Your Pregnancy at Week 17

For mum, weight gain can feel quite rapid at the minute, and you may be gaining as much as 1-2lb per week. Remember to take some bump pictures for the album so you can see your growth progress. You may also still be feeling fatigued, constipated, and a bit sluggish, but the nausea should be subsiding by now, fingers crossed!

This week is also a good time to have a think about which antenatal classes you may like to attend.         

At 17 weeks, the nausea of the first trimester is likely a thing of the past and the discomfort and sleeplessness of the third trimester are yet to come. This means you are in the golden phase of pregnancy and hopefully feeing great! Here is a list of symptoms you may experience this week.

Weight gain: As your baby continues to grow and develop, you may notice a steady increase in your weight throughout the second trimester. This is a normal part of pregnancy as your body prepares to support your growing baby. Check out what to expect from pregnancy weight gain.

Increased melatonin: Pregnancy hormones can influence your sleep patterns, leading to changes in melatonin production. You may find yourself feeling more sleepy during the day or experiencing alterations in your sleep quality this week.

Itchy stomach: Your expanding belly and breasts may become itchy as your skin stretches to accommodate your growing baby.

Crazy dreams: Hormonal fluctuations throughout pregnancy can result in a fair share of vivid and sometimes bizarre dreams. These dreams are a normal part of pregnancy and typically subside after giving birth. Here’s a guide to pregnancy dreams.

Increased clumsiness: Changes in your centre of gravity and loosening ligaments can make you feel clumsier than usual at this point in pregnancy. Be easy on yourself.

Increased vaginal discharge: An increase in vaginal discharge is common due to hormonal changes. This discharge, known as leukorrhea, helps prevent infections and keeps the vaginal area clean. Here’s everything to know about vaginal discharge.

Nasal congestion and/or nosebleeds: Hormonal changes during pregnancy can lead to swelling of the nasal passages, resulting in congestion and occasional nosebleeds. Increased blood volume and circulation can also contribute to this symptom. Speak to your midwife or GP if these are heavy nosebleeds or happening regularly.

Increased appetite: As your baby continues to grow, your body may require more nourishment, resulting in an increased appetite. This is normal and it’s important to provide adequate nutrients for both you and your baby's development!

Heartburn and/or indigestion: The hormonal changes during pregnancy can relax the valve between your oesophagus and stomach, allowing stomach acids to flow back up, causing a burning sensation known as heartburn. Indigestion may also occur due to the slower digestion process. Here’s more on heartburn during pregnancy.

Remember, every pregnancy is different, and not everyone will experience the same symptoms. If you have any concerns about your symptoms, don't hesitate to reach out to your midwife or GP.

Now that you have a little baby bump, your seatbelt might not rest where it used to. So... where should you place your seatbelt? Keep the lap portion of the belt under your belly, securely against your hips. No matter what, don't skip the seatbelt altogether because any trauma to your abdomen could harm your baby.

Speaking of driving, now is a great time to test-drive a few names for your little one. If you and your partner are having trouble deciding or agreeing on a name, there's hope yet! The birth is still months away, and any feelings surrounding a certain name can easily change by then. 

Come up with a list of about 5 to 10 names, and have your partner do the same. Try saying them out loud. Then pick one and use that name for a few days whenever you talk to your belly. Have fun with it! Who knows, the name you initially rejected might grow on you, and the name you loved might feel all wrong.

Don't forget to keep track of your pregnancy milestones! Take a pregnancy profile picture this week, and write in your journal. You'll be surprised at how quickly this time goes by, and be thankful for each little moment or thought you record along the way.