Dizziness during pregnancy often kicks in at around week 17 in the 2nd trimester. Arraign hormones, your growing uterus and a chop-chop expanding circulatory system.

Meanwhile, your piddling ane is learning to suck and swallow, and is as well starting to develop fingerprints.

Your Babe at Week 17

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Hey Mom…Information technology might be time for a high-v, because that's how big your baby is this calendar week — the size of your open up palm. At a less-than-whopping iii and a half ounces, your little 1 is starting to layer on some trunk fat, though she's got a long manner to go before she's anywhere approaching plump.

From here on out your babe volition accumulate fat until it makes up about 1-third of her weight. That ways past the time she makes her large debut, this skinny Minnie will be a relatively chubby cherub. Merely she's not all lightweight. This calendar week marks the first time your baby is bigger in size than the placenta that's nourishing her. At present that's something to brag about!

In other news, baby'due south feisty little ticker is going full speed ahead thanks to another development this calendar week. Until now, your wee ane'due south heartbeat was spontaneous and irregular. Now, her brain is in the driver'south seat, regulating her heart charge per unit to 140 or 150 beats per infinitesimal. Take a heed — that steady audio will make your own center sing.

Regularity is the name of the game these days every bit your precocious pupil is difficult at work honing some key skills for her big debut. That includes making up and downwardly movements of the breast wall in preparation for breathing actual air when the fourth dimension comes. Sucking and swallowing sessions likewise brand up a good office of her daily schedule now — and that'due south a practiced matter. This style she won't miss a beat when it'south fourth dimension for that beginning delicious mom-fabricated meal.

At a Glance

Getting ready to feed

Your little one is practicing sucking and swallowing as he gets ready for the real affair: a breast or bottle!

Baby will presently exist able to hear y'all!

Baby's sense of hearing is making big strides this calendar week. His ears are close to being fully formed and he's starting to be able to hear your voice.

Warming up

Fat stores are beginning to develop under your baby's skin. This provides energy and will assistance keep your little one warm (and cute) after birth.

17 weeks pregnant is how many months?

If you're 17 weeks pregnant, y'all're in calendar month 4 of your pregnancy. Just 5 months left to go! Still accept questions? Here'due south some more data on how weeks, months and trimesters are broken down in pregnancy.

How large is my baby at 17 weeks?

My, how your baby has grown! Your petty one weighs virtually 5 or more ounces and is the size of your palm, or effectually 5 inches long. Body fatty (babe'due south, that is) is start to class and volition go along to accumulate through the terminate of your pregnancy — join the lodge, baby!

Baby's practicing sucking and swallowing

Since practice makes perfect, your babe is sharpening his sucking and swallowing skills in grooming for that first and second…and third suckle at your breast or the canteen.

In fact, most of the survival reflexes your baby will have at nascency are being perfected in utero correct now.

Fingerprints are forming

Here's some proof that your baby is truly 1 of a kind — as if you needed whatsoever! Within the side by side week or so, the pads on your babe'southward fingertips and toes volition become adorned with completely individual swirls and creases, aka fingerprints.

Babe'due south heartbeat is more regular

Babe's heart is now regulated by the brain, then no more random beats, and is churning out 140 to 150 beats per minute — almost twice every bit fast as yours.

Your Torso at Week 17

17 weeks pregnant woman

Here come the tummy touchers!

Now that you're starting to bear witness, chances are that friends, coworkers and even strangers may feel the urge to reach out and touch your stomach. If you don't mind, that's fine. But if yous practise, speak up kindly but firmly.

Your growing ambition

Remember when you were so queasy you could barely stomach ginger ale and a cracker? Happily, your toilet-hugging days and nights are probably over. And happily, these days it's more likely that yous can't get enough to eat.

For most women, the second trimester non only brings relief from forenoon sickness but too a hearty appetite. Don't be surprised if yous suddenly feel hungry enough to polish off a sizable cut of steak or a whole tray of baked ziti at 17 weeks pregnant.

What's behind your increase in appetite? Simple — y'all're taking signals from your baby, who'south getting bigger and hungrier. Not certain exactly how much weight yous should gain during pregnancy? Talk to your practitioner, who will be able to assistance you maintain a healthy weight gain. Your doctor or midwife can besides help you play weight gain catch-up if yous didn't gain enough or lost weight during the kickoff trimester.

Terminate snoring

Ane inexplicable pregnancy symptom? Snoring! But take middle: The stuffiness that often triggers earth-champion snoring is common — and temporary. That's correct, fifty-fifty your nose is affected past pregnancy hormones!

Try putting a humidifier in your bedroom, using i of those nasal strips on your nose to open up your nasal passages, or sleeping on a couple of pillows to go along your head slightly elevated. And if your partner complains? Banish your sweetie to the sofa for the night — it's more important that you get a proficient dark'due south sleep.

Heightened symptoms

More new developments with your body may be on tap this week: an increase in vaginal discharge (leukorrhea) and a greater sensitivity to allergens. Both are totally normal!

