17 Weeks Pregnant: Symptoms, Belly Size & Ultrasound

17 weeks pregnant is a milestone to celebrate and savor. Find out what to expect when you’re 17 weeks pregnant, find out whether you can feel baby yet and what your uterus looks like. What size is a 12-week-pregnant uterus? What are the 8th week symptoms? When does baby start to move?

Your baby at week 17 of pregnancy

Around this stage, your baby’s ears will emerge from his head, and he will be able to detect sounds. He has lots to listen to while in utero! He is accustomed to hearing your heart beating rapidly, blood streaming through your veins, and stomach growling. He can also distinguish external sounds, such as your speech and music. According to the Mayo Clinic, it is unclear whether he can distinguish the sound of your voice from other sounds.

By week 17, the majority of mothers report feeling fetal movement. Kick, you tiny one!

This week, your infant weighs about 5 ounces and is about 5 inches long (crown to rump). Approximately the size of a red onion.

17 weeks pregnant is how many months?

When you are 17 weeks pregnant, you are officially in 4 months of your pregnancy. Just another 5 months to go! Congratulations, you’ve already made great progress!

How big is your baby at 17 weeks pregnant?

At 17 weeks your baby, also known as a foetus, is currently about 150g in weight and around 12cm to 12.5 cm in length from head to bottom which is about the size of a pomegranate or potato and the weight of a ball of mozzarella. They are growing quickly and are about to have a growth spurt. They will roughly double in size over the next month.

17 weeks pregnant: baby’s development

The skin has sweat glands. By the time the fetus is 17 weeks old, its heart has already beat over 20 million times. Each day, the fetal heart pumps approximately 55 quarts of blood.

Multiple studies have shown that the fetus reacts to painful stimuli with a stress response that includes recoiling and a rise in circulating stress hormones that are distinct from the mother’s stress hormones.

Previously, the fetus would move away when something touched his face; however, the fetal now twists his head toward the object while simultaneously closing his mouth.

7 These motions signal the beginning of the rooting reflex, which enables a newborn to locate the mother’s nip while breastfeeding.

Fetus drinks amniotic fluid

Each day, the fetus consumes 2 to 7 mL of amniotic fluid. In comparison, the fetus consumes between 500 and 1000 mL of amniotic fluid daily during the final month of pregnancy. Similarly, during one week after birth, a newborn consumes approximately 500 mL of breastmilk or formula daily.

Eyes still developing

Even while eyelids are closed, the eyes continue to develop. The retina, located at the back of the eye, turns light into neural signals. It currently comprises several layers that separate cell types.

The retinas of animals are traversed by waves of spontaneous electrical activity. This enables the retinal cells to link to the visual cortex in the brain and organize inputs from the right and left eyes. Although these spontaneous retinal waves have never been recorded directly in a human fetus, it is likely that they begin about this age.

Your body at 17 weeks pregnant

Every time you visit the doctor or clinic, they will measure your blood sugar by dipping a strip of paper into a cup of your urine. Why are they checking my blood sugar levels? It’s to rule out the possibility of developing gestational diabetes, a disorder that affects 1%-2% of pregnant women. Women can have safe pregnancies and newborns when blood sugar levels are managed (via food and, in certain cases, medication).

Pregnancy Weight Gain and Other Symptoms

Every day, your body undergoes internal and external changes to make room for your unborn child. You may experience an increase in itching in the breasts and belly area as your skin stretches. As your body adapts to carrying a baby, you may notice that your back starts to hurt. Constriction of the digestive tract can cause discomfort in the form of heartburn, indigestion, and flatulence. Hormones during pregnancy might continue to mess with your emotions, which can lead to erratic mood swings.

Having Trouble Sleeping at 17 weeks Pregnant

Having difficulties sleeping is a common pregnant symptom, and it’s especially common in the second and third trimesters, when other pregnancy symptoms peak and a growing belly makes it difficult to find a comfortable sleeping position.

When you’re 17 weeks pregnant, it could hurt to sleep on your stomach, but studies indicates that lying on your back puts more strain on the vena cava, the main blood vessel that returns blood to the heart.

Your blood circulation will increase if you sleep on your left side, which will also be good for your uterus, kidneys, and fetus. If you’re having trouble falling asleep, try placing a pillow between your knees and another under your stomach. If the problem persists, consult your doctor.

17 weeks Pregnant: Wellness and Nutrition

What should you avoid during pregnancy? Doctors agree that you should avoid the following:

Activities that may cause you to fall, or that place pressure or force on your belly
Intense, overly vigorous exercise – if you’re too out of breath to talk, you’re probably exercising too hard.
Drinking alcohol, smoking, and caffeine (ask your doctor how much caffeine you should consume each day)

Sweeteners such as saccharine and herbal sweeteners (ask your doctor if artificial sweeteners are appropriate)
Prescription and over-the-counter medications (check with your doctor about what’s safe during pregnancy)
Paint, cleaning products, and solvents can expose you to chemicals and fumes. Acrylic and latex paints are generally considered safe. However, you should consult your doctor before helping around the house or in the nursery.
Saunas and hot tubs

Chemical treatments for your hair, such as dye and perms

Week 17 Unsightly Pregnancy Signs and symptoms

Your body undergoes many changes to give your baby-to-be enough room to grow. Some of these changes are comforting—your rounded belly and your full breasts, for example—while other signs can be troubling. Keep in mind that many of these physical changes will last only until your baby arrives.

