Changes During Pregnancy - Week 17

Mother

Your breasts begin to prepare for breast feeding. The nipples become large and dark. The veins become more prominent due to the increased blood supply.They get ready to produce a creamy white liquid called colostrum. You may have to consider buying a supportive maternity bra.

The stomach may bulge below the uterus as the uterus extends into the pelvis and abdomen. You may have excessive vaginal discharge that is odourless and clear or milky. This is referred to as leucorrhoea and takes place because of the increased progesterone levels in the body. This is normal during pregnancy. However, if there is blood or amniotic fluid leakage in the discharge this may be an indicator of preterm labor. If you have any doubts regarding the discharge, contact your doctor immediately.

You must control your stress levels and be as relaxed as possible during pregnancy. Recent studies have shown that stress has an effect on your pregnancy. Inceased stress levels release a hormone that increase the levels of cortisol. Prolonged, elevated levels of stress can lead to an increased chance of preterm labour.

You may also experience Carpal Tunnel Syndrome at this stage. This is often caused by fluid retention in joints. In order to prevent Carpal Tunnel it is best to avoid maintaining the same position for long periods of time during pregnancy. It is advisable to take frequent breaks while doing so. If you have a job that requires frequent hand movements like, computer programmer or data entry operator, wearing wrist protection will give you some relief.

Baby

Your baby's skeleton begins to develop from cartilage tissues to bones. If your baby is a boy, his prostate starts developing. He can hear sounds now. His cerebral cortex is developed. The nerves begin to form contacts with the muscles.

The placenta continues to grow and nourish the fetus with nutrients and oxygen. It contains thousands of blood vessels that provide nutrients and oxygen from your body to your baby's developing body. It removes wastes excreted by your baby.