Development Week 17

Your baby is now 5.12 inches (13cm) and 4.97 ounces (140 grams), and is weighing more than the placenta. He is starting to develop brown fat deposits under the skin, but no other new structures have formed. During the last trimester your baby will add more layers of fat to his body for warmth and protection. The baby may start to respond to loud noises outside the body.

A Whole System Now that you are 17 weeks pregnant, you may notice that your body is producing more secretions and fluids than you ever thought possible. The culprit behind these fluids, such as sweat, nasal congestion and vaginal discharge, is the increase in blood moving through your body. The placenta, which nourishes the fetus with nutrients and oxygen and removes wastes, is growing to accommodate your baby. More than an inch thick, it now contains thousands of blood vessels that exchange nutrients and oxygen from your body to your baby's developing body. You may notice that your breasts have changed considerably since your pregnancy began. More blood is flowing to the breasts, which increases their size (many women increase one to two cup sizes) and causes veins to become visible. Buy supportive bras in a variety of sizes to accommodate your breast growth during pregnancy. Previous Week | Next Week Select a week of development to read detailed information: Pregnancy Tip You're well into your second trimester now, so be sure that your prenatal vitamin has changed to reflect the extra nutritional needs for your baby during this stage of development. Biotegrity's Stage 2 have increased amounts of all the important vitamins and minerals so your baby can develop properly. Week 1 Week 11 Week 21 Week 31 Week 2 Week 12 Week 22 Week 32 Week 3 Week 13 Week 23 Week 33 Week 4 Week 14 Week 24 Week 34 Week 5 Week 15 Week 25 Week 35 Week 6 Week 16 Week 26 Week 36 Week 7 Week 17 Week 27 Week 37 Week 8 Week 18 Week 28 Week 38 Week 9 Week 19 Week 29 Week 39 Week 10 Week 20 Week 30 Week 40 Start preparing for your second trimester by visiting the forum and talking with wome already in their second trimester