Pregnancy And Baby Care Week By Week Pregnancy 17 Weeks Pregnant

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Most of this additional weight is a factor of an increase in body fluids like blood and body tissue – such as the breasts. The rest will be the increase in body weight of the baby as it continues to grow within the womb.

Pregnancy Week 17 Symptoms

You will experience some of the symptoms associated with this growth in the baby – as the womb grows bigger, there will be added pressure on your back leading to a dull back ache. While accommodating for the child, the muscles in the stomach get cramped in a confined space and there can be symptoms of stomach aches, uneasiness and indigestion. Some of the other symptoms include bleeding gums – this is because of the increase in the level of your blood: you can apply cloves to the affected area for relief, swelling of the feet – you need to rest your feet in an elevated position: such as a pillow or cushion etc.

Try and stay away from heavy medication to help get relief from these symptoms as you do not want to take the chance of affecting the infant with heavy allopathic medication. Additionally, with the hormonal imbalance, there can be a chance you will experience mood swings from time to time. Your ultrasound will show that your baby is now the size of a big pear and if held, can fit into the palm of your hand. It is in week 17 that fat will begin to appear in the baby. The amount of fat is usually 5% of the total body weight and this will help in regulation of the body heat. On an average, the baby is 5 inches long and weighs 5 – 6 ounces.

Pregnancy is a challenging yet wonderful period in the life of a woman. Most women experience nausea and vomiting during pregnancy due to the production of the hormone hCG. These symptoms usually wear off by the end of the first trimester of pregnancy but it is not unusual for women to experience these symptoms at 17 weeks of pregnancy as well. Food cravings and aversions are also common during pregnancy. The presence of high levels of estrogen and progesterone in the body is known to cause mood swings as well as fatigue and insomnia. Some women are also known to experience an inability to concentrate on work as well as suffer from depression as a result of the surge in hormones. Breast tenderness and fullness are also a part and parcel of pregnancy due to the hormonal changes and the kindled mammary glands. Dizziness and fainting spells may also be experienced at this time. 17 weeks pregnant symptoms include prominently visible veins in various parts of the body mainly the breasts, the abdomen and the legs due to quickened blood circulation and the increased volume of blood in the body. The uterus continues to expand to accommodate the growing baby. The increase in size as well as weight of the baby exerts pressure on the ligaments holding the uterus in place. This causes light abdominal cramping and discomfort, especially experienced on either side of the uterus. Lower back pain is another common 17 weeks pregnant sign. The increase in weight causes joint pain and body aches. The pressure exerted by the uterus on the main blood vessels in the abdomen and lower back also result in leg cramps. At times, the sciatica nerve gets pressed causing sharp pain that travels down the thighs, to the feet. With the various physical changes setting in, finding a comfortable position to sleep in may also become difficult. 17 weeks pregnancy symptoms also include a fluttering feeling within the uterus as the baby becomes more active and swims around in the amniotic sac. However, most women do not feel these movements until the 20th week. Nose bleeds are common 17 weeks pregnant signs due to the increased pressure of blood on the nasal membranes. At this stage urinary tract infections also become common due to the bacteria that accumulate in the urinary tract owing to the slow excretion of urine due to the pressure exerted by the expanding uterus on the ureters.

17 Weeks Pregnant Ultrasound

An ultrasound is the best method of accessing the status of a pregnancy as it reveals what is happening within the uterus. Most doctors recommend a 17 weeks pregnant ultrasound to rule out any deformities in the developing baby. These deformities may include a malformation of certain organs, deformity in body structure or complications related to a chromosomal imbalance in the baby. Thus, ultrasounds help in preparing for the birth of a special needs child or deciding upon the fate of the pregnancy. On the other hand, a pregnancy complication related to conditions like ectopic or molar pregnancies would also be detected by an ultrasound. In such cases, sonogram reports help in averting serious health hazards for the expectant mother.

A 17 weeks pregnant ultrasound may also be recommended to find the cause of vaginal bleeding, if any. The position of the placenta, the condition of the amniotic sac and amniotic fluid, the status of the cervix and overall uterine condition can also be checked with the help of a sonogram. Furthermore, a 17 weeks pregnancy ultrasound helps in calculating the gestational age of the unborn baby as well as estimating its due date. It enables accurate measurements of the body structure to rule out physical deformities. The ultrasound also picks up the developing baby’s heartbeat to check if the baby is in distress. A 17 weeks pregnant 3d also helps in ascertaining if the growth of the baby is in proportion to the gestational age. The baby is approximately 150 grams in weight and around 14 centimeters from crown to rump. At 17 weeks of gestation, the baby is rather active in the womb and has already started sucking its thumb, swallowing amniotic fluid and producing fetal poop called meconium. The baby’s cartilage structure is now becoming stronger as it hardens to form bone.

17 Weeks Pregnant Weight Gain

Weight gain is an inevitable element of pregnancy. Most women tend to worry about their physical appearance owing to weight gain but have little or no control over the way their body will change over the course of the next few weeks. In some women, 17 weeks pregnant weight gain may not show as the weight gets evenly distributed throughout the body. On the other hand, a pregnant belly may begin to show in some expectant women. 17 weeks baby weight gain is known to show much faster in women who are short in stature. 17 weeks pregnancy weight gain is usually around 5 to 10 pounds from the time of conception. The 17th week falls in the second trimester of pregnancy and women are known to gain approximately half a pound per week during this trimester. It is essential for women to maintain a record of weight gain so as to keep a check on excess weight gain. On the other hand, an expectant mother may need to put on more weight if the weight gain is not sufficient to meet the requirements of the pregnancy. Owing to a sluggish digestive system, the consumption of 5 to 6 light meals throughout the day is recommended. A good balance of various nutrients is essential for the proper development of the baby. Folic acid supplements, calcium, iron and omega 3 fatty acids are specifically recommended for the health of the baby. The mother would also need to concentrate on building up her immune system to be able to fight off infections. Munching on dry fruits, fresh fruits and salads is perfect for this purpose. These foods are also easier to digest. The consumption of plenty of water is also crucial for better metabolism, maintaining the blood volume in the body and for the prevention of dehydration and water retention. Regular walks aid digestion as well as keep the mother fit and flexible while preventing excessive weight gain.

Bleeding during pregnancy is more often than not a cause of concern and consulting a doctor is highly recommended. By the 5th week of pregnancy, the implantation process is completed and the fertilized egg is firmly attached to the uterine wall. During the implantation process, light bleeding may be experienced but it ceases on successful implantation. Some women mistake bleeding at 17 weeks to be implantation bleeding. However, 17 weeks implantation bleeding is impossible. Similarly, menstrual periods cease on implantation. Hence, 17 weeks pregnancy period is also not viable. Therefore, 17 weeks pregnant bleeding must be taken seriously as it could be indicating a serious pregnancy complication. In some cases, 17 weeks bleeding during pregnancy may be the result of an incompetent cervix. Light bleeding called spotting, may be a result of ruptured blood vessels in the cervix. Heavy 17 weeks pregnant bleeding, especially if accompanied by backache, abdominal pain and clots, may be indicative of inevitable pregnancy loss.