At 17 weeks pregnant your centre of gravity is changing. Trying
to maintain a good posture will help you avoid backache and
unnecessary muscular strain. If you have to lift heavy objects,
remember to bend at the knees and use those large, powerful
Quadriceps in your thighs to help.
For some women, sciatic nerve pain is extremely troubling. This
nerve runs from your spine, down your buttocks and the entire
length of each leg. When the weight of the uterus and the baby are
compressing on this nerve, it can feel like pins and needles or a
sharp pain down in your bottom or legs. Try to shift your weight if
this is happening and sleep with as many pillows as you find
comfortable. By lying on your side, with your upper leg bent at the
knee and supported by a pillow, the pressure on the sciatic nerve
can be relieved. Avoid putting pillows behind your knees or lying
in the same position for long periods of time. This can lead to a
pooling of blood and increase the risk of blood clots. Another
useful tip can be when you are sitting, try to elevate your legs
and rest them on a foot stool.
From around the time they are 17 weeks pregnant, some women find
they need to wear a pregnancy girdle to support the weight of their
abdomen. Don't laugh! There's a lot of comfort to be found in
supportive undergarments. No one but you, and perhaps your partner,
needs to know.
Mummy-pick me up!
If you have a toddler who demands to be picked up all the time,
encourage them to climb onto your lap when you're sitting down and
then have a cuddle. Take their stroller when you go out, use a
shopping trolley to contain them, or time your outings for when
your partner is available. Pilates, yoga, water aerobics and
physiotherapy can all help to strengthen the muscles which maintain
the spine in its correct alignment.
Your physical changes this week
- Lots of extra blood supply to your own body could be making you
feel hot and flushed, even if it is the middle of winter. You
really aren't the best person in the room to be gauging the
temperature at the moment. Look at the palms of your hands and see
how close to the surface of your skin your blood is. Don't be
alarmed if you get your palms read and you are told you are
pregnant. Even if you aren't showing yet, red palmar lines are one
of the signs of pregnancy, not a reflection of the palm reader's
skills.
- You could be noticing the veins in your legs are more visible
and your legs are aching if you're standing a lot. If you've had a
baby previously, are overweight or have a family history, you could
be more prone to varicose veins. Some women need to wear support
hose to assist gravity in returning blood back up their legs. Try
to lie with your legs elevated and sit when you can.
- You may have a head of hair which could be used to advertise
shampoo. Usually hair goes through growing and shedding phases, but
during pregnancy not much shedding occurs. Hence the lustrous
locks.
- AT 17 weeks pregnant, your nails may be looking a little
strange. Many women find their nails become brittle, weak and flaky
when they are pregnant. Paint on nail hardeners won't do you or the
baby any harm, just use them in a well ventilated space so you're
not breathing in the fumes.
Your emotional changes this week
- When you're 17 weeks pregnant, a strange transitional time
occurs. You may still not look as if you are pregnant, but your
usual clothes are becoming too tight and you can't just grab
anything to wear out of your wardrobe. If something fits your
tummy, it may not fit across your breast. Dressing has become
harder. You could find yourself close to tears trying to decide
what to wear and what fits. Go shopping! There is no end to the
remedial effects of a little retail therapy.
- You could be feeling a bit scared this week and doubt your
decision to become a parent. You may doubt your own ability,
question if your partner is the "right one" to be your baby's
father, reflect on your own upbringing and even wonder if you are
capable of raising a child. These completely normal doubts may
flood your mind, probably in the wee small hours when our rational
selves are not at their best. Speak with your partner and sit
tight, these are the worries of almost every pregnant woman.
- If you've always been an independent person, this can be a
challenging time. You may be getting to the stage where you need to
ask your partner for help in practical ways. This doesn't mean
you've become dependent or less capable, pregnancy in many ways is
a shared condition and he'll probably relish the opportunity of
feeling he's contributing in some way.
Your baby's changes this week
- Your baby is growing so quickly. Just in the last two weeks its
weight has doubled and from its head to its bottom measures around
13 centimetres.
- Your baby is still ultra skinny, with skin stretched tautly
over its little body. Blood vessels which are supplying your baby
with oxygenated blood, are visible through its translucent skin. If
you measure your own heart rate (feel your inner wrist on the thumb
side) and double it, this will give you an idea of your baby's
heart rate.
- Your baby has legs that seem almost disproportionate to the
rest of its body. They are longer than its arms and are flexed at
the knees and the ankles. Calcium has started depositing in its
little bones so keep up the dairy foods in your own diet.
- It is obvious on ultrasound at this stage, what sex your baby
is. If it is a girl, her ovaries will contain all of the eggs she
will have in her lifetime; around 3 million of them. If your baby
is a boy, his testicles are still sitting high up in his abdomen.
Tiny nipples are starting to become visible on your baby's chest
wall.
- Your baby's primary, baby or deciduous teeth have formed in
their gums and will play an important role in their oral
development. Small amounts of fluoride which you are having in your
drinking water will help form strong enamel on these and their
permanent teeth.
- Your baby can yawn, stretch and make facial grimaces. It is
still sleeping a lot but will have periods where it just wants to
move and exercise those muscles.
- Your baby is forming fingerprints now. No two individuals have
the same fingerprints and this is one of the truly unique markers
which separate your little baby from anyone else's.
Hints for the week
- Try not to stand up too quickly if you've been sitting down for
a while. There is an automatic drop in blood pressure when we lie
down and standing up suddenly, can cause fainting. Move into a
standing position more gradually to allow your body time to
adjust.
- If you wear glasses, consider having an eye check-up with your
optometrist. You may find you need a new lens prescription. If you
are usually a contact lens wearer, you could even find they aren't
as comfortable as they usually are. These changes to the eye are
common during pregnancy, though often resolve once the baby is
born.
- Watch your hygiene if you are prone to rashes. The areas in
your groin, under your breasts and in your armpits will all suffer
the effects of heat and skin rubbing together. Shower as frequently
as you need to and change your underwear often. Cotton is always
preferable in helping the skin to breath and is more
absorbent.
- Lie quietly at night and try to focus on what's going on in
your tummy. You may be able to feel the first flutterings of your
baby's movements, but if not, don't worry. Week 18 is the most
common time for this to happen with first babies.
Week 18 is next.