At 17 weeks pregnant, you will definitely notice the next changes in your well-being. Now your baby is growing rapidly and going through new stages of its development.

What month?

The seventeenth obstetric week is the beginning of the fifth lunar month of pregnancy. Your baby was conceived approximately 14 weeks ago. More accurate timing information.

What happens to the fetus

The main process is the mineralization of the skeleton, that is, the gradual hardening of bones. Another serious work is going on in the tiny gums: dentin is forming in the rudiments of milk teeth. It is a hard tissue on which tooth enamel later forms. Getting enough calcium is now important for your baby.

If your diet is poor in these elements, two main complications can arise. First, you will notice the fragility of your own teeth. Even a not very hard nut or crouton can destroy your tooth when it bites. If you come across tough meat or vegetables, you will be surprised to find that you have difficulty chewing them. Even with a little pain.

Secondly, there will be complications in the development of the fetus. A child can be born weak, develop poorly. And milk teeth after eruption will be unstable and will be susceptible to pathologically early caries.

What else can be noted in the development of the fetus:

• the formation of the entire auditory system is completed;
• the arms and legs are lengthened;
• thin bronchi are actively developing, they become like tree branches;
• cilia grow on closed eyelids;
• the primary formation of subcutaneous fat begins;
• the first particles of meconium, original feces are formed in the intestine;
• the blood vessel system is actively branching;
• in the blood of the fetus, its own immunoglobulin and interferon appear - the most important components of the immune system;
• a tiny uterus forms in girls;
• the strength of the baby's jerks increases.

Perhaps it is on these days that you will feel the first movements of your baby. Of course, if this has not happened before. But more often it is different: for another 2-4 weeks you will have to wait for the "signal" from the baby. This is normal.

Do you know? Now a real fluffy lives under your heart! The body of the fetus is completely covered with delicate, silky hairs, doctors call them "lanugo". This fluff will be gone by the time of delivery.

Your body

Your main change is the growth of your tummy. Now it looks round, but gradually stretches upward. Surely you have repeatedly said about yourself "round" or even "fat". But now is the time when a little weight gain is good and necessary. You will definitely be weighed in the antenatal clinic. Over the next seven days, body weight should not increase by more than 500 grams.

You need to know. There is such a concept - "mask of pregnant women." These are age spots that are usually located on the top of each cheek, as well as on the forehead and chin. Brunettes and dark-skinned women may even have dark shadows under their eyes. This effect appears due to the fact that, under the influence of the hormones estrogen and progesterone, the skin of the face unevenly produces melanin. It is impossible to remove the "pregnant mask". If you notice this feature in yourself, protect your face from sunlight, pigmentation will decrease..

Your feelings

Take a look at the list below. You can feel and see a lot of this list or nothing.

1. Heartburn. These are small bursts of gastric juice into the esophagus. They arise because the valve muscle that separates these two organs is weakened.
2. A feeling of lack of air.
3. Heat transfer disorders, frequent feeling of heat.
4. The running to the toilet "on the small" again becomes more frequent.
5. Balance problems: gait disturbances, slight swaying, dizziness.
6. Swelling of the legs, less often of the hands and face.
7. Redness and itching of the palms and feet.

Do not consider your pregnancy "abnormal" if you experience any of your own special feelings. For example, there are women who in the second trimester dream of renovating or rearranging their apartment. And someone does not want anything at all - they would sit in their favorite chair and leaf through their favorite magazines.

Note to moms!

Hello girls) I didn't think that the problem of stretch marks would touch me, but I will also write about it))) But there is nowhere to go, so I am writing here: How did I get rid of stretch marks after childbirth? I will be very glad if my method will help you too ...

Expectant mothers often note that they have very vivid, emotional and often erotic dreams. Why this happens, no one knows yet. Unfortunately, nightmares can be extremely vital and truly frightening. If you wake up at night from bad dreams, be sure to remind yourself that everything is really good. Learn to disconnect from negative dreams.

Discharge and pain

At week 17, the amount of vaginal discharge may increase markedly. This is quite normal if there is no yellow pigmentation, pungent odor and blood impurities.

Colostrum is secreted from the breast, literally drop by drop. If there are spots on the clothes, there are special pads for the bra.

When the belly hurts a little or pulls, this indicates a stretching of the internal ligaments that support the uterus.

Now your belly is growing a little every day. At the same time, the center of gravity shifts slightly. You may feel minor pain all over your back or along your spine.

Photos of tummies:

Be especially careful about how you feel when urinating. Your immune system is slightly weakened. Because of this, cystitis can easily begin - a very unpleasant disease. Any real, sharp pain is a reason to go to the doctor or even call an ambulance.

Under unfavorable circumstances, you may experience the first signs of gestosis, or late toxicosis of pregnant women. ...

Medical supervision

Your doctor at the antenatal clinic should schedule specialized blood tests this week or next:

• HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin);
• free estriol;
• AFP (alpha-fetoprotein).

At a gestation period of 16-18 weeks, the levels of these hormones in the blood should be kept within certain limits. If the result is outside the norm, this may mean pathologies of fetal development, including very serious ones.