Weight gain

You should expect to gain 25 to 35 pounds during your pregnancy. As distressing as weight gain can be for some women, those pounds are necessary for your growing baby. Much of the weight is extra fluids (such as blood), tissues (like your breasts), and of course, your baby. If you eat a sensible pregnancy diet and stay fit, you should be able to lose much of your pregnancy weight after your baby’s birth. (Some women are able to shed pounds in a matter of weeks; others need as much as a year to get their bodies back in shape).

Breast changes and tenderness

Tenderness and slight alterations in the shape of your breasts are common pregnancy symptoms around the 17th week. The hormones estrogen and progesterone are responsible for these alterations, which help your body get ready for breastfeeding after giving birth. You might find that your breasts are more sensitive to touch and feel fuller than usual.

Fatigue (constant tiredness or weakness)

One of the most typical symptoms of early pregnancy is fatigue, which frequently starts at this point. Although there are many causes of exhaustion during pregnancy (including changes in hormone levels), some research indicates that inadequate sleep brought on by nighttime awakenings from unpleasant sleeping positions may also be a role.

Heartburn or gas

There may be a rise in heartburn and flatulence during the 17th week of pregnancy. This is because progesterone produces a decrease in the tone of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) muscle, which typically prevents stomach acid from entering the esophagus. This can cause heartburn and discomfort by allowing stomach acid to flow back up into the esophagus. Try spreading your meals out more, staying away from items that are known to cause heartburn (such spicy foods), and drinking lots of water.

Mood swings and crying spells

The 17th week of pregnancy is a vulnerable time for women, when they are more likely to experience mood swings and crying spells. Until your hormone levels settle, this will have an impact on your mental and emotional well-being. This is a common occurrence for pregnant women; one study indicated that 75% of women felt emotional shifts like irritability or depression in the first trimester.

Food cravings, aversions, or both

During your 17th week of pregnancy, It’s common to crave foods that are high in protein, such as meat and cheese, which are essential for your baby’s development. You may also have strong aversions to certain foods, like vegetables or fruits that you normally enjoy eating but now find repulsive. This is normal—just make sure you don’t completely eliminate any food groups from your diet.

Pregnant stretch marks

In the 17th week of pregnancy, stretch marks, sometimes called striae gravidarum, may occur on the belly. Stretch marks form when the skin is forced apart and then stretched beyond its natural elasticity, as happens during rapid growth or weight gain (like pregnancy)

Indigestion, or constipation

During the 17th week of pregnancy, you may suffer gastrointestinal issues like indigestion or constipation. Pregnancy hormones like progesterone and estrogen might increase the likelihood of gastrointestinal issues including indigestion. These hormones slow down digestion by relaxing the digestive tract, preventing food from being swallowed whole. You can reduce the frequency and severity of indigestion during pregnancy by cutting out on high-fat and sugary foods and eating more often, smaller meals (like sweets or fried foods).

Swelling (edema)

Your body retains water to provide the necessary fluids for your growing baby-to-be. You can prevent much of this swelling from drinking plenty of fluids and keeping your legs up. You may also want to purchase socks designed to improve the circulation in your feet.

Bleeding gums

Your blood volume has increased dramatically to provide nutrients to your baby-to-be. This increase, along with swelling caused by pregnancy hormones, might make your gums bleed.

Skin spots

The skin’s pigmentation may deepen around certain parts of your body during pregnancy, such as your nipples and freckles. You may also notice spots of color on your face, called the mask of pregnancy or chloasma. These pigmentation changes will fade after your baby’s born.

No symptoms at 17 weeks pregnant

Yes, it is possible to be 17 weeks pregnant with no obvious signs of pregnancy at all! It’s important to remember that every pregnant lady is unique. If you’re one of the happy few who never gets morning sickness, for instance, you may relax and enjoy your pregnancy. But if you do have symptoms, you should definitely pay heed to them. If you are pregnant and have any health concerns, you should always consult your doctor.

17 weeks pregnant belly size (baby bumb)

When you’re 17 weeks pregnant, you’ll probably notice that you look more pregnant than you did before. Your 17 weeks pregnant belly size will be largely determined by how many pregnancies you’ve had.

It may take a while for you to develop a proper baby bump if this is your first pregnancy. In contrast, if you have had previous pregnancies, your muscles are more lax and you’ll show more of a 17 weeks pregnant bump.

Around this time, you may also notice a dark line running from your belly button to your pelvis. It’s known as “linea nigra”, and it’s completely normal among pregnant women. After delivery, it will fade, so don’t worry!

You will gain more weight than you did in the first trimester because your baby will need nutrients to grow and develop. To gain 1 pound per week, doctors recommend eating approximately 300 extra calories per day. During week 17 of pregnancy, you should be able to feel the uterus halfway between your pubic bone and your belly button.

17 weeks pregnant ultrasound

If you’re 17 weeks pregnant and planning on having a cordocentesis, you may be offered an ultrasound. This method examines blood taken from the umbilical cord for chromosomal abnormalities. The ultrasound helps the doctor locate the cord’s attachment to the placenta, which is where the blood will be drawn from.

The importance of prenatal vitamins during pregnancy

During pregnancy, you need a greater amount of folic acid and iron. Why? Here are some reasons:

Folic acid prevents neural tube defects

These defects affect the fetal brain and spinal cord in a significant way. Preferably, you should begin taking extra folic acid three months before you become pregnant.

The placenta and baby require iron to develop

The body uses iron to make blood to supply oxygen to the baby. Additionally, iron helps prevent anemia, a condition in which the blood lacks healthy red blood cells

It’s important to consult your doctor or healthcare provider to find out which are the best prenatal vitamins to take before pregnancy, and how to calculate your expected delivery date.