The highlight of this week is undoubtedly your next prenatal check-up. Your second ultrasound is coming up, and you’re probably excited to see your baby—after all, quite some time has passed since the last ultrasound, and a lot has happened since then. Here, you’ll learn what happens during the examination and what else is important in the 19th week of pregnancy.

How big is your baby in the 19th week of pregnancy?

Your baby is about 15 centimeters long this week, comparable to a grapefruit. So far, your baby has been measured from crown to rump (crown-rump length, CRL). However, from the 19th week of pregnancy onward, it is customary to use the so-called crown-heel length (CHL). From crown to heel, your baby is currently approximately 24 centimeters.

Week 19 of pregnancy: What's changing for you

You’re probably already eagerly waiting to feel your baby for the first time. Maybe this week will be the moment you notice your baby’s first kicks and movements. But even if you haven’t felt anything yet, that’s completely normal—every body is different, and especially if you’re expecting your first child, it can still take a few more weeks.

You might now notice mild cramps. As long as the contractions occur no more than three times per hour and last no longer than 45 seconds, they are probably harmless practice contractions. These “exercise” your body and prepare it for birth. Your baby won’t notice much of this, so you don’t need to worry. However, if the practice contractions occur more frequently or are very intense, consult your midwife or doctor to be on the safe side.

The hormone progesterone ensures that your digestive tract relaxes and slows down so that more nutrients can be filtered from your food for your baby. As a result, many expectant mothers experience digestive issues such as constipation, which can now be further aggravated by the growing uterus. Constipation is not only uncomfortable, but it can also contribute to hemorrhoids. You can learn how to stimulate your digestion in the article “ “.

Preventive examination and the second ultrasound

Between weeks 19 and 22 of pregnancy, your next preventive appointment, including the second ultrasound, takes place. During this visit, you will not only get a glimpse of your baby, but your doctor will also check whether all organs are developing properly and examine the position and structure of your placenta. In addition, the amniotic fluid level will be measured and your baby’s size assessed. For more information on how ultrasound examinations are performed and what exactly is checked, our LILLYDOO gynecologist Christian explains in the video .

19th week of pregnancy: Development of your baby

By now, your baby’s entire body is covered with lanugo hair and the protective vernix caseosa. This week, the hair on the head also begins to grow, which your baby will have at birth. Your baby’s fat layer is increasing, making the skin less and less translucent. Around the 19th week of pregnancy, the reproductive organs start to function: in girls, the vagina, uterus, and fallopian tubes are fully developed, and there are already eggs in the ovaries. In boys, the testes are now beginning to produce testosterone.

The organs are constantly developing—especially the area of the brain responsible for sensory perception—and your baby’s senses are becoming more refined. The sense of touch, for example, is already so well developed that your baby is aware of the boundaries in the womb: when it touches the uterine wall with its hands or feet, it instinctively pulls away. The heart is fully developed at this stage, but its two chambers and two atria are not yet separated. Only after birth, when your child breathes independently, will the septa in the heart fully close.

In the 19th week of pregnancy, your child’s dental ridge is also forming, although it will still take quite a while before the first little teeth appear.

This is now important

• Have you already considered whether you want to attend a childbirth preparation course? If so, you should start looking for the right option slowly but surely, because the number of participants is limited. Information about the different courses available and what you will learn there can be found in the article “ The Childbirth Preparation Course “.

• You may notice that your nose is more congested during pregnancy. This is because your mucous membranes are also better supplied with blood and can swell. You should not use decongestant nasal sprays during pregnancy; nasal sprays with sea salt, steam baths, or humidifiers are better options. Sleeping with your head slightly elevated can also help at night.

• Is your next check-up appointment with your doctor or midwife not scheduled until the coming weeks? Then write down important questions that may come up over time in advance—so you won’t forget them and can use the appointment to clarify any uncertainties directly with a medical professional.

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