You are now 17 weeks pregnant, which is the beginning of week 18. Your baby measures about 19 cm from head to toe (or 7.6 inches) and weighs about 280 grams (9.8 ounces).
Your baby's skin is still fine, transparent and slightly wrinkled because they do not have fat layers yet. The many blood vessels flowing underneath their skin makes their complexion appear purple-red in colour. There is now plenty of fluid around your baby, allowing them to turn, twist and change position frequently. A few women feel their baby move for the first time at this stage, but most do not experience this exciting event (called quickening) until 20 to 22 weeks! Your baby now explores their own body with their hands and if you are having twins or triplets, they may try to locate each other, by touching and exploring their brother or sister.
Physical changes
Warm and sweaty
Pregnant women usually feel warmer and sweat more, due to increased blood flowing through their body. The pregnancy hormone progesterone also makes the tiny blood vessels in the skin (called capillaries) relax and dilate to become fuller and closer to the skin's surface, referred to as vasodilation. Vasodilation and increased metabolism slightly increases your body temperature. This may mean you prefer to sleep with only a sheet covering you, while your partner lies under blankets in the winter months!
Vaginal changes
Many women notice differences in their vaginal discharge, with perhaps more of it. Pregnancy hormones can also make the vaginal acidity (or pH) more alkaline, making pregnant women prone to annoying infections such as thrush or gardnerella. You can read more in thrush or gardnerella.
Emotional reactions
If you have been experiencing moments of forgetfulness and feeling vague you are not alone! Many pregnant women have lapses in concentration, which is often put down to hormones or 'placenta brain'. However, this often has more to do with a shift in focus, to thinking more about what is going on inside your body, rather than the many 'outward' day-to-day issues in your life. Interestingly, mental and cognitive tests carried out with pregnant women show that their reflexes are much sharper and their short term memories much better, when asked to perform motor tasks or memory exercises, when compared to women who are not pregnant.
Other considerations
Over-the-counter drugs and remedies
In recent years, pregnant women have become aware of substances they take or use frequently. However, not everyone associates home remedies they find in the kitchen or the product they buy over-the-counter, as being a drug, or potentially unsafe for their unborn baby. Essentially, any substance that has the ability to affect the way your body functions is classified as a drug. This includes a wide range of self-help remedies and medications (both medical and natural) as well as other day-to-day substances.
Raspberry leaf products
Raspberry leaf is a traditional herb that has been recognised as a possible uterine tonic for childbirth. It is now estimated that up to 20% of pregnant women take some form of raspberry leaf extract (as a tea, tablet or tincture) during their pregnancy or after the birth of their baby. However, most caregivers do not recommend taking it until 33 to 34 weeks of pregnancy.
Natural therapies in pregnancy
Dietary therapy uses diet to treat and prevent illness, based on 'you are what you eat' in a sense, with the belief that disease is often due to vitamin and mineral deficiencies that can lower the immune system. Some health conditions that can be treated include infertility, miscarriage, babies growing small for dates, diabetes, postnatal depression, stress and viral illnesses.
What is my body doing at 17 weeks?
By week 17, your body is showing signs of being pregnant and most women find their appetite goes into overdrive! Don’t be surprised if you’re suddenly feeling hungrier than ever before, it’s a sign your baby is getting bigger and hungrier too! That said, remember eating for two isn’t to be taken literally and that you should only be gaining around four pounds a month during pregnancy.
You’ll probably notice it’s not only your belly getting bigger, hormones and milk-producing gland are developing to get your body ready to feed your baby. All of this activity, paired with an increase of bloody flow can mean you grow up to three cup sizes during pregnancy!
Right now your ovaries are also releasing a hormone called relaxin. As the name suggests, it relaxes ligaments and joints in your body in preparation for birth when you need the muscles and joints in your pelvis to be flexible to allow your baby out. This loosening of the joints can also increase the risk of you getting backache, and you need to be careful when you exercise as you could strain muscles more easily.
