The development of the baby at 17 weeks gestation, which is 4 months pregnant, is marked by the beginning of the accumulation of fat that will be important for the maintenance of heat and because it is already larger than the placenta.
Regarding the development of the fetus at 17 weeks of gestation, it presents velvety soft and velvety throughout the body and the skin is very thin and fragile. The lungs present trachea, bronchi and bronchioles, but the alveoli have not yet formed and the respiratory system should only be fully formed at 35 weeks of gestation.
The baby already dreams and the outline of the first teeth begins to appear in the maxillary bone. Calcium begins to be deposited in the bones making them stronger and in addition, the umbilical cord becomes stronger.
Although the baby can move a lot, the mother may still not be able to feel it, especially if it is the first pregnancy. This week you may already decide that you want to know the sex of the baby and inform the doctor about your choice, because in the ultrasound it will already be possible to observe the testicles or the vulva.
Photos of the fetus
Size of the fetus
The size of the fetus at 17 weeks gestation is approximately 11.6 cm measured from the head to the buttocks, and the average weight is 100 g, but still fits in the palm of your hand.
Changes in woman
The changes in the woman with 17 weeks of pregnancy can be heartburn and heat waves due to the greater amount of progesterone in the body. The woman from now on should gain about 500 to 1 kg per week, but if she has gained more weight, regulating her diet and practicing some type of exercise may be useful not to put on too much weight during pregnancy. Some exercises that can be performed in pregnancy are the Pilates, stretches and exercises in the water.
Some symptoms that the woman can present at 17 weeks are:
- Body swelling: the blood flow is at full throttle so it is normal for the woman to feel more swollen and with less disposition at the end of the day;
- Itching in the belly or breasts: With the increase of the belly and the breasts, the skin needs to be super hydrated so as not to appear stretch marks, which initially manifest through itchy skin;
- Very strange dreams: Hormonal changes and anxiety or worry can lead to very strange and meaningless dreams;
Also, at this stage the woman may feel sadder and cry more easily, so if that happens you should talk to your partner and the doctor to try to find the cause. This mood swings should not be harmful to the baby, but such sadness increases the risk of postpartum depression.
Your pregnancy by quarter
To make your life easier and you do not waste time looking, we separate all the information you need for each trimester of gestation. What quarter are you in?
- 1st Quarter (1st to 13th week)
- 2nd Quarter (14th to 27th week)
- 3rd Quarter (from the 28th to the 41st week)
