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17 week of pregnancy: a description of what happens to the baby, mother
It’s time to enjoy all the delights of your position – 17 weeks of pregnancy are most often accompanied by good health and mood. Toxicosis is behind, the abdomen is neat and does not interfere with movement. And the baby is actively moving, and its tremors are about to begin to be felt. Now the baby looks just like a baby, only in a reduced form.
What happens to the child during this period?
Until that time, the baby was only protected by the immune properties of the placenta. Now he has his own immunity. Since that time, he has been under double protection, not counting the mother’s immunity. The brain continues to develop, the hypothalamus and pituitary gland are activated. He recognizes light and darkness. If you bring the flashlight to your stomach, it will turn towards the light source.
In the 17th week of pregnancy, women are usually cheerful and efficient.
The kid is frightened by loud sounds, may shudder. The quiet music calms him down. He knows my mother’s voice and loves to listen to it. You can already talk with the baby and even read fairy tales to him – this will be beneficial.
The average weight of the fetus at this stage of development is 120 g. Its height from the coccyx to the crown is usually no more than 18 cm.
Now, future teeth are beginning to form in the gums. A layer of fat forms under the skin. The baby’s body is covered with embryonic fluff and a special lubricant that will help him during childbirth.
What changes are taking place with the expectant mother?
Signs of pregnancy appear already on the face – rounded and ruddy cheeks, the nose becomes wider, the lips become thicker. These phenomena are not pronounced in everyone, since they depend on the individual characteristics of the organism.
When describing the condition at the 17th week, it is impossible not to note hot flashes and increased sweating. A woman may experience a sensation of heat, the temperature rises to 37,5 (if higher, this is a reason for contacting a gynecologist)
Often during this period, thrush begins to bother. Take care of your feet and do not overcool – cystitis may occur. If an infection develops, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics.
The increased content of melanin pigment leads to darkening of the nipple halos and the appearance of a streak on the lower abdomen. Combining it with the summer sun can also threaten with age spots on the face.
Therefore, it is better to refrain from tanning and wear light, breathable clothing that protects from the sun. You do not need to completely deprive yourself of summer rays either – they contribute to the production of vitamin D, which you need.
What does a woman feel in her stomach?
The uterus continues to grow and begins to put pressure on the internal organs. Because of this, minor pain in the abdomen may occur. They usually do not cause problems and are easily tolerated. But if the pain is severe or accompanied by discharge, inform your doctor about it without waiting for a scheduled examination.
Prepare a description of all your feelings for the doctor to assess the course of pregnancy
For the same reason, digestive problems can occur. Flatulence, constipation, heartburn are observed. Try to keep track of your diet. Do not overeat, limit your intake of fatty, fried, sweet foods. Meals should be frequent, but with a small amount of food. Do not gorge on before bed.
The appearance of pulling or cramping pains may indicate an increased tone of the uterus. If they occur, you must immediately go to bed.
If your condition does not improve, see your gynecologist. The appearance of bloody or transparent discharge with red impurities is especially dangerous. Such symptoms can warn of a high risk of termination of pregnancy. Call an ambulance immediately in this situation. You need to be prepared that the doctor decides to put you in inpatient treatment – this will help save the child.
In addition to bloody, a woman may notice discharge of a different nature. They can be smearing, not plentiful. If there are traces of such a plan of brown, pink or cream color, this is also a reason for consulting a gynecologist. Such discharge can turn into bleeding.
On an ultrasound, the doctor will see what is happening with the baby and the placenta
The presence of a genitourinary infection also manifests itself as secretions, but in this case they will be yellow or green, with a pungent unpleasant odor. Their consistency can be heterogeneous, curdled or flaked. They may be accompanied by discomfort – burning, itching, swelling and redness of the genitals.
Such symptoms indicate the need for treatment so that the infection does not penetrate the fetus. Only a doctor should prescribe it, self-medication is now unacceptable. To do this, you need to take a smear for analysis and find out what exactly caused the infection: Trichomonas, chlamydia, candida. Based on the results, the doctor will prescribe the right medicine.
Other discharge is considered the norm during pregnancy – they should be light, uniform in color and consistency, not abundant. Sour smell is acceptable.
A scheduled ultrasound scan is performed at the 20th week, but the doctor can prescribe it ahead of time at his discretion. At this stage, you can see the baby, take his first photo. If you’re lucky, you can find out the gender of the child – for this he must be in a suitable position.
The specialist will listen to the heartbeat, check the placenta, amniotic fluid, uterus – whether everything is in accordance with the norms. The weight of the fetus is measured – this is an important criterion by which the correctness of development and growth is determined. The presence of serious defects, pathologies, including chromosomal ones, must be checked.
If the doctor has decided on an unscheduled ultrasound scan, there is no need to be afraid of it, and even more so to refuse. This test is harmless and the maternity screening machines are set to a safe frequency. But failure to comply with the doctor’s prescriptions can lead to undesirable consequences due to the lack of information about the child’s condition.
What happens when you get pregnant with twins?
This week is special, because at this time you can already feel the first movements of the crumbs. Toddlers continue to learn new skills. Now they can blink, swallow and suck their thumb. Their weight is 170 g, their height is 16,9 cm, while in a singleton pregnancy these figures are 192 g and 17,3 cm. The beating of tiny hearts can be heard with the help of a Doppler.
The woman’s breasts continue to grow actively. It’s time to start thinking about a dedicated supportive bra this week. Also, during this period, a woman may feel an acute shortage of certain vitamins and iron.