Common symptoms to look out for:
Your baby's skin is still fine, transparent and slightly wrinkled because they do not have fat layers yet. The many blood vessels flowing underneath their skin makes their complexion appear purple-red in colour. There is now plenty of fluid around your baby, allowing them to turn, twist and change position frequently. A few women feel their baby move for the first time at this stage, but most do not experience this exciting event (called quickening) until 20 to 22 weeks! Your baby now explores their own body with their hands and if you are having twins or triplets, they may try to locate each other, by touching and exploring their brother or sister.Physical changes
Warm and sweaty
Pregnant women usually feel warmer and sweat more, due to increased blood flowing through their body. The pregnancy hormone progesterone also makes the tiny blood vessels in the skin (called capillaries) relax and dilate to become fuller and closer to the skin's surface, referred to as vasodilation. Vasodilation and increased metabolism slightly increases your body temperature. This may mean you prefer to sleep with only a sheet covering you, while your partner lies under blankets in the winter months!
Vaginal changes
Many women notice differences in their vaginal discharge, with perhaps more of it. Pregnancy hormones can also make the vaginal acidity (or pH) more alkaline, making pregnant women prone to annoying infections such as thrush or gardnerella. You can read more in thrush or gardnerella.
Emotional reactions
If you have been experiencing moments of forgetfulness and feeling vague you are not alone! Many pregnant women have lapses in concentration, which is often put down to hormones or 'placenta brain'. However, this often has more to do with a shift in focus, to thinking more about what is going on inside your body, rather than the many 'outward' day-to-day issues in your life. Interestingly, mental and cognitive tests carried out with pregnant women show that their reflexes are much sharper and their short term memories much better, when asked to perform motor tasks or memory exercises, when compared to women who are not pregnant.
Other considerations
Over-the-counter drugs and remedies
In recent years, pregnant women have become aware of substances they take or use frequently. However, not everyone associates home remedies they find in the kitchen or the product they buy over-the-counter, as being a drug, or potentially unsafe for their unborn baby. Essentially, any substance that has the ability to affect the way your body functions is classified as a drug. This includes a wide range of self-help remedies and medications (both medical and natural) as well as other day-to-day substances.
Raspberry leaf products
Raspberry leaf is a traditional herb that has been recognised as a possible uterine tonic for childbirth. It is now estimated that up to 20% of pregnant women take some form of raspberry leaf extract (as a tea, tablet or tincture) during their pregnancy or after the birth of their baby. However, most caregivers do not recommend taking it until 33 to 34 weeks of pregnancy.
Natural therapies in pregnancy
Dietary therapy uses diet to treat and prevent illness, based on 'you are what you eat' in a sense, with the belief that disease is often due to vitamin and mineral deficiencies that can lower the immune system. Some health conditions that can be treated include infertility, miscarriage, babies growing small for dates, diabetes, postnatal depression, stress and viral illnesses.
What is my body doing at 17 weeks?
By week 17, your body is showing signs of being pregnant and most women find their appetite goes into overdrive! Don’t be surprised if you’re suddenly feeling hungrier than ever before, it’s a sign your baby is getting bigger and hungrier too! That said, remember eating for two isn’t to be taken literally and that you should only be gaining around four pounds a month during pregnancy.
You’ll probably notice it’s not only your belly getting bigger, hormones and milk-producing gland are developing to get your body ready to feed your baby. All of this activity, paired with an increase of bloody flow can mean you grow up to three cup sizes during pregnancy!
Right now your ovaries are also releasing a hormone called relaxin. As the name suggests, it relaxes ligaments and joints in your body in preparation for birth when you need the muscles and joints in your pelvis to be flexible to allow your baby out. This loosening of the joints can also increase the risk of you getting backache, and you need to be careful when you exercise as you could strain muscles more easily.
Common symptoms to look out for:
- Loose teeth: Did you know hormones can affect the ligaments and bones in your mouth, which can make your teeth feel wobbly or even fall out. If you do lose teeth, contact your dentist straight away.
- Heartburn and indigestion: You might have shaken off the morning sickness and extreme tiredness, but unfortunately this side effect isn’t going anywhere. If you’re suffering with heartburn, eat little and often and avoid lying down after a big meal.
- Headaches: These have appeared on the common symptoms list for the past few weeks, and are a common culprit to look out for.
- Backaches: As we mentioned above, pregnancy backaches can be a painful side effect of pregnancy. Ease this common symptom by making sure you have a firm mattress and placing a cushion behind your back when sitting down.
- Stretch marks: Now your body begins to grow, stretch marks can be common. This one is hereditary, so ask your mum how pregnancy affected her body!
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