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Week 17
How Big is the Baby at 17
Weeks Pregnant?
Your baby is anywhere from 4.4 to 4.8 inches by
pregnancy week 17 and weighs almost 3 ½ ounces! If you were to hold your baby at
17 weeks pregnant, she would fit snuggly in the palm of your hand. Your baby is
about the size of a small pomegranate by pregnancy 17 weeks.
Your Baby's Growth and Development
Your
baby during week 17 is now very mobile, gleefully moving his joints here, there
and everywhere and will continue to do so as you continue your pregnancy week by
week. The cartilage making up the skeleton in your baby's body is starting to
transform into bone. At pregnancy 17 weeks time your baby should be hearing
things. Your baby will start putting on some layers of fat in the weeks to come,
though at this point in time your baby is made up of primarily water.
You may be feeling your baby move intermittently after pregnancy week
17, though as your pregnancy progresses you will likely start feeling your baby
move more and more.
There are many natural health practitioners that
believe in the power of touch. Though your little one is still very small, your
touch may do much to help him feel safe and warm inside the womb. If you haven't
started already, you might consider rubbing your 'pooch' in calming circular
motions. This will not only help comfort your little one, but will help initiate
the bonding process with you and your newborn baby throughout your pregnancy and
after.
Other women find comfort when playing music to their unborn
children. There is evidence suggesting that your baby responds to music even
while in the womb. Thus, there is no harm in playing some calm and engaging
music to your baby even while they are in the womb.
Your Growth and Development
At 17 weeks
pregnant your uterus will start changing shape as your pregnancy progresses, to
resemble a large egg instead of a round ball. It will gradually grow to inhabit
most of your pelvis and abdomen. While this happens your organs, including your
intestines get pushed to the sides. By this point in time you will likely be
showing a little bit, though some women are still able to hide their pregnancies
for many weeks to come.
By pregnancy at 17 weeks your uterus should now be
about 1.5 to 2 inches below your bellybutton, so you should be showing a little
in your lower abdomen
Changes in
You
You are probably steadily gaining some weight by 17 weeks
pregnant. Most women welcome the feel of their baby moving by this week in
pregnancy, but movements are still fairly erratic and won't seem regular for a
few more weeks.
You may be having more vaginal discharge now. Many women
have more vaginal discharge during pregnancy. The increased vaginal discharge is
referred to as leucorrhoea, it is odorless and a milky or clear color that is
normal during pregnancy. Part of the reason you produce more is your body's
increased estrogen production and more blood flow in the genital area.
You will actually notice even more vaginal discharge during the latter
half of your pregnancy. Sometimes it is difficult to discern whether you are
leaking discharge or amniotic fluid. Typically amniotic fluid will be more clear
and abundant. If you are not certain if your discharge is normal, or if it is
bloody at all you should contact your healthcare provider right away, as this
might be a sign of pre-term labor.
The best thing to do in order to
address excessive vaginal discharge is wear panty liners to absorb it. Tampons
aren't safe to use. Avoid douching as well, as this can introduce air into the
vagina, which may seriously complicate your pregnancy. Douching can also
increase your risk of contracting vaginal infections or vaginitis.
If
you are having discharge that is accompanied by itching or burning you might
have a yeast infection. Foul smelling discharge may also be a sign of a sexually
transmitted infection or other vaginal disorder. It is important that you
contact your health care provider if you think you may be suffering from any of
these conditions so you can acquire the appropriate treatment.
It is
important if you work in a stressful environment that you start taking measures
to reduce your stress level. Stress can have a devastating impact on pregnancy
and childbirth.
There are actually some studies that suggest that stress
can contribute to complications during pregnancy, including preterm labor. Some
studies have also indicated that high levels of stress particularly between
weeks 18 and 20 can result in higher levels of a hormone called
corticotropin-releasing hormone, which has been linked to preterm labor. This
hormone may promote your body to release prostaglandins, which may result in
contractions. Thus it is critical you do everything possible to limit your
stress whenever possible.
Some stress simply can't be avoided. However
there are many things you can do to cope with the ordinary stress that occurs in
life during pregnancy. The most important things for you to do include taking
care of yourself, resting as much as possible and taking the time to exercise
when you can.
Remember that stress can also cause you to behave erratically,
particularly during pregnancy. If you find yourself overly worried, talk to your
healthcare provider. They might recommend some classes for you to take to help
you cope with your situation. Prenatal yoga and meditation are two wonderful
alternatives for dealing with stress during pregnancy. Be sure you also
communicate your needs to your partner who can help you relax and address
unnecessary stress during pregnancy.
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