Depending on your condition and well-being, general tests and ultrasound may be prescribed. During the scan, the doctor will check the amount of amniotic fluid and the position of the placenta. Plus the main indicators of the fetus (private and general dimensions, heart rate, etc.). If you still know the gender of your child, if the baby is in a good position, the specialist will be able to reveal this secret for you.

1. Follow all maternity nutritional guidelines. Your diet should be 30% vegetables and fruits. Eat fish, meat, cereals and dairy products. Sweets - only natural (marmalade, marshmallow).
2. For heartburn, drink jelly more often.
3. If you notice a tendency to be overweight, watch your weight especially strictly.
4. Avoid any jolts or sudden movements. Sit down, get up and walk smoothly, take care of your muscles and internal ligaments.
5. Be very careful on public transport. Other passengers may not notice your pregnancy and may behave casually. Do not be afraid to talk about your upcoming motherhood, ask to give you a seat or skip somewhere.
6. Have a convulsion? Pull the toes of the affected leg towards you as much as possible. If the shoes do not allow this in any way, take off your shoes or simply rub your shins vigorously. Tell your doctor about frequent seizures, you clearly lack potassium. It's time to adjust your nutrition.
7. Another enemy is headaches. They occur with a lack of iron in the blood. Try not drinking tea and / or coffee after eating. There are studies showing that theine and caffeine interfere with the proper absorption of iron from foods.
8. Don't be in drafts, don't let yourself get cold. Even a slight hypothermia can provoke a cold with complications in the kidneys.
9. Ask family, friends, and co-workers not to smoke in front of you if they have not done so before. Do you still smoke yourself? Most likely, the child will be born with severe malformations.
10. Do not drink alcoholic beverages under any circumstances. Any traditions and customs in your position can be violated.
11. In case of swelling of the legs, do a simple procedure in the evenings: pour cold and warm water over your legs alternately. This will harden your blood vessels and improve blood circulation and water exchange.
12. Simple gymnastics will help your legs: move your feet in different directions and in a circle. Wear only cotton socks.
13. Even if your legs are not swollen or humming, lift them higher when you are sitting.
14. Many people now feel uncomfortable sleeping. You can't lie on your stomach for a long time. It is not recommended to lie on your back - the placental circulation may be disturbed. To make sleeping on your side as comfortable as possible, stock up on pillows and put them not only under your stomach, but also under your back.
15. Walk in parks, groves and woods whenever possible.
16. If your gums are bleeding - consult your doctor, he will select an individual product for the oral cavity.
17. Your nose may bleed. In this case, it is better to carry wet wipes with you at all times. At the first sign of bleeding, apply a piece of ice or a handkerchief soaked in cold water to the bridge of your nose. Don't throw your head back.
18. For intimate life, there are only basic prohibitions: lack of water, the threat of miscarriage or multiple pregnancies. Otherwise, sex just has to be careful and non-aggressive.
19. Talk to your baby out loud. Offer to do the same for the father-to-be. This habit will come in very handy when your baby is born.
20. If you notice that you are becoming forgetful and distracted, start a special diary.
21. Don't be afraid of your motherly feelings. Perhaps now you are not worried about much, except for your own state. It's quite normal. Still, at work or while studying, be collected and attentive.

The 17th week of pregnancy will pass without unpleasant events if you do everything right.

For moms, 17 weeks of pregnancy brings a lot of new sensations. At this moment, the stomach is actively growing, and the baby in it gives its first barely discernible tremors. Often, girls try to determine the gender of their baby on the shape of the tummy.

Baby Happy Mom Photo Ultrasound
phases of change
how difficult is the decoction
water

Your baby's development

In the article you can see a photo of the belly of girls who are expecting boys at the 17th week of their pregnancy. Puziko looks like this:

• more acute;
• slightly shifted to the right;
• sticks out in front.

Happy mom in the second trimester

If you look at mommy from the back, then the outlines of the waist are visible pretty well, so you can't say that she is expecting a baby. When a girl is expecting a beautiful girl at the 17th week of pregnancy, the photo of her belly is a little different. It is round and "spreads" to the side.

The 17th week of your pregnancy is already 5 months old. Mothers always want to know how much their baby weighs and how tall he is. The fetus weighs more than the placenta - about 115-160 grams. And in length it reaches 19-20 cm. Some changes occur with the baby.

1. The body of the baby is covered with lanugo vellus hair, which completely disappears after childbirth. Although in some cases, the baby is born with a small fluff all over the body, which disappears after a few days.
2. Brown fat is formed, which supplies energy. Fat is deposited between the shoulder blades and disappears 2-3 days after delivery. The skin of the fetus is very thin, wrinkled, and he himself becomes like a child.
3. 17 weeks pregnant allows you to listen to the fetal heartbeat. For this, the doctor uses a special obstetric stethoscope. Normal - about 160 beats per minute. The doctor will now listen to the heart at every scheduled visit.
4. The movements of the head, arms and legs are already coordinated. The baby begins to touch his face, take his fingers in his mouth. Despite his closed eyes, he already knows the world around him.
5. 17 weeks pregnant opens up sounds and noises to the baby. He begins to hear everything that is happening around him: the work of the intestines, the rumble of blood, the heartbeat of his mother, her breathing. Also, the baby distinguishes external sounds, so from this moment you need to start communicating with him. In this case, he will remember his mother's voice and react to it after giving birth.

