17 Weeks Pregnant

Things are getting pretty exciting. Your baby is growing like crazy and is starting to look more like—well, a baby.

Your belly is growing, too. With all that extra work your body’s doing, it’s no wonder you’re feeling much hungrier these days.

This week, you may start noticing little flutters in your belly. Even though your baby has been moving around in there for quite a while, you probably haven’t been able to feel him yet, but now’s around when he might become noticeable.

Read on to learn all about what you can expect (and what you have to do) as you enter week 17 of your pregnancy.

At 17 weeks, your baby measures about 5.1 inches long and weighs just under 5 ounces. 1 This means he’s around the size of a tomato. 2

He’s taking great strides in his:

• Bone structure: This week, your baby’s skeleton has begun to harden from cartilage to bone. 3
• Skin: His skin is developing more complex structures, such as sweat glands.
• Fat stores: Your baby is also beginning to accumulate fat deposits under his skin. These will help him regulate his body temperature once he’s born, and will provide the energy he needs to adjust to life outside the womb.
• Fingerprints: He’s forming a set of fingerprints that will be completely unique to him.
• Hearing: We saved one of the best milestones for last. Your baby’s hearing is taking off. He may already be able to recognize sounds from inside your body, and soon, he’ll also be able to hear the soothing sound of your voice. Talk to him as often as you can!

To support all of this development, your baby’s umbilical cord is also growing thicker to make sure he gets enough nutrition.

What your baby’s doing

Your baby’s very busy this week. He’s refining his motor skills; you may have begun to feel your baby kicking, flipping, and twisting around in there.

He’s also practicing important reflexes, like sucking and swallowing. It goes without saying that he’ll get a lot of mileage out of these when he needs to feed after birth.

Your body is going through new physical changes, too. Hopefully, many of these are positive. Some of the worst early-pregnancy symptoms, such as morning sickness and fatigue, are probably fading by now. You’ll be happy to know they’re probably gone for good—they typically peak in the first trimester.

Next up is your growing bump! You’ve probably started showing already and your belly is becoming more pronounced as your baby continues to develop. This is a great time to begin documenting its evolution with periodic photo ops, if you haven’t started already.

New pregnancy symptoms

Unfortunately, you might be experiencing some new (and maybe not so exciting) symptoms, too. These won’t be as bad as the ones in the first trimester, but they still won’t be much fun.

Common symptoms that many pregnant women experience around week 17 include: 4

• Increased appetite: You may have a heartier appetite this week. As you’d expect, this is driven by your baby’s growing nutritional needs.
• Vaginal discharge: Some vaginal discharge during pregnancy is normal, but you can expect a heavier flow in your second trimester.
• Round ligament pain: As your uterus expands, you might feel sharp or dull pains along the sides of your abdomen called round ligament pain.
• Dizziness and faintness: It’s normal to feel lightheaded during pregnancy—after all, your body’s working overtime to deliver blood to your baby. 5
• Stretch marks: Many women dread these, but there’s no avoiding them. As your belly grows, they’ll inevitably appear.
• Itchy skin: You might also notice some itching as your skin stretches, especially around your belly and breasts.
• Vision changes: Blurry vision (often accompanied by dry eyes) can be an unsettling symptom, but in most cases, it’s just the result of your surging hormones, not a sign of anything serious. 6
• Weird dreams: You might notice your dreams getting vivid or downright weird. You can also thank those pregnancy hormones for that. 7 Unfortunately, you may also have an increased tendency to snore. 8

The good news is that these symptoms are temporary and will clear up after your baby arrives. (And yes, that’s even the case for the dreaded stretch marks.)

If you’re worried, consider tracking your symptoms with a journal or a pregnancy tracker so that you know what to bring to your doctor’s attention.

When should you see your doctor about your symptoms?

Most of the symptoms we just listed above don’t require medical attention. However, that assumes they’re just mild annoyances. If any of them are much more intense than you expected, that could signify a problem.

In particular, watch out for:

• Double vision or temporary vision loss (instead of just slightly blurry eyes)
• Severe itching that comes with a rash 9
• Migraines or chronic, debilitating dizziness
• Excessive weight gain (much faster than just one or two pounds per week)

When in doubt, trust your instincts and reach out to your doctor. It’s always better to err on the side of caution when it comes to your health and your baby’s well-being.

