Pregnancy is a crucial period for a woman. During the entire gestation period, numerous changes occur in the pregnant body. And the 17th week is no exception. We will examine in more detail, the 17th week of pregnancy - what month it is, what changes occur in the life of 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 days to childbirth and a 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 months, but weeks. Therefore, you can often hear the question, what month is it - the 17th week of pregnancy.
One month for obstetricians lasts 4 weeks. In order 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, about 20 obstetric weeks remain.
Fetal development at week 17
At the beginning of the fifth month of gestation, the child continues to develop actively. 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 17 weeks of pregnancy. What happens to the baby during this period?
- Immunity. The immune system is activated in the fetus, interferon and immunoglobulin begin to be produced. The child's body can independently resist intrauterine infections.
- Body. The child gradually overgrows with 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. A primordial lubricant is formed on the fetal body: a gray-white substance with a protective effect.
- Sensitivity. In a child, sensitivity increases in the region of the buttocks and abdomen.
- Organs The heart is fully developed, it begins to pump blood. The heart rate at this period reaches 160 beats per minute. The adrenal glands begin to secrete hormones, the pituitary gland is activated. Girls develop a uterus.
- Teeth. At the 17th week of pregnancy, the molars begin to be embedded in the fetus. They are located immediately after the dairy.
- Bones, muscles. Bone tissue grows in the fetus, which increases bone strength.
- Vision. Eyes are closed, but the child is already responding to light. With a bright beam directed to the stomach, the fetus becomes more active.
- Nervous system. The movements of the child are coordinated. Baby can find mouth by hand, sucks finger.
The baby begins to grow faster during pregnancy at the 17th week. The development of the fetus in this period directly depends on the lifestyle of the mother, proper nutrition.
Height and weight of the fetus
The fetus grows throughout the gestation period. And by the 17th week of pregnancy reaches 120-165 grams. The average height of a child is 19-21 cm. All women are individual and all have different manifestations of pregnancy at 17 weeks. Fetal development and sensations may also vary. It depends on the nutrition of the woman, hereditary factors.
It is recommended, starting from the fifth month of pregnancy, to tell the child about his mood, to share positive emotions. During pregnancy at 17 weeks, fetal development occurs not only on the physical, but also on the psychoemotional level.
Interesting! By the 17th week, the size of the child is such that the whole fetus can fit in the palm of an adult.
What does the fetus look like at week 17?
A child at 17 weeks of gestation is still not like a newborn. The skin is red, covered with lanugo - these are small hairs. The gun allows you to control heat transfer processes. Thanks lanugo maintains optimal body temperature in the child.
At the 16-17th week of pregnancy, the bones of the skull change. The face becomes expressive. The ears are in the correct position, dropping slightly. The eyes of the fetus are closed, but cilia are already beginning to grow. With an ultrasound diagnosis, the doctor may notice hair on the head, but they are not yet dyed.
Baby moving
A woman in the 17th week of pregnancy can feel the first movements of the baby. According to statistics, the first tremors can be seen already starting from the 16th week. If a woman does not feel the movement at the 17th week, do not panic, the process is individual and depends on several factors:
- degree of sensitivity;
- body type;
- attentiveness to changes in the body and personal feelings.
Women describe the first movements in different ways:
- Tickling in the abdomen
- butterflies fluttering;
- swimming fish.
More often notice the baby's movements at the 17th week of pregnancy, re-giving birth. If a woman is expecting her first child, then she will feel the tremors later: closer to the 20th week.
Feel
During pregnancy, a woman’s body changes completely, hormonal changes occur. Let us consider in more detail what happens to a mother at 17 weeks of pregnancy.
At the beginning of the fifth month, women's feelings change. This is due to the rapid growth of the child and an increase in the uterus. Due to the increase in fetus size, hormonal changes in the body, a pregnant woman may experience symptoms of general malaise:
- mood change;
- nervousness;
- tearfulness;
- the skin in the abdomen, chest itches.
Due to the rapid growth of the abdomen and stretching of the skin, pregnant women may experience stretch marks. To prevent their appearance, gynecologists recommend resorting to special cosmetics.
Important! Due to the rapid growth of the baby at the 17th week of pregnancy, the uterus begins to put pressure on neighboring organs, which leads to shortness of breath, shortness of breath. In 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.
