Pregnancy Week 17
How big is your baby?
The crown to rump length is now up to 13cm (5.12 inches) and the weight is now around 140g (4.94 ounces), which is double what it was 2 weeks ago.
How big are you?
Your uterus is now about 2 inches (5cm) below your bellybutton. You are now showing quite a bit and there is an obvious swelling in your lower abdomen. By this time
maternity clothing is a must for comfort sake,
as you would have probably
gained about 5-10 pounds (2.3-4.6 kg) by now.
How is your baby developing and growing
 There is a definite change in the appearance of your baby and he/she is beginning to look more human like.
This week will show lots of growth and development, especially as your babys
weight will increase six time over the course of the next four weeks.
Fat deposits, also known as adipose tissue, will begin to be evident over the next few weeks. Fat is important for the body as it aids in heat production and metabolism.
By this stage of your pregnancy you should have
felt your baby move, if you haven't yet then you should feel him move within the next few
weeks. There are certain factors which may make it difficult to feel your baby
move, such as position of the placenta - but at some stage over the next few
weeks you should feel baby move.
At this stage of your pregnancy one of the main symptoms which you may still be
feeling the effects of is
fatigue.
If you are still feeling sleepy then it should start to improve over the next
few weeks. Moderate exercise is one of the methods you can use to combat fatigue
- and this will hold other benefits for both you and your baby.
Your nutrition
There are women who choose to go with a vegetarian diet throughout their pregnancy, as many women are nauseated by the smell or taste of meat. There is no real problem with doing this, however, it then becomes important for you to play close attention to the combination of foods that you choose to eat.
If you choose to eliminate meat from your diet completely you will have to find additional sources for calories to keep your energy levels up. The best sources for this kind of calories is: fresh fruits and vegetables. Be sure to avoid empty calories that have no nutritional value. It is important that you get all the right vitamins and minerals you need during pregnancy, so the best way to ensure this is to contact a professional nutritionist.
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