At the 17th week of pregnancy, the girl has to change her wardrobe, since her belly is already quite large. Dress in comfortable clothes that don't put pressure on your belly. Your little one will not get better from squeezing clothes.

Is an ultrasound worth doing?

At 17 weeks of gestation, you can easily get a photo of your fetus. To do this, it is enough to go to an ultrasound study. Such diagnostics are carried out regularly, and at 5 months it is needed to exclude possible pathology of the fetus or cervix.

Reflections of ultrasonic waves are analyzed using a computer, after which a sonogram (image) is displayed on the monitor. At the 17th week of pregnancy, you can ask the doctor to make a video of your baby, which is also available using an ultrasound scan. There are two ways to diagnose at this time.

1. Transvaginal ultrasound. The doctor inserts a probe into the vagina to examine the cervix.
2. Transabdominal ultrasound. The doctor lubricates the abdomen with a special gel, which enhances the conduction of waves, and moves the sensor along its surface.

Usually, ultrasound is performed at the end of the first trimester (11-14 weeks), in the second (8-21 weeks) and in the third (32-34 weeks). At the 5th month, diagnosis is needed if there is a threat of isthmic-cervical insufficiency. At this time, the diagnostician can determine the sex of the fetus, so an ultrasound scan is performed to exclude possible pathologies that are inherited from the father.

Diagnostics is also carried out when a girl missed her in the first three months. In any case, at the 17th week of pregnancy, you can already look at the first photo of your treasure.

The kid looks like this

Sensations and changes in the body

During the 17th week of pregnancy, many mothers try to understand what is happening to their body. By the 5th month, the girl's condition is much better, however, she can still suffer from toxicosis, which sometimes manifests itself not only in nausea, but also in severe edema.

Usually the legs swell, so you have to urgently buy new shoes. Watch yourself carefully. If, in addition to edema, by the 17th week of pregnancy, you have gained weight and feel heaviness in the whole body, you need to contact a gynecologist.

Sudden movements can be uncomfortable. But, if it passes quickly enough, then there is no cause for concern. Thus, the body reacts to the stretching of the ligaments of the uterus. In addition, in addition to new sensations, by the 17-18 weeks of your pregnancy, a dark streak may appear on your abdomen, which lasts from the navel to the pubis. There is nothing to worry about here either.

The reason lies in the changed hormonal background, which changes the pigmentation of the skin. According to statistics, a similar strip appears in 90% of mothers. In addition, the girl notes the following factors.

1. The abdomen is enlarged. Usually, the belly begins to grow by 15 weeks, and at 17 weeks, growth increases, so it can pull the lower abdomen a little. By this time, you need to change clothes, buy more spacious ones, in which you will be comfortable and comfortable. Today shops offer a large selection of dresses, trousers, overalls, which are not only of high quality and comfortable, but also very beautiful.
2. Cardiopalmus. By the 5th month of pregnancy, the girl's heart begins to beat faster. This is necessary so that the placenta can receive the required amount of nutrients and oxygen to provide them to the baby. The small capillaries feel a serious load, so minor bleeding from the nose or gums may begin.
3. 17 weeks pregnant brings new sensations not only in the stomach, but also in the chest. Breast tenderness becomes less, nipples may darken slightly, and white pimples sometimes form around them. Do not worry, they will pass over time. Also, there is no need to worry about capillaries or veins, which are often clearly visible on the chest, representing a venous pattern. It will go away on its own when you start feeding your baby.
4. Sweating. By the age of 5 months, a girl may experience increased sweating. This process occurs due to hormonal changes, so there is no need to use medication. In order not to feel discomfort, you will have to shower and change clothes as often as possible. Use a deodorant, but it is better to buy an odorless product, since intolerance to familiar scents often appears during pregnancy.

Are there secretions hazards?

If by the 5th month you have not stopped having sex, but bloody discharge suddenly appeared, it is not recommended to have sex. Listen to yourself. In case of pulling pain in the lower abdomen, you should immediately call your doctor, since there is a possibility of miscarriage.

Discharge usually appears, which is odorless leucorrhoea. Sometimes a slight sour smell can be felt. The discharge does not cause any discomfort, but it must be monitored. If their consistency has changed or a pungent odor appears, you should definitely call your doctor, since there is a risk of developing thrush.

At this time, many mothers begin to feel the first movements of their little one. Moreover, each girl describes them differently. Some are ticklish, others feel like a gurgle. Now the baby will develop more and more, and his movements will be more active.

Photo of a baby ultrasound

But at the 17th week of your pregnancy, you should not worry if you do not feel the crumbs moving. Even if your girlfriend has already felt the first barely perceptible shocks, and you have not. Everything here is individual. Sometimes mommies don't feel any movement even at 6 months. In any case, you will have to attend a scheduled ultrasound examination, during which the doctor will examine the fetus and establish possible developmental abnormalities.

