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Week 19
How Big
is the Baby at 19 Weeks Pregnant?
By pregnancy week 19 your baby
may be as big as 6 inches long and may weigh up to 7 ounces! Between 19 weeks
pregnant and the time you deliver your baby will increase in size by more than
15 times! The growth that occurs during pregnancy week by week from here on out
is truly remarkable.
Your Baby's Growth
and Development
By pregnancy week 19
your baby is starting to produce meconium, the baby's first bowel movement. When
your baby is born she will start passing meconium the first few days of life.
Meconium is very normal but can sometimes turn dangerous. Typically when babies
are developing they ingest and then excrete amniotic fluid every day. Meconium
is a combination of this build-up of material including amniotic fluid that
occurs during pregnancy. Typically it is greenish-black in color and tarry upon
excretion. Usually your baby will pass this after delivery. There is however a
risk if your baby passes meconium while you are still pregnant. Usually this is
a sign of fetal distress. Meconium passed in utero can mix with amniotic fluid
and sometimes get into the baby's lungs, which can cause complications after
delivery including pneumonia.
Typically the only way to tell if the baby
has passed meconium is after the birth. When your water breaks if the water is
clear your baby should be fine. If your baby has passed meconium the amniotic
fluid may be yellowish or greenish. Your healthcare provider will use a DeLee
suction to remove the meconium from your baby's airway prior to their first
breath, to prevent aspiration of the meconium in the respiratory system.
There is no way to influence whether or not your baby will pass meconium
in utero. The good news is that most babies do not, so you shouldn't worry about
it. Your healthcare provider will be well equipped to handle the situation
should it arise at delivery.
Your baby is also producing vernix during
19 weeks pregnant, which is a white sticky substance that covers your baby's
skin to protect it from it's environment. Remember your baby is packed in fluid
for nine months. The vernix will keep your baby's skin looking soft and supple.
By pregnancy 19 weeks your baby's brain is also forming pockets to
specialize in smell, taste, hearing, vision and even touch. By pregnancy week 19
if you are having a girl she already has produced six million eggs in her
ovaries, though this number will decrease by 4 million by the time your newborn
baby is born.
Your Growth and
Development
By 19 weeks pregnant your uterus should now be just
below your belly button. You may notice that your lower abdomen is somewhat achy
due to its increased size and pulling on the round ligaments. Round ligament
pain is a very common discomfort at 19 weeks of pregnancy
Changes in
You
It is not uncommon to find your
balance shifting during pregnancy at 19 weeks. Remember your center of gravity
is off. You may notice it is more difficult to walk down or up hill with your
changing center of gravity. You may also start feeling dizzy or lightheaded,
which is a fairly common side effect of pregnancy. Typically you'll notice these
symptoms when you change posture, a condition referred to as postural
hypotension. This is low blood pressure that results from a change in position,
such as a sudden leap from sitting to standing.
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