17th week of pregnancy: what month is it, what happens to mom, fetal development and sensations

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Pregnancy is a crucial period for a woman. During the entire period of gestation, there are numerous changes in the body of a pregnant woman. And the 17th week is no exception. Let's take a closer look, the 17th week of pregnancy - what month is it, what changes are taking place in the life of the mother and baby.

17th week of pregnancy

Pregnancy is a long-awaited period in the life of every woman. After two strips on the test, the countdown of the days until the birth and meeting with the baby begins. But gynecologists consider the gestational age not from the day of conception, but from the first day of the last menstruation.

The doctor considers the time of gestation not in months, but in weeks. Therefore, you can often hear the question, what month is it - the 17th week of pregnancy.

One month for obstetricians lasts 4 weeks. To accurately understand the time of pregnancy, the period set by the gynecologist should be simply divided by 4. And the answer to the question, the 17th week of pregnancy, what month it is, is simple - 4 months and a week. And before the expected birth remains about 20obstetric weeks.

Fetal development at week 17

At the beginning of the fifth month of gestation, the baby continues to actively develop. The 16-17th week of pregnancy is very important for the fetus. It is during this period that new stages of development take place. So, the beginning of the fifth month, or the 17th week of pregnancy. What happens to the baby during this period?

1. Immunity. In the fetus, the immune system is activated, interferon and immunoglobulin begin to be produced. The child's body can independently resist infections transmitted in utero.
2. Body. The child gradually acquires fat. This fat will give him energy in the first days after birth. A subcutaneous fat layer is formed, which allows you to regulate heat transfer processes. The primordial lubricant forms on the body of the fetus: a gray-white substance with a protective effect.
3. Sensitivity. The child has increased sensitivity in the buttocks, abdomen.
4. Organs. The heart is fully developed and begins to pump blood. The heart rate at this time reaches 160 beats per minute. The adrenal glands begin to release hormones, the work of the pituitary gland is activated. Girls develop a uterus.
5. Teeth. At the 17th week of pregnancy, the molars begin to form in the fetus. They are located right behind the dairy.
6. Bones, muscles. The fetus grows bone tissue, which increases bone strength.
7. Vision. The eyes are closed, but the child is already reacting to light. With a bright beam directed at the abdomen, the fetus becomes more active.
8. Nervous system. The movements of the child are coordinated. Babycan find his mouth with his hand, sucks his finger.

Baby begins to grow faster during pregnancy at 17 weeks. The development of the fetus during this period directly depends on the mother's lifestyle, proper nutrition.

Fetal height and weight

The fetus grows throughout the gestation period. And by the 17th week of pregnancy it reaches 120-165 grams. The average height of a child is 19-21 cm. All women are individual and pregnancy at 17 weeks is manifested differently in everyone. Fetal development and sensations may also differ. It depends on the woman's nutrition, hereditary factors.

It is recommended, starting from the fifth month of pregnancy, to tell the child about your mood, to share positive emotions. During pregnancy at 17 weeks, the development of the fetus occurs not only on the physical, but also on the psycho-emotional level.

Interesting! By week 17, the size of the baby is such that the entire fetus can fit in the palm of an adult.

What does a fetus look like at 17 weeks?

A baby at 17 weeks pregnant does not yet look like a newborn. The skin is red, covered with lanugo - these are small hairs. The fluff allows you to control heat transfer processes. Thanks to lanugo, the optimal body temperature of the child is maintained.

At the 16-17th week of pregnancy, the bones of the skull change. The face becomes expressive. The ears take the correct position, slightly lowered. The eyes of the fetus are closed, but cilia are already beginning to grow. During ultrasound diagnostics, the doctormay notice the hair on the head, but it has not yet been dyed.

Baby moving

A woman in the 17th week of pregnancy can feel the first movements of the baby. According to statistics, the first shocks can be noticed already starting from the 16th week. If a woman does not feel movement at the 17th week, do not panic, the process is individual and depends on several factors:

• degree of sensitivity;
• body type;
• attention to changes in the body and personal feelings.

Women describe the first movements in different ways:

• tummy tickling;
• fluttering butterflies;
• fish swimming.

More often notice the baby's movements at the 17th week of pregnancy, giving birth again. If a woman is expecting her first child, then she will feel the shocks later: closer to the 20th week.

Feelings

During pregnancy, a woman's body changes completely, hormonal changes occur. Let's take a closer look at what happens to mom at 17 weeks of pregnancy.

At the beginning of the fifth month, a woman's feelings change. This is due to the rapid growth of the child and the enlargement of the uterus. Due to an increase in the fetus in size, hormonal changes in the body, a pregnant woman may experience symptoms of general malaise:

• mood change;
• nervousness;
• tearfulness;
• skin around the abdomen, itchy chest.

Due to the rapid growth of the abdomen and stretching of the skin, a pregnant woman may experience stretch marks. To prevent themappearance, gynecologists recommend using special cosmetics.

Important! Due to the rapid growth of the child at the 17th week of pregnancy, the uterus begins to put pressure on neighboring organs, which leads to shortness of breath, difficulty breathing. During such periods, the expectant mother needs to relax, lie down to rest. If the attack does not stop, you will have to call an ambulance.

Missed Pregnancy

Infectious diseases can cause a miscarriage in a woman. Doctors diagnose the threat mainly in the first trimester. To calm down, women ask themselves: 17 weeks is what trimester of pregnancy? The gynecologist will definitely answer that the second. However, the risk, although minimal, of a missed pregnancy, still exists. And a number of adverse factors can cause a pathological condition:

• abdominal injury;
• infectious diseases;
• premature placental abruption and others.

