17th week of pregnancy

Welcome to the 5th month of pregnancy! In the past weeks and months, your body has already accomplished a lot, and your baby has completed important developmental steps. Now it's time to: enjoy your pregnancy to the fullest and take good care of your baby and yourself. What is important this week can be read here.

How big is your baby in the 17th week of pregnancy?

Your baby is about 12 centimeters long this week, comparable to the size of an orange.

17th week of pregnancy: What's changing for you

Due to the increased blood volume in your body, the pressure on the veins rises during pregnancy. Additionally, because of the hormone progesterone, they are now more permeable than usual. As a result, enlarged veins can occur, which may manifest as spider veins, varicose veins, or hemorrhoids. Especially varicose veins and hemorrhoids can be uncomfortable or even painful. It is best to prevent these unpleasant side effects now with a high-fiber diet and regular exercise, as well as . You should also avoid standing for long periods and sitting with crossed legs. Compression stockings can additionally relieve your legs, as can rest breaks in which you elevate your feet from time to time. To learn how to specifically prevent uncomfortable hemorrhoids, read the article „ “.

17th week of pregnancy: Development of your baby

This week, something very special happens: After your baby's heart has already started beating in the 5th week of pregnancy and has been detectable via ultrasound since around the 6th week of pregnancy, the heartbeat becomes so strong this week that you and your partner will be able to hear it for the first time with a stethoscope.

In week 17, your baby's body begins to produce myelin. The substance wraps protectively around the spinal cord and nerve cells and will soon transmit stimuli through the nerve pathways. Your child's bones are becoming harder and gradually losing their cartilaginous structure. However, it will still take quite some time before they are as hard as adult bones. Especially for birth and during the first years of life, your child's bones remain very elastic.

The reproductive organs continue to develop this week: in girls, the uterus and vagina form, while in boys, the penis and prostate continue to develop. Additionally, your baby begins to slowly build up a layer of fat from this week, which helps with temperature regulation. But it also serves another purpose: in the first days after birth, before the milk comes in and breastfeeding is established, it acts as an energy reserve for your newborn.

The face of your child is developed enough by the 17th week of pregnancy that the eyes and ears are now almost in their final positions. Your baby's hearing continues to improve; it now perceives external sounds more clearly and may even be startled by particularly loud noises. It also feels external touches more and more. If you and your partner haven't already started with now is the perfect time to do so.

The umbilical cord

The is the important band that connects you to your child via the placenta, and it is a truly impressive structure. To supply your baby with sufficient nutrients throughout the entire pregnancy, the umbilical cord grows to a length of up to 50 to 60 centimeters and approximately 2 centimeters in diameter over the nine months. Various stem cells ensure its rapid growth and reliable functioning. To ensure it still has enough space in the uterus when fully grown and that your baby does not get tangled in it, the umbilical cord is twisted in a spiral and can adapt wonderfully to its surroundings by stretching or contracting. The outer layer of the umbilical cord is firm and coated with mucus to protect it from knots and kinks that could jeopardize your baby's supply. Inside, there are three blood vessels: one vein carries nutrient-rich blood from your body to your child's, and two arteries pump it back. The blood is transported through , which means there is no direct connection between your blood circulation and your baby's. This is ensured by a membrane in the placenta, called the placental barrier, which allows nutrients and other small molecules like maternal antibodies to pass through but prevents viruses or bacteria from reaching your baby.

This is now important

• Avoid standing for long periods. The growing uterus presses on the sciatic nerve, which runs directly beneath it. Unpleasant pain may result.

• Due to the increased blood volume, you may now start sweating more quickly. As a result, your body loses more minerals such as iodine, calcium, magnesium, and iron. Pay attention with a thereon, to ensure you get enough of these essential nutrients for your child's development. The iron levels in your body are regularly checked during routine examinations. During these visits, you can also discuss with your doctor whether dietary supplements to provide additional nutrients are beneficial for you.

• Have you already discussed with your partner how your child
  should be named? You still have some time before you need to make a final decision – but the joint search for the name is already increasing the anticipation. In our article “ 10 questions to ask yourself when choosing a name “ you'll learn what matters when selecting the right name. Or you can just swipe through the baby name feature of the LILLYDOO App . There, you not only have the choice of 12,000 possible first names, but you can also easily connect with your partner to find your shared favorite.

With our pregnancy calendar, we want to accompany you through this exciting time and provide you with relevant information, which also in exchange with our
LILLYDOO experts are being created. Nevertheless, the ones listed here can still
Never replace personal consultation with your doctor or midwife with advice. Always contact your healthcare professional for questions and professional care.