Frozen pregnancy
Infectious diseases can cause a woman to have a miscarriage. Doctors diagnose the threat mainly in the first trimester. Women to calm down wonder: 17 weeks - what is the trimester of pregnancy? The gynecologist will unequivocally 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 injuries;
- infectious diseases;
- premature detachment of the placenta and others.
With a frozen pregnancy, a woman has characteristic signs:
- the size of the abdomen does not meet the timing;
- there is no heartbeat when listening to ultrasound;
- bloody issues.
It is difficult to suspect something was wrong on your own. Therefore, a pregnant woman should be tested in a timely manner and visit a doctor for a routine examination.
Discharge
At the 17th week of pregnancy, there should not be any changes in vaginal discharge. The mucus is light, with a slight white tint. Sometimes a sour smell may be present. This is due to the active growth and development of beneficial vaginal microflora.
If the nature and color of the secreted mucus has changed, then this is an occasion to consult a doctor. The color of the vaginal mucus in which you need to visit a doctor:
If the vaginal discharge is accompanied by an unpleasant odor, blood impurities appear, the 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 inflammatory phenomena can occur, which turn into an acute course.
To reduce the risk for a woman and a child, a thorough diagnosis is required, including several studies:
- back sowing mucus;
- swab from the vagina.
According to the results of the examination, the doctor gives his recommendations to the woman, and, if necessary, prescribes treatment.
Sex
At the 17th week of pregnancy, intimacy causes various emotions, an individual process. But completely refuse sex because of fear to harm the fetus is not worth it. Sensual and accurate sex is useful not only for the child, but also for parents.
During lovemaking, all internal muscles are massaged, the hormone of joy is secreted. And the child already feels the state of the woman, so sex will favorably affect the psycho-emotional state of not only the mother, but also the fetus.
If a pregnant woman is diagnosed with a threat of miscarriage, then sex life must be stopped.
Belly in the 17th week
The abdomen begins to grow actively in the 17th week of pregnancy. The uterus should be 3-4 cm above the navel. Gynecologists measure the fundus of the uterus starting from the pubic joint. With normal parameters, the length should be at least 17 cm.
The abdomen at the 17th week of pregnancy begins to bulge significantly forward, so you need to carefully select a sleeping position. Gynecologists recommend lying on the left side while resting. If a pregnant woman likes to sleep on her back, then the body presses on the vena cava, the oxygen entering 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 implantation site of the ovum. Sometimes women complain that the stomach by the fifth month is not very rounded, almost invisible. But don't worry. If the placenta is attached to the back of the uterus or is too low, then by the 17th week the abdomen will not be large. Women with a thin physique have a much larger belly.
Second screening
Sometimes women are interested, 17 weeks - what is the trimester of pregnancy? This is due to the fact that in the second trimester it is recommended to re-screen. And the beginning of 5 months is the right time for examination.
Screening includes a biochemical blood test, a comprehensive examination of the fetus. During it, the doctor determines several factors:
- structure of the face;
- eye position;
- condition of the spine;
- the presence of developmental abnormalities;
- condition of the respiratory system.
During this period, a woman should be attentive to her health, review nutrition, lead an active lifestyle. Preventive examinations by a gynecologist can diagnose the slightest deviations in the development of the fetus, take timely measures.
Weight of a woman 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 by the fifth month has added about 7-8 kg. And there is no pathological condition. All data on weight gain are averaged, and weight depends on several factors:
- the initial weight of the woman;
- physique;
- heredity;
- age
- pregnancy course;
- nutrition and other factors.
Therefore, the weight gain of 3 kg before the 17th week is inaccurate.
Food
During the second trimester, the gynecologist begins to give recommendations on nutrition. A woman needs to enrich the 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 steam or boil.
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.
Doctors distinguishes groups of products that are required to be abandoned or reduced to a minimum:
- fried, greasy products;
- smoked meats;
- preservatives;
- carbonated drinks;
- salt.
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 introducing cereals and soups into the daily menu. These products envelop the wall of the stomach, preventing its development.
By the fifth month of gestation, the uterus is growing, it begins to put pressure on internal organs, so doctors do not recommend overloading the stomach. Eat often, but in small portions. After eating, a pregnant woman should not lie, but will have to take a little walk, this enhances metabolism.
Interesting! If a pregnant woman begins to limit the consumption of flour, sweet, then it can control the weight gain.
Summary
Answering the question, what month is it - the 17th week of pregnancy, it can be stated with accuracy 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 psychoemotional development of the child.