At 17 and 18 weeks of your pregnancy, continue to follow the recommendations previously given by your doctors. It is very important to monitor your diet and get more rest. At 17 weeks, the long-awaited pregnancy will not bring surprises if you take care of yourself and your baby.

Recommendations	The essence
Watch your weight.	From the photo you can see that at the 17th week of pregnancy, the tummy with the baby in it is already big. Wearing it is hard, but at this time the girls often have a strong appetite, so you need to control yourself and weigh yourself regularly. Do this several times a week in the morning after waking up. Create a special notebook and write down changes in it. This will help you keep track of your weight and prevent a jump that can be dangerous.
Watch your diet	Excessive passion for delicious food can lead to unpleasant consequences. Make up your diet and strictly follow it. It is best to eat in small portions, but 5-6 times a day. In this case, hunger will not bother you. Exclude from the menu a large amount of salty, spicy, fatty, fried foods, flour, sweet. Reduce the amount of carbonated water, very strong tea, coffee you drink. You should not limit yourself completely, because one cake per week will not do harm. But control is very important.
Choose a comfortable sex position.	By the 17th week of gestation, mommy's belly is already quite large, but many girls continue to have sex after conceiving a baby. You need to be very careful not to harm yourself and your child. Talk to your doctor about posture.
Wear comfortable shoes.	Wear shoes without heels as it is very dangerous now. Wear seasonal shoes to keep your feet dry and warm.
Exclude saunas, baths, hot baths.	Have pity on your heart, because he has to work harder, so the additional load must be eliminated. It is best to stay with a warm shower that will not harm the cardiovascular system.
Keep your urinary system under control.	Women's kidneys do not have a sweet tooth while carrying a child, because they are forced to filter out the waste products of the mother, as well as her baby. Its waste is excreted through the placenta. Women may experience stagnation of urine, which can cause pyelonephritis, bacteriuria, cystitis and other inflammatory pathologies. Empty your bladder as often as possible, exclude spicy salty foods from the menu.

Maria Sokolova

Reading time: 20 minutes

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This is what the fetus looks like at 17 weeks

At the 17th week, the uterus of a pregnant woman is located approximately 3.8-5 cm below the level of the navel. The fundus is halfway between the navel and the pubic symphysis... If you do not know exactly where the pubic articulation is, then gently walk your fingers from the navel straight downwards and feel for the bone. This is exactly the same pubic articulation.

Feelings in the mother at 17 weeks

Almost half of the waiting period for the baby has passed, the expectant mother completely got used to the new role and realized her position, she constantly listens to herself and thinks about her baby with trepidation.

For many, week 17 is a favorable period when a woman feels good, full of strength and energy. Some have already experienced the joy of the former.

It is worth noting that for most women, week 17 is accompanied by the following signs:

• Late toxicosis. It is by week 17 that he can demonstrate his first symptoms. Its manifestations are not nausea and vomiting, but edema. At first they are hidden, but you may notice that some shoes are already uncomfortable for you, narrow shoes cannot be put on at all, your toes have become less mobile, and the rings are tight. And at the same time, you will begin to gain weight much faster than normal;
• Good appetite and the risk of gaining excess weight... Overeating can have serious consequences. Frequent meals in small portions will help you cope with the feeling of hunger;
• Growing tummy. Many sensations at week 17 are associated with it. For some, the tummy became noticeable one or several weeks earlier, for some only now. In any case, now you are no doubt choosing special clothes for pregnant women, because in everyday clothes you will probably be cramped and uncomfortable;
• Changes in well-being... Now you may be amazed at the changes in your own perception of the world. Your body is now fully attuned to pregnancy, you feel calm and happy. Absent-mindedness, poor concentration are quite normal, you are absorbed in thoughts about the child and your feelings;
• The chest is no longer so sensitive. Small, light colored bumps may appear in the nipple area. This phenomenon is called "Montgomery tubercles" and is the norm. An enhanced venous pattern may appear, do not worry, after pregnancy and breastfeeding it will go away by itself. Also, the nipples may darken, and a brown strip from the navel to the pubis may appear on the tummy. These are also quite natural changes associated with expecting a baby;
• The heart works one and a half times more actively. This is to make it easier for the placenta to feed the growing fetus. Also, be prepared for minor bleeding from the gums and nose. This may be due to the fact that your increased blood circulation increases the load on small blood vessels, including the capillaries in the sinuses and gums;
• Sweating and vaginal secretions. At week 17, you may notice that sweat from the genital tract has increased. These are just hygienic problems, they are related to hormonal levels, and do not need any treatment. The only thing is, if it worries you very much, you can subject these phenomena to hygienic correction;
• Crazy, vivid dreams. Many expectant mothers have a variety of picturesque dreams. As a rule, they are associated with the upcoming birth or child. Such dreams sometimes seem so real that they occupy the thoughts of a woman in reality. According to experts, this may be due to the overstrain that your brain is experiencing at this stage. In addition, you get up more often at night, which is why you can remember more dreams than usual.

