Second trimester
17 weeks pregnant
The fetus is around the size of a pear and starting to lay down body fat. Movements are becoming stronger and more frequent.
Size of
pomegranate
Length
13 cm
Weight
140 g
Your baby at 17 weeks
Fat begins accumulating under the skin, which will eventually help with temperature regulation after birth. Until now the fetus has been strikingly lean.
The skeleton is shifting from soft cartilage to harder bone. The umbilical cord is thickening and strengthening.
Sweat glands are developing, and the fetus is practising sucking and swallowing.
How you may be feeling
Movements usually become more definite this week. The uterus is roughly level with the lower abdomen and the bump is clearly established.
Some people notice changes in balance as the centre of gravity moves forward. Dizziness on standing remains common.
Common symptoms around week 17
- Stronger, more regular movement
- Changes in balance and coordination
- Increased appetite
- Backache
- Vivid or unusual dreams, which many people report in pregnancy
Appointments and tests around now
If the anomaly scan is not yet booked, this is the week to chase it. Most systems aim to complete it before week 21.
What is normal, and what varies
Vivid dreams are widely reported in pregnancy and are thought to relate to disrupted sleep and hormonal change. They are not meaningful and not a sign of anything.
Worth doing this week
Take the stairs carefully
Balance genuinely changes as the bump grows. Handrails are worth using even if it feels unnecessary.
Consider a pregnancy pillow
Side-sleeping gets harder as the bump grows. Support between the knees and under the bump helps most people.
Keep hydrated
Fluid needs rise in pregnancy, and dehydration contributes to headaches, constipation and Braxton Hicks contractions later on.
Looking ahead
Next week the anomaly scan window opens and the fetus develops a sleep-wake pattern.
Nearby weeks
Not sure which week you are in? The week tracker works it out from the first day of your last period, and the due date calculator gives you an estimated due date.