17 weeks pregnant

At the 17th week of pregnancy, 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. For more precise information on the timing, see a separate article.

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. It is now important for your baby to get enough calcium.

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 prone 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 already said about yourself "round" or even "fat" more than once. 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.

Heartburn. These are small bursts of gastric juice into the esophagus. They arise because the valve muscle separating these two organs is weakened.
A feeling of lack of air.
Heat transfer disorders, frequent feeling of heat.
The running to the toilet "on the small" again becomes more frequent.
Problems with a sense of balance: gait disturbances, slight swaying, dizziness.
Swelling of the legs, less often of the hands and face.
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.

Expectant mothers often note that they have very vivid, emotional and often erotic dreams. Why this is happening, 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 stomach 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. In this case, the center of gravity is slightly shifted. You may feel minor pain all over your back or along your spine.

Photos of tummies:

Be especially mindful of 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. Read about this complication here.

Medical supervision

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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.

Recommendations

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Follow all maternity nutritional guidelines. Your diet should be 30% vegetables and fruits. Eat fish, meat, cereals and dairy products. Sweets - only natural (marmalade, marshmallows).
With heartburn, drink jelly more often.
If you notice a tendency to be overweight, watch your weight especially strictly.
Avoid any jolts or sudden movements. Sit down, get up and walk smoothly, take care of your muscles and internal ligaments.
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.
Have a convulsion? Pull the toes of the affected leg 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 diet.
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.
Don't be in drafts, don't let yourself get cold. Even a slight hypothermia can provoke a cold with complications in the kidneys.
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.
Do not drink alcoholic beverages under any circumstances. Any traditions and customs in your position can be violated.
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.
Simple gymnastics will help your legs: move your feet in different directions and in a circle. Wear only cotton socks.
Even if your legs are not swollen or humming, lift them higher when you are sitting.
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.
Walk in parks, groves and woods whenever possible.
If your gums are bleeding, consult your doctor, he will select an individual product for the oral cavity.
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.
For intimate life, there are only basic prohibitions: lack of water, the threat of miscarriage or multiple pregnancies. In other cases, sex just has to be careful and non-aggressive.
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.
If you notice that you are becoming forgetful and distracted, start a special diary.
Don't be afraid of your motherly feelings. Perhaps now you don't care much, except for your own state. It's quite normal. Still, at work or while studying, be collected and attentive.