Studies show that babies can also experience rapid eye movement (in adults, a similar phenomenon indicates dreams).

Some scientists argue that babies can also dream related to their daily activities. Maybe the child is dreaming about how he hears your voice, stretches his legs or plays.

Fetal development at week 17

Fruit weight becomes more than the weight of the placenta and is approximately 115-160 grams. Growth already reaches 18-20 cm.

The placenta by week 17 is already fully formed, consists of tissues and a network of blood vessels. Through the placenta, the fetus receives all the nutrients necessary for development, and processed products are also excreted.

At 17 weeks, the following changes will occur with the fetus:

• Fat will appear. This is a special brown fat that is a source of energy. It is deposited, as a rule, in the area between the shoulder blades and will burn out in the first days after childbirth. Otherwise, the baby's skin is still very thin, almost transparent, slightly wrinkled. This can make the child seem very thin. But it is at 17 weeks that the fetus becomes more and more like a newborn.
• The body of the fetus is covered with lanugo... This is vellus hair. As a rule, by the time of birth, lanugo completely disappears, although there are cases when a baby is born with a small fluff. It will disappear in the first days after childbirth;
• Baby's heartbeat can be heard... With the help of an obstetric stethoscope, you can already hear your baby's heart beating. The heartbeat reaches about 160 beats per minute, now the doctor will listen to your stomach at each visit;
• The baby starts to hear... The seventeenth week is the period when the baby begins to discover the world of sounds. Noises surround him 24 hours a day, because the uterus is a rather loud place: the mother's heartbeat, the sounds of the intestines, the noise of her breathing, the hum of blood flow in the vessels. In addition, he can now hear various sounds from the outside. You can start communicating with the baby, because if you talk to him, he will remember your voice and will react to it immediately after giving birth;
• Hand and head movements are coordinated, the child touches his face, sucks his fingers for hours, tries to listen to sounds from the outside. His eyes are still not open, but undoubtedly, his world has become much richer.

Photo and ultrasound of the fetus in the 17th week, photo of the abdomen and video about the development of the baby

Ultrasound 17 week - photo

17th week belly photo

Video: What happens in the seventeenth week of pregnancy?

Video: 3D ultrasound, 17th week of pregnancy

On the seventeenth week, it is mandatory:

• Monitor your weight... Appetite at this time can play out in earnest, so it is important sometimes to limit yourself. Be sure to weigh yourself. This should be done at least once a week, in the morning on an empty stomach and preferably in the same clothes. Write down the changes in weight in a special notebook, so it will be easier for you not to miss a sharp jump in weight and monitor your changes;
• Continue to monitor nutrition... Remember that overeating can have serious consequences. As mentioned above, hunger can be dealt with by eating frequent small meals. Refuse flour and sweet in large quantities, fried, fatty, spicy and salty foods. Eliminate the use of coffee, strong tea, soda water, non-alcoholic beer. From time to time, of course, you can pamper yourself, but healthy eating should now be your obligatory habit;
• Sex requires a comfortable position.... At the moment, there are technical restrictions. Be extremely careful and careful;
• Take care of comfortable shoes, it is better to exclude heels altogether, also try to choose shoes without laces, soon you probably will not be able to tie them yourself at all;
• Don't take a hot bath, you don't need to take a steam bath either... Your heart is working much more actively now than before, and it will not need any additional workload. It is unlikely that you will feel good. So give preference to a warm shower;
• Monitor the condition of the urinary system... The kidneys of a pregnant woman literally work for wear and tear, since they now have to filter out from the blood not only the products of her vital activity, but also the baby's waste, which is excreted into the mother's blood through the placenta. Sometimes, pregnant women may experience stagnant urine, and this in turn can lead to a number of inflammatory diseases such as bacteriuria, pyelonephritis, etc. To prevent the occurrence of any of these diseases, it is necessary to empty the bladder more often, not to drink a very strong lingonberry broth and exclude salty and spicy foods from the diet.

The first weeks of pregnancy are remembered for many by a feeling of nausea, fatigue and swelling. By the 17th week, these symptoms disappear, the woman expects calm and well-being. By the 17th week of pregnancy, the expectant mother can lead a fairly active lifestyle, a rounded figure will not interfere with her usual affairs and work.

What does this time mean for those who are expecting a baby? How much movement per day should you feel? Is it already possible to determine the sex of the child?

Week 17: what happens in a woman's body at this stage of pregnancy?

According to the calendar, the 17th week of pregnancy corresponds to the beginning of the fifth obstetric month. The size of the uterus continues to grow actively, it is located 3.8-5 cm below the navel. The height of the uterine fundus is 17 cm.

The cardiovascular system of the expectant mother is under stress due to the increase in blood volume. Because of this, the pulse may become more frequent, nosebleeds may open.

The volume of fluid in the body also increases, which causes increased sweating. Discharge from the genitals becomes more intense.

