pregnancy week-17

Pregnancy Week 17

week 17

The second trimester in pregnancy is like the calm before the storm. Life is much easier. Gone are the morning sickness and lethargy you felt during the first trimester. In fact, apart from your growing belly, you’ll feel top of the world.

What’s happening to your body?

Week 15-18

As you enter the second trimester of your pregnancy, you will feel your energy returning. You will start to have a distinctive bump. If you have lost weight in the first trimester, you’ll start to gain them back now and more.

Caution: Don’t try dieting to maintain weight. You need to increase your weight now. During the second and third trimester of your pregnancy, you need 300 calories more than your usual intake to help your baby grow. But don’t make this an excuse to eat more donuts and chocolates.

What’s happening to your baby?

Week 15-18

The most critical period of your baby’s development is now over, so you can now breathe a sigh of relief. For now, your baby is putting all its energy in growing.

Before this week, your baby’s neck rests right on his shoulder, making him look like Igor. But by the 15th week, his neck is now formed and is now able to lightly support his head (but, it will not be strong enough to properly support his head. It will take him around two months after birth before his neck is strong enough to support his head.)

At 15 week, you may start to feel little flutters, as your baby moves around his perfectly formed amniotic sac. However, it will not be until the end of 17th week, that you start recognising his movement.

During this time, your baby starts growing hair, starting with his eyebrows. And although his eyes are still hut, he can sense the light. By now, his eyes are already facing forwards, instead of sideways. He is also now breathing under water and perfecting his sucking reflex by constantly sucking his thumb.

By the end of 18th week, your baby is around 5 ½ inches long and weighs around 5 to 7 ounces.