deficiency.

This is important in the 17th week of pregnancy

• Enough exercise for circulation: Many women have low blood pressure during pregnancy because the blood vessels are dilated and the placenta requires large amounts of blood. This can repeatedly cause circulatory problems such as dizziness and fatigue. Even if it takes effort: regular exercise, light sports (e.g. yoga, brisk walking or swimming) and lots of fresh air help to get the circulation going. It's best to plan a longer walk or bike ride every day now – this also helps to relieve digestive complaints. Movement is also good for your child: the gentle rocking during physical activity promotes the development of the fetus's sensory organs.

• Get a nursing pillow: A nursing pillow will already be useful to you 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: until birth the pillow absorbs your scent. This makes it immediately familiar to your child.

• Get basic baby supplies: Perhaps you have already been looking out for the first onesies or have browsed changing tables and baby cribs looked at? It is a good idea to start early to take care of your basic baby supplies – on the one hand you will still have enough time to decide, and on the other hand you can really use the last, exhausting months to relax.