Dizziness during pregnancy often kicks in at effectually week 17 in the second trimester. Blame hormones, your growing uterus and a rapidly expanding circulatory system.

Meanwhile, your piffling one is learning to suck and swallow, and is also starting to develop fingerprints.

Your Baby at Calendar week 17

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Hey Mom…It might be fourth dimension for a high-five, because that'due south how big your infant is this week — the size of your open palm. At a less-than-whopping three and a one-half ounces, your little ane is starting to layer on some body fat, though she'southward got a long way to go before she's anywhere approaching plump.

From here on out your baby volition accumulate fatty until information technology makes up about one-tertiary of her weight. That means by the time she makes her big debut, this skinny Minnie will exist a relatively stubby cherub. Just she's not all lightweight. This week marks the first time your infant is bigger in size than the placenta that'due south nourishing her. Now that's something to brag about!

In other news, infant's feisty piddling ticker is going full speed ahead thank you to another evolution this week. Until now, your wee 1'south heartbeat was spontaneous and irregular. Now, her brain is in the driver's seat, regulating her heart charge per unit to 140 or 150 beats per minute. Take a listen — that steady sound will make your own centre sing.

Regularity is the name of the game these days as your precocious pupil is hard at work honing some primal skills for her big debut. That includes making up and down movements of the chest wall in grooming for breathing bodily air when the time comes. Sucking and swallowing sessions also make upward a good role of her daily schedule now — and that'south a good thing. This way she won't miss a beat when it's time for that first delicious mom-fabricated meal.

At a Glance

Getting ready to feed

Your fiddling one is practicing sucking and swallowing equally he gets prepare for the real matter: a breast or bottle!

Infant will soon be able to hear you!

Baby's sense of hearing is making big strides this week. His ears are close to being fully formed and he'due south starting to be able to hear your voice.

Warming up

Fat stores are offset to develop under your babe's peel. This provides energy and volition help keep your footling one warm (and cute) after birth.

17 weeks pregnant is how many months?

If you're 17 weeks pregnant, you're in month 4 of your pregnancy. Only 5 months left to go! Still take questions? Here's some more than information on how weeks, months and trimesters are broken down in pregnancy.

How big is my baby at 17 weeks?

My, how your infant has grown! Your piddling one weighs almost v or more ounces and is the size of your palm, or around v inches long. Body fat (baby'due south, that is) is outset to form and will go on to accumulate through the end of your pregnancy — join the club, baby!

Infant's practicing sucking and swallowing

Since practice makes perfect, your baby is sharpening his sucking and swallowing skills in grooming for that first and second…and 3rd suckle at your breast or the bottle.

In fact, nigh of the survival reflexes your baby volition have at nascency are being perfected in utero right now.

Fingerprints are forming

Here's some proof that your babe is truly one of a kind — as if yous needed whatever! Within the adjacent week or and then, the pads on your baby's fingertips and toes will get adorned with completely private swirls and creases, aka fingerprints.

Baby's heartbeat is more regular

Baby's heart is now regulated by the encephalon, so no more than random beats, and is churning out 140 to 150 beats per minute — about twice as fast every bit yours.

Your Body at Week 17

17 weeks pregnant woman

Here come the tummy touchers!

At present that you're starting to testify, chances are that friends, coworkers and fifty-fifty strangers may feel the urge to reach out and touch on your tummy. If y'all don't mind, that's fine. But if you do, speak upwards kindly but firmly.

Your growing ambition

Remember when you were so queasy yous could barely stomach ginger ale and a cracker? Happily, your toilet-hugging days and nights are probably over. And happily, these days it's more likely that you can't get enough to consume.

For about women, the second trimester not merely brings relief from morning sickness but likewise a hearty appetite. Don't exist surprised if yous suddenly feel hungry plenty to polish off a sizable cut of steak or a whole tray of baked ziti at 17 weeks pregnant.

What's behind your increase in ambition? Uncomplicated — yous're taking signals from your baby, who'southward getting bigger and hungrier. Not certain exactly how much weight you should proceeds during pregnancy? Talk to your practitioner, who will be able to assistance you maintain a salubrious weight gain. Your doctor or midwife can also help yous play weight gain catch-up if you didn't gain plenty or lost weight during the commencement trimester.

Stop snoring

One inexplicable pregnancy symptom? Snoring! But accept heart: The stuffiness that oftentimes triggers earth-champion snoring is common — and temporary. That'south right, even your nose is affected by pregnancy hormones!

Try putting a humidifier in your chamber, using one of those nasal strips on your nose to open your nasal passages, or sleeping on a couple of pillows to go along your caput slightly elevated. And if your partner complains? Banish your sweetie to the sofa for the night — it'southward more important that you get a good night'due south slumber.

Heightened symptoms

More new developments with your body may exist on tap this calendar week: an increment in vaginal discharge (leukorrhea) and a greater sensitivity to allergens. Both are totally normal!