While we’re in this area, it’s worth noting that although many women start feeling “flutters” from their babies around week 17, plenty of women don’t. If you can’t feel him moving yet, that isn’t anything to be worried about. However, here again, if you can’t shake the thought that something isn’t right, it’s never a bad idea to call your doctor—they’re there to help and give you peace of mind.

Assuming that none of your symptoms are particularly scary (or so uncomfortable that you decide you need a professional’s help to get some relief), you’ll probably get a break from the never-ending doctor visits this week.

However, you can look forward to your next one, which you’ll probably have between weeks 18 and 20. This is when you’ll find out your baby’s gender with an “anatomy scan” (sometimes called a gender scan)—the first ultrasound where your baby will be developed enough for the sonographer to tell you the sex (assuming your baby cooperates and isn’t positioned too inconveniently).

Week 17 is all about finding small ways to take care of yourself and your growing baby. We’ll go over a few that will make a big difference.

Eat a nutritious diet

Everybody knows that paying attention to what you eat is important when you’re expecting, but when you’re suffering from first-trimester morning sickness, maintaining a balanced pregnancy diet can be easier said than done. Now that you’re hopefully out of the woods, it’s time to revisit what you’re eating. Focus on meals that include:

• Lean protein
• Whole grains
• Fruits
• Vegetables

If you have any weird cravings, it’s OK to give into them, as long as they’re for something reasonably healthy. It’s possible that pregnancy cravings are linked to nutrients your body needs. 10

Pay attention to your calcium intake

Make sure to eat plenty of calcium-rich foods to support your little one’s developing bones. This is also a great way to reduce your risk of pregnancy-related complications.

Good options to up your calcium intake include pasteurized dairy products, leafy greens, and almonds (nuts in general are great healthy pregnancy snacks).

Shift to side sleeping

If you haven’t already, now’s the time to take steps to avoid the wrong sleeping positions during pregnancy (e.g., flat on your back) and transition to sleeping on your side. This position reduces pressure on key veins and your internal organs, and promotes blood flow to your baby. 11 If you have trouble falling asleep this way, you can get a pregnancy pillow to help you make the shift.

On that note, if you’ve started snoring—which, as mentioned, is common for pregnant women—you can try using a dehumidifier or nasal strips, or sleeping with your head slightly elevated. This may give you (and your partner!) some relief.

Explore other remedies for common discomforts

There’s no way to make pregnancy 100% comfortable, but there are lots of things you can do to make it more bearable. Try:

• Applying lotion: If itching is about to drive you nuts, try using some fragrance-free lotion or a little aloe vera to calm your skin down. This may help with stretch marks, too, at least a little.
• Using a belly band: Round ligament pain is exactly that—painful. Try using a supportive belly band to make this unpleasant symptom less so. It might help to dial back your workouts, too.
• Stay hydrated: This tip is simple and easy: drink lots of water! Staying hydrated throughout the day will help keep your dizziness at bay, support your digestion, and keep you feeling better in general. 5

Practice proper seat belt safety

Whenever you’re in the car, make sure your seat belt is sitting just right to keep you and your baby safe. The lap belt should go low under your belly and snug across your hips, and the shoulder strap should go between your breasts and off to the side of your bump. 12

If you’re ever in an accident, even a small one, let your doctor know right away. They’ll probably want to perform an ultrasound to make sure all’s well with your little one.

Communicate your boundaries

As your bump starts to show, you might have to deal with people wanting to touch it (sometimes without even asking).

It’s OK to set boundaries. A simple “please don’t” or “no thanks” will usually get the point across while keeping things polite.

Capture the moment

On a lighter note, 17 weeks is a great time to start thinking about taking maternity photos. You can just have your partner or a family member snap a few quick pictures each week, or go all-out by brainstorming themes, locations, and outfits.

Whether you opt for a professional session or just DIY your photos, capturing your growing bump will create keepsakes that you’ll be able to cherish for years to come.

Again, at 17 weeks, your pregnancy is well underway. Hopefully, your second-trimester symptoms aren’t too brutal—and if they are, relax and hang in there, because they’ll probably fade before too long.

This is around the point when many women start to really enjoy their pregnancies. Most of your most exciting milestones are still ahead of you, and they’ll arrive more quickly after the next few weeks. Take care of yourself, keep in touch with your doctor, and do your best to relax and appreciate this period!