When a woman has a missed pregnancy, characteristic signs appear:

• belly size out of date;
• no heartbeat when listening to ultrasound;
• bleeding.

It's hard to suspect something is wrong on your own. Therefore, a pregnant woman should take tests in a timely manner and visit a doctor for a preventive examination.

Selections

At the 17th week of pregnancy, there should be no change in vaginal discharge. Mucus is light, with a slight white tint. May sometimes be presentsour smell. This is due to the active growth and development of beneficial microflora of the vagina.

If the nature and color of the secreted mucus has changed, then this is an occasion to consult a doctor. Color of vaginal mucus that requires a doctor's visit:

• yellow;
• green;
• brown.

If vaginal discharge is accompanied by an unpleasant odor, blood impurities appear, mucus foams, then this is a sign of infectious diseases. During pregnancy, the woman's immune system does not work at the proper level, so chronic inflammation can occur, turning into an acute course.

To reduce the risk to the woman and child, a thorough diagnosis is required, including several studies:

• bakseeding slime;
• vaginal swab.

Based on the results of the examination, the doctor gives his recommendations to the woman, prescribes treatment if necessary.

Sex

At the 17th week of pregnancy, intimacy causes various emotions, the process is individual. But you should not completely refuse sex because of fear of harming the fetus. Sensual and neat sex is useful not only for the child, but also for parents.

During lovemaking, all internal muscles are massaged, the hormone of joy is released. And the child already feels the state of the woman, so sex will have a positive effect on the psycho-emotional state of not only the mother, but also the fetus.

If a pregnant woman is diagnosed with a threatened miscarriage, then her sex life needs to be suspended.

Belly on the 17thweek

Belly at the 17th week of pregnancy begins to grow actively. The uterus should be 3-4 cm higher than the navel. Gynecologists measure the indicators of the fundus of the uterus starting from the pubic joint. With normal parameters, the length should be at least 17 cm.

At the 17th week of pregnancy, the stomach begins to bulge forward significantly, so you need to carefully choose your sleeping position. Gynecologists recommend lying on the left side during rest. If a pregnant woman likes to sleep on her back, then the body presses on the vena cava, the oxygen supply to the baby is blocked.

The tummy gradually begins to round. The size depends not only on the location of the child, but also on the place of implantation of the fetal egg. Sometimes women complain that by the fifth month the belly is not very rounded, almost invisible. But don't worry. If the placenta is attached to the back of the uterus or too low, then by the 17th week the stomach will not be large. Women with a thin physique have a much larger belly.

Second screening

Sometimes women wonder if 17 weeks is what trimester of pregnancy? This is due to the fact that in the second trimester it is recommended to do a second screening. And the beginning of the 5th month is the right time for the examination.

Screening includes a biochemical blood test, a comprehensive examination of the fetus. During it, the doctor determines several factors:

• facial structure;
• eye placement;
• spine condition;
• presence of developmental anomalies;
• respiratory system condition.

During this period, a woman shouldpay close attention to your he alth, reconsider nutrition, lead an active lifestyle. Preventive examinations by a gynecologist allow you to diagnose the slightest deviations in the development of the fetus, take timely measures.

Women's weight during pregnancy

Each week of pregnancy, a woman should add an average of 300 g. And by the 17th week, about 3 kg is added to the initial weight. However, in gynecological practice, there are cases when a woman has gained about 7-8 kg by the fifth month. And there is no pathological condition at the same time. All data on weight gain are averages, and weight depends on several factors:

• woman's starting weight;
• body build;
• heredity;
• age;
• pregnancy;
• nutrition and other factors.

Therefore, the 3kg weight gain before week 17 is inaccurate.

Food

During the second trimester, the gynecologist begins to give nutritional advice. A woman needs to enrich her diet with protein foods, but do not forget about carbohydrates and fats. The basis of the daily menu should consist of natural products, and it is recommended to cook food by steaming or boiling.

Also, do not forget about calcium, iron and other trace elements that are necessary for normal growth and development of the fetus. Therefore, a woman's diet should be balanced.

Medics identify groups of products that need to be abandoned or reduced to a minimum:

• fried, greasyproducts;
• smoked meats;
• preservatives;
• carbonated drinks;
• s alt.

Women should not eat a lot of acidic foods, otherwise the production of gastric juice increases, which will lead to heartburn, heaviness in the stomach.

If a pregnant woman suffers from heartburn, doctors recommend adding cereals and soups to the daily menu. These products envelop the stomach wall, preventing its development.

By the fifth month of gestation, the uterus is actively growing, begins to put pressure on the internal organs, so doctors do not recommend overloading the stomach. You need to eat often, but in small portions. After eating, a pregnant woman should not lie down, but will have to take a little walk, this increases metabolism.

Interesting! If a pregnant woman begins to limit the consumption of starchy foods, sweets, then she can control weight gain.

Results

Answering the question of what month it is - the 17th week of pregnancy, we can say with certainty that this is a period of active growth and development of the baby. It is at this time that a woman can feel the first movements of the child. At the 17th week, the heart is already fully developed, the immune system is activated. The child begins to hear voices, captures the mood of the mother. Therefore, in the fifth month of pregnancy, it is recommended to think not only about the physical, but also about the psycho-emotional development of the child.