Pregnancy Symptoms Week 17

Increased appetite

Does your ambition seem insatiable these days? That'south because your growing baby is demanding more nourishment. Listen to your hunger pangs and eat when you need to; try to cull foods that fill you upwardly and run across your nutrient needs, like high-fiber grains, produce and lean protein. Read More than

Stretch marks

This bluecoat of pregnancy is hereditary — and then if you start finding some stretch marks on your torso, information technology may be because your mother had them too. But if you gain weight at a steady rate instead of in big spurts, this may keep the stretching gradual and, equally a issue, less extreme. Read More than

Occasional headaches

Whether hormones, fatigue, tension or some other culprit causes your headaches, information technology's usually okay to accept acetaminophen during pregnancy to alleviate the pain. But bank check with your practitioner first. Read More

Faintness or dizziness

Dehydration tin can cause dizziness, then brand sure you stay hydrated by drinking at least viii glasses of h2o a 24-hour interval — aim to drink more than that if yous've been exercising. Read More

Heartburn and indigestion

If you find yourself feeling the burn down after a big meal, avert lying down after eating to keep gastric juices in the stomach where they vest. Read More

Backaches

Ease this common pregnancy symptom by making sure you lot take a supportive chair at piece of work and a firm mattress at home. Otherwise, get a absorber for your chair to place behind your back and then yous tin can proceed your posture in line and identify a lath underneath your mattress to firm information technology up. Read More

Tips for You This Week

Breast growth (and no chest growth) are both normal

Hormones and milk-producing glands are developing to prepare for nursing. All this activity, plus an increase in blood flow, can crusade your breasts to grow up to 3 cup sizes.

Of course, every pregnant woman'south symptoms are unlike. While breast growth is common — and for some women quite a lot — yous might not discover whatsoever changes at all in your breast size, especially if you're busty to begin with. Even if you have no breast growth, it'south non cause for concern.

Stretch to prevent sciatica

The sciatic nerve, the largest in the body, starts in the lower dorsum, runs down the buttocks, and branches downwards the back of the legs to the ankles and feet.

In nigh cases, sciatica — sharp, shooting pain, tingling or numbness that starts in the dorsum or buttocks and radiates all the way down the legs — happens when this nerve gets compressed by bulging, slipped or ruptured discs.

Arthritis and a narrowing of the spinal canal, also called spinal stenosis, tin also be culprits. Try a heating pad or back stretches to ease the hurting.

Time for the Molar Fairy again?

Have you noticed a mildly looser tooth that suddenly makes you lot feel similar you're back in uncomplicated schoolhouse?

Hormones can affect the gums, ligaments and bones in your rima oris, which in turn can slightly loosen the teeth, particularly if you lot have more serious untreated conditions similar gingivitis or periodontis.

Run across the dentist as soon every bit possible if you find a very loose tooth or have other significant dental issues — don't put it off! And be certain to go on upwards with twice-daily brushing, regular flossing and other of import oral hygiene practices during pregnancy.

Ease round ligament hurting

Your uterus is supported by thick bands (called ligaments) that run from the groin up the side of the abdomen.

As your uterus grows during pregnancy, these bands stretch out to accommodate your growing bump — which can cause precipitous pains and dull aches in the lower abdomen.

To save round ligament hurting, brand sure to spend fourth dimension off your feet and decrease the intensity of your workouts. You tin can likewise consider wearing a belly ring for a little actress support.

Stay out of the sun

Seeing spots — on your face? A line downwards your lower abdomen? Pare tags dotting your upper arms?

No need to dash to the dermatologist. These strange peel symptoms, including darkening moles and heat rashes, are all normal and temporary. As usual, hormones are to blame, but the sun can exacerbate these changes in your complexion.

And then stay shaded whenever you tin can — at present's the time to invest in a wide-brimmed hat — and employ a broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or college when yous venture out in the daylight. Sunscreen is safe and smart to use when you lot're expecting. Ask your doctor almost anything you're concerned about.

Bank check your hands

Do the palms of your hands expect as if you've touched a hot pan? You lot could have palmar erythema, a peel condition in which the palms of the easily or the soles of the feet announced redder or darker than normal.

The proficient news: It disappears afterward you lot give birth. Merely definitely bank check in with your medico just to make sure everything is normal.

Endeavor non-dairy, calcium foods

If milk or other dairy products aren't your thing, you'll have to cash in on calcium a different style. Luckily, dairy products aren't the only sources of calcium — they're just the near well-known.

Calcium-fortified orange juice and other fruit juices can offer about as much calcium as milk, cup for loving cup. For other non-dairy dietary sources of calcium, turn to leafy green vegetables, sesame seeds, almonds and calcium-fortified soy products like tofu.

Yet aren't getting enough? Ask your practitioner most a calcium supplement for actress insurance.

From the What to Await editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author ofWhat to Expect When You're Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic inquiry institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content authentic and upwards-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.

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