Pregnancy Symptoms Calendar week 17

Increased appetite

Does your appetite seem insatiable these days? That's because your growing baby is demanding more nourishment. Heed to your hunger pangs and consume when you need to; attempt to cull foods that fill y'all upwardly and meet your food needs, like high-fiber grains, produce and lean protein. Read More than

Stretch marks

This badge of pregnancy is hereditary — so if you get-go finding some stretch marks on your torso, information technology may be because your female parent had them too. Simply if you gain weight at a steady rate instead of in big spurts, this may go along the stretching gradual and, as a result, less extreme. Read More than

Occasional headaches

Whether hormones, fatigue, tension or some other culprit causes your headaches, it'southward usually okay to have acetaminophen during pregnancy to alleviate the pain. Only check with your practitioner first. Read More

Faintness or dizziness

Dehydration tin cause dizziness, so make certain you stay hydrated by drinking at least 8 spectacles of h2o a day — aim to potable more than that if you've been exercising. Read More

Heartburn and indigestion

If you find yourself feeling the burn later a big meal, avoid lying down after eating to keep gastric juices in the stomach where they vest. Read More

Backaches

Ease this common pregnancy symptom past making sure you lot accept a supportive chair at work and a house mattress at home. Otherwise, get a cushion for your chair to place behind your back so you tin keep your posture in line and identify a board underneath your mattress to firm it up. Read More

Tips for You This Week

Breast growth (and no breast growth) are both normal

Hormones and milk-producing glands are developing to set for nursing. All this activeness, plus an increase in blood flow, can cause your breasts to grow up to iii cup sizes.

Of course, every pregnant adult female'south symptoms are dissimilar. While chest growth is mutual — and for some women quite a lot — you might not notice any changes at all in your breast size, especially if you're busty to begin with. Fifty-fifty if you have no breast growth, it's not cause for business organization.

Stretch to prevent sciatica

The sciatic nerve, the largest in the body, starts in the lower back, runs downwardly the buttocks, and branches downwardly the back of the legs to the ankles and feet.

In near cases, sciatica — abrupt, shooting pain, tingling or numbness that starts in the dorsum or buttocks and radiates all the mode downwardly the legs — happens when this nerve gets compressed past bulging, slipped or ruptured discs.

Arthritis and a narrowing of the spinal canal, likewise called spinal stenosis, can besides be culprits. Try a heating pad or back stretches to ease the pain.

Time for the Tooth Fairy once more?

Accept you noticed a mildly looser tooth that suddenly makes you feel like you lot're dorsum in elementary school?

Hormones can touch on the gums, ligaments and bones in your oral fissure, which in turn can slightly loosen the teeth, especially if you lot have more serious untreated conditions like gingivitis or periodontis.

Encounter the dentist as shortly equally possible if you observe a very loose tooth or have other significant dental issues — don't put it off! And be certain to proceed up with twice-daily brushing, regular flossing and other of import oral hygiene practices during pregnancy.

Ease round ligament hurting

Your uterus is supported by thick bands (called ligaments) that run from the groin up the side of the abdomen.

Every bit your uterus grows during pregnancy, these bands stretch out to adjust your growing crash-land — which can cause sharp pains and dull aches in the lower abdomen.

To save round ligament pain, make certain to spend time off your anxiety and decrease the intensity of your workouts. Y'all can as well consider wearing a belly ring for a picayune extra support.

Stay out of the sun

Seeing spots — on your face? A line down your lower abdomen? Skin tags dotting your upper arms?

No need to dash to the dermatologist. These strange pare symptoms, including darkening moles and heat rashes, are all normal and temporary. As usual, hormones are to blame, just the sun tin exacerbate these changes in your complexion.

So stay shaded whenever y'all can — now'due south the time to invest in a wide-brimmed hat — and apply a broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or college when you venture out in the daylight. Sunscreen is safe and smart to use when y'all're expecting. Ask your doctor near anything yous're concerned virtually.

Bank check your easily

Do the palms of your easily look every bit if you lot've touched a hot pan? You could have palmar erythema, a skin status in which the palms of the hands or the soles of the anxiety appear redder or darker than normal.

The skillful news: It disappears afterwards you give birth. Simply definitely check in with your md just to make sure everything is normal.

Endeavor non-dairy, calcium foods

If milk or other dairy products aren't your thing, you'll accept to cash in on calcium a different way. Luckily, dairy products aren't the only sources of calcium — they're just the virtually well-known.

Calcium-fortified orange juice and other fruit juices can offer nearly as much calcium as milk, loving cup for cup. For other not-dairy dietary sources of calcium, turn to leafy green vegetables, sesame seeds, almonds and calcium-fortified soy products like tofu.

Still aren't getting enough? Ask your practitioner almost a calcium supplement for extra insurance.

From the What to Expect editorial squad and Heidi Murkoff, author ofWhat to Expect When You're Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses merely credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic enquiry institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.

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