Pregnancy Week 17 - Pregnancy Week by Week Development

• Take your prenatal vitamin medications and balanced diet regularly
• Stay hygienic, wear clean clothes
• Distinct facial features of your baby on a sonogram can be noticed
• Baby would have developed the ability to hear voices, so you can talk to it

Pregnancy Week 17 - Pregnancy Week by Week Development

By the Week 17 of pregnancy, you are by and large quite relaxed because of your body’s adjustment to the hormonal and physical changes. Now onwards, each week or month will show different symptoms in you. Your prescribed medicines can result in rashes and allergies in this week.

Do not get any over the counter medication for such problems. It should always be done after consultation with your doctor because they know how your body is coping with pregnancy week by week. Only a few over the counter medicines are harmless during pregnancy. You need to keep your blood sugar up in this condition with small snacks throughout the day.

It would also be advisable to avoid standing or even sitting at one place for long periods of time. It may make you feel like cramping. Keep changing positions frequently. If you ever feel dizzy, lie down and put your feet up.

Body Changes in Pregnancy Week 17 – What to Expect?

• By now, you would be showing the bump in your belly that is so characteristic of pregnancy
• The growth of abdomen shifts the other internal organs to make way for the baby
• The uterus will start to move up your intestines and also to the side of the abdomen
• You feel the uterus while standing rather than when lying
• The sciatic nerve of a pregnant woman during week 17 can get aggravated. This is the nerve that runs from the uterus to the foot
• If you stand for a long time, the baby will put pressure on this nerve and aggravate it. This can be avoided by putting a pillow between your legs when sleeping at night. This is particularly helpful in the next stages of pregnancy

• You are likely to increase secretions as blood is increased in the body
• You might feel congested because blood flow to the mucus membrane is increased
• Vaginal discharges are also normal
• You should never forget to consult your doctors and unburden yourself from all concerns. By this time, you would have adjusted yourself to this condition and the movement of baby would make you feel blessed
• What would add to the feeling of blessedness are your baby’s sonograms. It is really good to look at your baby
• The doctor would do an Amniocentesis test at this stage to check for birth defects. It involves inserting a needle in the uterus for a sample of amniotic fluid
• This can be risky because if the needle strays from its mark, it can cause miscarriage. Let the doctor know about 
• these concerns of yours

Baby’s development in pregnancy week 17

• By this time, the baby’s height would be 6 and half inches long and weigh about 4 ounces
• You would be able to notice distinct facial features of your baby on a sonogram
• The baby’s eyes can be seen fully formed too but they are always closed
• Skeletal development of the baby also starts
• The bones will become more flexible to aid in baby’s travel through the birth canal. A protective covering will be formed on baby called vernix
• The baby would also have developed the ability to hear voices and can be startled by a loud noise

Advice for Pregnancy Week 17

• Your prenatal vitamin medications and balanced diet become more important from week 17
• You need to take special care for staying hygienic, wearing clean clothes, changing clothes if it is drenched in sweat and take more baths than before to prevent infections
• Since there is a lot of testing that needs to be done, you should clear all your doubts by asking questions from your doctor
• Amniocentesis (in which needle need to be inserted into uterus) is not compulsory and you can ask your partner to get it done or not
• It is very helpful in determining birth defects. Include your partner as much as possible in the decision making or just in everyday routine as many changes occur at this stage of pregnancy and they are likely to increase in the upcoming months