At 5-6 weeks from conception, the placenta begins to form. By the 17th it will be fully formed and will weigh about 500 grams, and its thickness will be 2.5 cm. This is a temporary embryonic organ that is formed only during pregnancy. Its function is to protect the child and supply him with nutrients and oxygen.

Baby development and size

The ultrasound photo and the video at the end of the article show what happens to the baby in the womb and how it looks. At this time, the embryo normally weighs about 200 grams, and its length is 10-14 cm. Indicators may differ depending on gender. Mass gain and development are very intense. On ultrasound, you can already determine the sex of the unborn child, if he is in a position that is comfortable for this. He moves, grabs the umbilical cord and actively moves.

The baby's immune system continues to develop. She begins to produce interferons, which protect the baby if the mother becomes infected. A protective film appears on the skin, subcutaneous fat is deposited. It is still very small, but by the time of birth it will make up most of the baby's weight.

The girls have already formed a uterus. The heart is almost completely formed, it turns out to be heard with a stethoscope. At this time, the rudiments of the teeth are laid.

The fetus swallows amniotic fluid, which is why it often hiccups. In the later stages, this can be felt (rhythmic tremors of the abdomen). Swallowing amniotic fluid helps the intestines to form.

The baby reacts to external sounds. He flinches from sharp loud noises. Calm melodies and conversations calm him down. The baby is able to feel the mood of the mother, so you need to avoid anxiety and stress.

Mom's inner feelings

Basically, 17 weeks does not bother the expectant mother. The belly continues to grow, in some it is already noticeable, in others it is practically invisible. It depends on hereditary factors and individual characteristics, so there is no need to worry.

It's time to update your wardrobe, as many items of clothing become small at the waist. You should not tight your belly tightly, it is better to give preference to free models. If a woman wears trousers, you need to buy those that have a wide elastic band.

The feeling of nausea and fatigue, which tormented in the first months, appear less and less. Sometimes it is difficult for an expectant mother to fall asleep, this is due to the fact that it becomes more and more difficult to choose a sleeping position. The tummy interferes with taking a comfortable position, and the woman is worried about harming the child.

At the seventeenth week of pregnancy, problems with the gastrointestinal tract may begin. The enlarged uterus compresses the adjacent organs, which causes heartburn, increased gas production, and constipation.

Abdominal pain and discharge

Pain at 17 weeks of gestation should not occur. A pulling sensation in the lower abdomen can be a sign of uterine hypertonicity. This violation should be urgently corrected, as it can lead to miscarriage.

What symptoms need to be paid attention to:

• discharge mixed with blood;
• bleeding;
• increased tone of the uterus (abdominal petrification);
• pain in the lower abdomen and lower back;
• discharge of amniotic fluid.

When these signs appear, you need to urgently visit your doctor or call an ambulance. The hospital uses medication, referral to maintain pregnancy.

To prevent the threat of miscarriage, the pregnant woman should rest more. You can not lift weights, be nervous. The rest of the family should protect the expectant mother from unpleasant emotions and help her around the house.

She may be bothered by slight pain in the lumbar region. This is caused by the displacement of the pelvic bones, increasing the load on the spine. Gymnastics for pregnant women will help to cope with unpleasant symptoms. Exercises can be done on their own after consulting a specialist or go to special classes for expectant mothers.

The discharge remains light, but may become a little heavier. If the color, consistency or smell has changed, you need to consult a gynecologist. During this period, immunity often decreases, which is why thrush often occurs. The disease is caused by a fungal pathogen, so it must be treated immediately so as not to harm the child.

Stirring fetus

A pregnant woman at the seventeenth week of a row may not feel movement, but this should not scare her. Usually at this time they are felt by those who already have children.

Mothers describe the first tremors as the touch of the wings of a small butterfly or kitten. The baby becomes active when the mother is nervous or uncomfortable lying down. He protests violently, and calms down after changing the pose. You will need to count the movements from week 28. The rate of movements for the seventeenth has not yet been established.

Analyzes and medical examinations

Before a scheduled visit to a gynecologist, a general urine test must be taken, which shows the presence of glucose, protein and pathogenic bacteria. In the case of pathology, the doctor prescribes treatment.

Ultrasound diagnostics are prescribed only in exceptional situations when there are concerns about the health of the baby and the expectant mother. Additional research prescribed by a doctor will not harm the pregnant woman and the child, so you should not avoid it.

Genetic screening is a very important examination during this period. It cannot be done in the early weeks of pregnancy. On the 17th, it shows the presence of mutations in the fetal chromosomes (Down syndrome, Edwards, Patau and de Lange syndrome). If the test is positive, doctors suggest an abortion.

What to do, the woman must decide for herself. Recently, many mothers have made a choice in favor of giving birth to special children. The advanced achievements of medicine help such children to live fully, develop, achieve success in creativity and science. There are correctional centers, communities and educational programs created specifically to adapt children with Down syndrome. If before they lived only up to 17-25 years, now up to 50-60.

What are the risks during this period?

