At week 17 you might be starting to feel your growing baby moving about.
How Big Is Your Baby at 17 Weeks?
When you’re 17 weeks pregnant, your baby is the size of a pear! At this stage, your baby might measure just over five inches long, crown to rump, and weigh about five ounces.
17 Weeks Pregnant Is How Many Months?
If you’re 17 weeks pregnant, you’re in month 4 of your pregnancy. Only 5 months left to go! Still have questions? Here’s some more information on how weeks, months and trimesters are broken down in pregnancy.
Your life at 17 weeks pregnant
As your belly grows, your center of gravity changes, so you may begin to occasionally feel a little unsteady on your feet. Try to avoid situations with a high risk of falling. Wear low-heeled shoes to reduce your risk of taking a tumble. You’ll also want to be sure to buckle up when you’re in a car – keep the lap portion of the seat belt under your belly, drawn snugly across your hips, and use the shoulder harness, which should fit snugly between your breasts.
You may also notice your eyes becoming drier. Using over-the-counter lubricating drops may help. If your contact lenses become uncomfortable, try wearing them for shorter stretches of time. If you still have discomfort, switch to glasses until after you give birth.
Signs /Symptoms at 17 Weeks Pregnant
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Heartburn:
Some mums-to-be can suffer with heartburn a lot during they pregnancy. Caused by hormones that relax muscles and ligaments in the body, the valve at the top of the stomach is relaxed allowing stomach acids to escape back into the gullet which leaves you with a burning sensation in your chest. If you suffer with it at night, it’s better to get up and sit upright or stand to allow it to settle as lying flat can be the worst thing and don’t lie flat for a minimum of two hours after you’ve eaten. Stand up and walk around to encourage your digestive juices to flow in the right direction.
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Hemorrhoids:
Hemorrhoids are essentially veins in the rectum that have become over-dilated due to increased blood volume and flow in the pelvic area. Though hemorrhoids are more common later in pregnancy, it’s smart to take steps now to help prevent them, such as following a high-fiber diet, drinking plenty of water, and getting regular exercise. And if you’re looking for ways to soothe hemorrhoids, try soaking in a warm bath (without soap or bubble bath) and avoid sitting for long periods of time. Contact your healthcare provider right away if you have severe pain or bleeding.
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Stretch marks:
Don’t think it’s only at the end of your pregnancy you may have stretch marks, the truth is they can start to appear a lot earlier. Early stretch marks appear pink in color and may also be itchy. Darker skinned women tend to have stretch marks that are lighter than the surrounding skin. Caused by a combination of, yep, you’ve guessed it, hormone changes as well as the physical stretch of the skin that occurs in pregnancy. The skin has less time to adjust to these changes and expands faster causing the skin to ‘tear’ and this is what we know as a stretch mark. Stretch marks can start to appear in your second trimester (even in your first trimester if your breasts grow quickly). Stretch marks may enlarge and grow in length and become red or purple in color. After pregnancy they may begin to fade and become pale white or silver.
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Faintness or Dizziness:
Dehydration can cause dizziness, so make sure you stay hydrated by drinking at least eight glasses of water a day (aim to drink more than that if you’ve been exercising).
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Itchy or sensitive skin:
At 17 weeks pregnant, your belly and breasts are still growing, and the skin is stretching, which can sometimes lead to stretch marks and itching. Although you can’t completely prevent stretch marks from appearing, you can help reduce the itchiness by drinking lots of water and applying moisturizer to your skin in the mornings and evenings.
Tips For The Week
- Get a professional bra fitting at your local lingerie or department store. You’ll want to make sure you’re wearing the most comfortable bras as your pregnancy progresses.
- Start a baby name shortlist.
- Hormones and milk-producing glands are developing to prepare for nursing. All of this activity, plus an increase in blood flow, can boost breast size up to three cups!
- You might start to get hot and bothered as a pregnant woman’s body temperature rises to 37.8 degrees C when it’s normally 37 degrees C
