17 Weeks Pregnant
Here's what's happening during Week 17 of your pregnancy:
Your Growing Baby
Your baby is about as wide as your palm, about six inches tall, and weighs about four ounces—about as much as a bar of soap. She now weighs more than your placenta. Your baby is now covered with a downy layer of lanugo, which swirls in fingerprint-like formation over her whole body. Her skin is still thin. Brown fat, a special type of fat that plays a role in body heat generation, is being deposited. In the next few weeks, your baby's eyes will begin to move beneath their fused lids in a side-to-side sweeping motion.Your Growing Belly
As your breasts grow, they'll be sensitive and tender and sometimes just plain painful. The placenta is now a fully functional network of blood and tissue that distributes nutrients and removes waste.
You're looking pregnant, but not so much that it's difficult to put your socks on. You may even get that pregnancy glow, a radiance that comes from extra blood flow to your skin. And you'll start to feel a lot of the baby's movements soon.
Tips & To-Do's
Sleep Guide For Pregnancy
Maybe you think sleep deprivation won't be an issue until after your baby is born. Hah! Depending on how pregnant you are, everything from "morning" sickness to scary dreams to restless leg can take their toll on your nightly shut-eye. Our trimester-by-trimester guide will help you get the rest you need now >>
Things to think about this week: Your sleep may be marked by vivid and bizarre dreams, often reflecting anxiety you might have about childbirth and parenthood. Having wacky pregnancy dreams? Here’s what they mean—and why you shouldn’t worry >>
