This is the 17th week of your pregnancy and your baby continues to grow swiftly in the womb instead. Did you start noticing the baby movements in the womb by now? If not! Do not disturb at all, it will start soon. It’s just a few days’ time left for you to feel the sensational flutters. In this article, we will let you introduce you to the possible developments of the 17th week of your pregnancy, its effect on your body and on your brain along with the precautions to pass this phase effortlessly and rather safely.
Growth of Your Baby
The Placenta in the uterus continues to grow; it matches the size of the fetus at this period of your pregnancy. It’s a natural filter to resist Carbon Dioxide inhalation; it also works to remove the baby waste with augmenting Oxygen supply system and providing other essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals for the fetus. The Umbilical cord also continues to grow to be hefty and stocky.
The brain of your baby commences to control fetal heartbeat; your baby also enhances the breathing arrangements as he was doing in the 16th week of your pregnancy as well. This is the key period for lung development of your baby; it starts in a 16th week and lasts up to 26th week of your pregnancy, it’s an imperative lung growth period of a fatal. Fat also forming the layers and accumulate it underneath the baby skin to offer better insulation to your baby to better manage probable future extreme weather conditions.
Sensory Organ Growth
The already growing hearing aids continue to grow, your baby can hear and respond to noisy sounds such as doorbells or the phone ringing, though with a bit surprise. Considering the growth of eyes! It also continues to grow, though the eyelids are yet to be opened.
Limb Development
Though the head is almost coming in proportion to rest of his body! Still’ his legs are visibly disproportionate to rest of his body; the legs are longer a bit and skinny as well during this week, compare to rest of his body. Don’t worry at all! These become well proportionate soon to rest of the baby’s body. Your baby now starts gripping the umbilical cord with his tiny hands as well.
Teeth Growth
The bone development of your baby continues to be in progress, as did we saw it starts growing in the 16th week of the pregnancy. This is the time when his Spinal cord commencing to generate a safeguarding layer around it, better known as “Myelin”. The fundamental structure of teeth is by now shaped out within the gums; they’re growing to play their part in your baby’s mouth in coming months and years.
Peripheral Appearance and Facial Growth
This is the week when the ears of your baby by now taken their proper place and her eyes are all set to take their final facial position.
How Big is Your Baby by now?
Now your baby is almost as large as a medium apple in size, weighing around 5 ounces (140g), with the approximate height of 5.1 inches (13cm) at all.
Fetal Movements During This week
At this time of the pregnancy, your baby always starts moving his legs and arms, start punching and kicking around. The first time mothers usually can’t distinguish these movements from a stomach upset, and Gas mostly. However, experienced mothers effortlessly distinguish and feel the sensation of their baby’s movements as well.
Your Physical Appearance
A study but sure belly growth is in progress all the time, during a pregnancy! It will come into existence finally as a “baby bump”.’ A dream comes true for a first timer mom. This bump is more clear and visible if you have a twin’s pregnancy. For giving a space to the growing uterus, all adjacent body organs will adjust them accordingly to offer uterus an adequate growing space. This will let you experience the acme of the uterus (which comes in rather a round shape in week 17) especially at the time you’re going to stand-up.
By the 17th week of your pregnancy, you will already acquire 5 to 10 pounds of extra weight as the symptoms of morning sickness are receding and food disliking is significantly reduced. Keep tracking your weight to avoid unnecessary weight gain, taking quality and healthy food in small portions is a good alternative to achieve the desired goal.
Another visible positive physical change comes in a shape of gloomy and shiny hair! Though, your nails, unfortunately, they grow swiftly but not without crumbling and the risk of breakable instead.
An Abdominal Ultrasound of 17th Week Pregnancy
It’s the time your doctor after the ultrasound exam will tell you the gender of your baby! But it largely depends on the position of the baby in the womb. You’re at the liberty to view his developing blood veins underneath the skin, as fat still a yard short to take its full strength below the skin. A fetal Doppler test can extend help to hear the heartbeat of your baby as well, it will be around double to yours at this period of pregnancy (140 to 150 beats/minute).
Necessary Examinations
Except for a high-risk pregnancy! Scan tests always are avoided at this stage of pregnancy. Only regular ultrasound tests (level1) can be done just to find any potential congenital defects if any. Though, this is not the surest way to find all the birth evils for sure, and a level two ultrasound suggested to suspected cases for obtaining some clear results.
An amniocentesis test is performed to detect any neural tube defects, along with routine urine and blood tests. This test is recommended for expected mothers who have over 35 years of age or family history of a medical condition such as Dawn’s Syndrome in high-risk pregnancies.
Symptoms of 17th Week Pregnancy
Constipation
Acid Reflux
Heartburn
Gas
Flatulence
Enhanced Sweating (due to higher blood volume resulting in raised body heat)
Back Pain
Leg Cramps
Sciatic Nerve Pain, Feeling Out of the Breath, Round Ligament Pain, Itchiness, particularly around the breast, back, and belly, Allergic attack
Dark Patches on the skin, Flu like symptoms and runny nose
Dizziness, Headache, Stress, Emotional changes in Behavior, Swelling or edema particularly on feet and hands
When to Call a Doctor?
All sorts of vaginal spotting and bleeding, with the additional signs of abdominal cramping, back pain or Nausea. Yellowish or clear vaginal discharge (may be due to amniotic fluid leakage).
Persistent and severe morning sickness, Nausea, Vomiting, and particularly severe diarrhea that lasts for over 24 hours
Severe itching particularly on vagina abdomen or on your back, painful unilateral swelling of the legs
Intense back, abdomen pain, urine leakage with pain, intercourse-related pain, and other symptoms of UTI (Urinary tract infection)
A persistent and severe headache, vomiting with blood traces, palpitation, or contractions similar to those one can experience during periods, severe constipation
Tips for Healthy Pregnancy & Baby
Drink extra amount of tap water, the diet should contain proteins, veggies, fruits, dairy products and particularly all those things that contain folic acid, vitamin C, Omega3 fatty acids, and iodine.
Relaxed posturing, avoid sudden moves, like run fast getting up rather fast, avoid high heels, for managing better balance
Take meal in 5 to 6 brakes, in small portions instead of taking three big meals
Beware of using unprescribed medication, always sought doctors help in this regard
Does a bit of yoga under the supervision of a qualified yoga instructor, always take easy and comfortable sleep positions.
Let us know if this article has helped you.
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