Placental insufficiency may develop at 17 weeks. It leads to a delay in the development of the baby. The risk of a frozen pregnancy remains, but it is already significantly lower than at the beginning of the term. It is possible to determine a frozen pregnancy by the small size of the uterus, which does not meet the accepted standards. Bloody discharge may appear, the fetal heartbeat cannot be heard.

Negative factors contribute to the disruption of the normal course of pregnancy. These are infectious and chronic diseases, fetal malformations, bad habits of the mother, poisoning, etc.

Throughout pregnancy, a woman should carefully monitor her condition, follow all the doctor's recommendations and lead a correct lifestyle. This will help the mother to bear a healthy baby, feel vigorous and active. If you experience unpleasant or frightening symptoms, you should definitely see a doctor.

The woman becomes very vulnerable. She should not visit crowded places, public transport during rush hour, noisy events. In such an environment, she may be pushed. Trauma is a common cause of miscarriage. The expectant mother should be surrounded by peace and quiet, love and care of loved ones.

You need to regularly walk in the fresh air, in the park, and often ventilate the room. This will help not only normalize sleep, but also have a beneficial effect on the baby's condition.

It is advisable to start attending school for future parents. It is recommended to do this with dad, because he also has to take care of the baby.

Features in nutrition

The diet should be formulated in such a way that it contains all the necessary vitamins and minerals. You don't have to go to a professional dietitian to do this. It is enough to enrich your menu with fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy products, lean meat and fish, cereals. You need to eat in small portions at least 5 times a day.

Excessive salt intake should be avoided, because it retains fluid in the body, resulting in edema. Completely exclude harmful foods, fried, smoked, fatty foods. They not only load the digestive tract, but also lead to rapid weight gain. If you want something sweet, you need to opt for natural products - honey, marshmallows, marshmallows, dried fruits.

During this period, the body weight of the expectant mother must be strictly monitored. Reduced physical activity and good appetite lead to the fact that she begins to rapidly gain extra pounds. This will have a bad effect on the well-being of the woman and the health of the baby. The rate of increase is 300 grams per week.

Physical activity of the expectant mother

Seventeen weeks is a good time to attend special classes for expectant mothers. It is allowed to go to the pool, go to yoga, aerobics, dancing, where you can find friends with the same interests, have a good time and chat. Physical activity should be moderate but regular.

It is easier for fit, physically developed women to give birth. They note that sports activities during pregnancy helped them to keep in shape, to return it faster after childbirth. Exercise helps speed up metabolism and oxygenates the blood.

During classes, you need to avoid sudden movements, heavy loads. If you feel unwell, dizziness, you should immediately stop the exercise and rest.

Intimate relationship

When asked whether it is possible to have sex during this period, doctors answer in the affirmative. Provided that the woman feels good and there is no threat of interruption. With hypertonicity of the uterus, it is better to forget about intimate relationships until the baby is born.

A woman's libido can increase significantly. This is due to the fact that the blood supply increases in the pelvic organs. Partners need to choose the most comfortable posture that should not injure the stomach or cause inconvenience to the expectant mother.

At this time, men have a fear of intimacy, because the tummy is already large enough. They are afraid to harm the baby. However, the husband's fears are unfounded. Neat, affectionate communication with your wife will not only not harm, but will also improve the woman's condition. Positive emotions from intimacy will be passed on to the baby, because he feels the mood of the mother.

The use of drugs and medical procedures

Medicines and medical procedures are prescribed by a physician for good reason. Specialists strive to bypass all negative symptoms without the use of medications, because many of them can harm the baby.

However, there are fewer drug bans in the second trimester. If absolutely necessary, the gynecologist can still recommend a course of therapy. Usually appointed:

• with heartburn - Almagel, Rennie;
• with hypertonicity of the uterus - Dyufaston, Utrozhestan, Papaverine (we recommend reading: why is Utrozhestan prescribed in the second trimester of pregnancy?);
• one-time bouts of increased tone relieves No-Shpa;
• to normalize the emotional state - preparations based on valerian and motherwort, Magne-B6.

To use these funds, the recommendation of an observing doctor is required. Self-medication during pregnancy is unacceptable, even some folk recipes can harm the expectant mother and baby.

Skin care

The following skin problems occur during pregnancy:

• age spots (appear after exposure to the sun);
• rashes due to hormonal imbalance and malnutrition;
• stretch marks on the body due to the rapid growth of the abdomen and weight gain.

After the baby is born, facial skin problems disappear on their own. However, it is also possible to eliminate them during pregnancy. The appearance of age spots can be prevented by using sunscreen. When acne occurs, you need to exclude allergenic foods from the diet, balance your diet.

Special creams will help prevent stretch marks on the skin of the abdomen, chest, arms. They need to be applied regularly from the second trimester of pregnancy. Well-hydrated skin is less prone to scarring. You can buy a cream for stretch marks at a pharmacy, preference should be given to well-known brands.

Some women find that their skin and hair are better than ever during pregnancy. Folk omens say that when carrying a girl, she takes the beauty from her mother, and with boys, on the contrary, a woman blooms.

