17 Weeks Pregnant

16 Weeks Pregnant18 Weeks Pregnant

What to Expect When You are 17 Weeks Pregnant

Summary: When you are 17 weeks pregnant, you body and the baby will go through a lot of changes. The baby is growing at a rapid rate and you will start to experience some unexpected symptoms.

When you are 17 weeks pregnant, your baby is in a stage of rapid growth. On an average, the baby should be about 15 inches now from head to bottom and weigh about 5 ounces. In other words, the baby should weigh about the same as a turnip. The baby’s skeleton is also changing now. The soft cartilage is slowly changing into bone. The umbilical cord which connects the baby to the life-giving placenta is also strengthening. It is growing both thicker and stronger. With stronger bones the baby is able to move the arms and legs at the joints. Even sweat glands are now forming on the baby’s skin. You can see pictures of a baby at 17 weeks by simply doing a search online. It is important to remember, though that each baby grows at a different pace. So, the baby pictures on the Internet will only give you a rough idea about how the baby will look like at 17 weeks.

Your body will also go through a lot of changes when you are 17 weeks pregnant. As your belly grows you might start to feel a bit unsteady. This is because as the baby grows and you experience some weight gain, your center of gravity will shift. Therefore, it is important to make sure that you don’t lose your balance and fall. Any injury to the abdomen can be very hazardous for both you and the baby. So, try wearing low-heeled shoes at this time so that you can keep your balance. Also make sure to wear a seatbelt when you are travelling in a car. Put the lower strap of the seatbelt below your belly, and make sure the upper strap goes securely across your chest. A regular ultrasound at this is important to make sure that the baby is growing properly.

When you are 17 weeks pregnant, you might start to get some weird symptoms. Knowing what to expect will help you to deal with the different symptoms as they appear. Some women do experience some dryness in their eyes. This is completely natural and can be dealt with by some over-the-counter eye drops. If you wear contact lenses then you might experience some itchiness due to the sudden dryness. One solution might be to wear your contact lenses for a short time period, and opt for glasses during the time that you are pregnant.

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