17 weeks pregnant is the fifth obstetric month. If you look at the weeks, 113-119 days have passed since conception. The seventeenth week of pregnancy is considered one of the easiest. If there are no complications, the woman feels great. The baby continues to grow, accordingly, the load on the body of the expectant mother also increases. But all these changes occur gradually, causing little or no discomfort. During this period, you just need to enjoy life and your position.

Fetal development at 17 weeks of gestation. What does a child look like

During this period, the main task of the crumbs is to prepare for a future life outside the mother's body.

What happens to a baby at 17 weeks pregnant? There are such physiological changes in the development of the baby:

• The baby's immune system begins to work: in a small body, interferon and immunoglobulin are independently produced. But do not forget about the importance of prevention and do everything possible to prevent infection with infectious diseases.
• Fat begins to form under the baby's skin. In the future, this will contribute to the regulation of thermoregulation and heat exchange processes in the body.
• The heart of the crumbs is almost formed and pumps up to one liter of blood in an hour.
• The pituitary gland begins to work.
• The adrenal glands successfully cope with the function of producing hormones.
• The baby already has real nails, hairs are beginning to appear.
• In girls, the uterus begins to form, and the ovaries descend into the hip cavity.
• There is a process of laying the baby's permanent teeth.
• The bronchi begin to divide into thin tubules, which will eventually end in alveoli.
• If earlier the function of hematopoiesis was the main function of the child's liver, now it is becoming an organ of the digestive system. Bile production begins.
• The baby's blood at the 17th week of pregnancy contains all the necessary cells: erythrocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes.
• Neurons continue their active formation: in one second, more than five thousand nerve cells are formed.

Photo of the tummy. Belly at 17 weeks pregnant

The weight of the baby (fetus) at 17 weeks of gestation is 115-160 grams. In size, it now corresponds to an open palm; the size of the fruit is about 18-20 cm. It is not difficult for him to distinguish the voices that come from outside. If the baby hears sharp and loud noises, then his reaction is manifested by spontaneous movements.

What happens to a baby at 17 weeks pregnant? He shows his curiosity and activity. It is during this period that a small miracle can occur, and the expectant mother will feel the first movements of her baby - at the 17th week of pregnancy. The baby's movements during this period are becoming more and more coordinated.

He has already excelled in the processes of swallowing, sucking, stretching and spitting. It is also quite easy for him to spread his fingers on the arms and legs, rotate them, yawn or turn his head. He can grab the umbilical cord, play with it. The length of the umbilical cord is about half a meter and the thickness is 2 centimeters.

At 17 weeks of gestation, the muscles of the baby's back and neck contract. The head can be raised and taken upright. The arms are fully bent at the elbow joint, the fingers are compressed into fists.

The emotional state of the expectant mother is of great importance: the baby feels the mood of the mother. Negative emotions have a very detrimental effect on the state of the baby's body. Therefore, it is necessary to take care of the mental health of the baby. It will be useful to talk with him, sing a lullaby, even just tell some good news. It is desirable that dad also actively communicate with the child. The kid is already able to distinguish the voices of loved ones.

Analyzes and examinations

If the pregnancy proceeds without complications, there is no need for any clinical tests. They can be prescribed if the expectant mother suffers from pyelonephritis or anemia.

Ultrasound is mostly not performed this week, except in cases with serious indications. If it is carried out, it is already possible to observe the child's movements: if he does not sleep, you can see how he plays with the umbilical cord, moves his arms and legs, grimaces. It is too early to determine the sex of the child, mistakes are possible.

Genetic screening is done at 17 weeks of gestation. It helps to identify chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus, assess the health of the mother and make a forecast of gestation. If screening is unfavorable, a more detailed repeat ultrasound is performed.

Photo of ultrasound at 17 weeks of pregnancy

17 weeks pregnant. Mom's feelings

17th week of pregnancy is the period when mom feels a surge of strength and vivacity. One of the reasons for this is the ability to see the movements of the baby during the ultrasound procedure.

What happens at the 17th week of pregnancy in the body of the expectant mother? The following physiological changes are observed:

1. The mother's womb continues to grow, becoming the size of a small melon. Its weight reaches a quarter of a kilogram, as does the weight of the amniotic fluid. The uterus continues to move the internal organs, freeing up space for further growth of the baby.
2. The fundus of the uterus is 3-5 cm below the level of the navel and becomes spherical.
3. The breasts become tender and continue to swell. The blood flow increases, which causes the appearance of veins in the mammary glands.
4. The formation of the placenta ends. Now it looks like a pancake, 2.5 cm thick and weighing about 0.5 kg. The placenta is permeated with blood vessels, with the help of which the baby is provided with all the necessary nutrients and oxygen. It also promotes the elimination of processed foods.
5. The heart is under a tremendous burden, increasing by about 40%, since it has to serve two organisms. It is because of work in such an emergency mode that sometimes the vessels do not withstand and bleeding from the gums or nose occurs. Those expectant mothers who have varicose veins or other vascular diseases should be especially careful.
6. At the 17th week of pregnancy, intestinal problems are possible, manifested in the form,, bloating, etc. Ailments are associated with an increase in the pressure of the uterus on the intestines.