Week 17 of Pregnancy
Your baby is about the size of a turnip
Your Baby This Week
Development milestones for week 17
At 17 weeks pregnant, your baby is roughly the size of a turnip or pomegranate, measuring about 5 inches long and weighing around 5 ounces. This is a magical week for development because your baby is becoming increasingly active. Fat stores are beginning to form under the skin, which will help with temperature regulation after birth. Your baby's skeleton is hardening from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord is growing stronger and thicker to support increased nutrition needs. The sweat glands are developing, and your baby's fingerprints are becoming unique. Your baby can now move all their joints, and those movements are becoming more purposeful rather than just reflexive jerks. The ears are nearly in their final position, and your baby is developing the ability to hear sounds from inside your body. The placenta is now large enough to provide essential nutrients and oxygen efficiently.
Your Body This Week
Changes you may experience
At 17 weeks pregnant, you might experience one of the most anticipated moments of pregnancy: feeling your baby move for the first time. Called "quickening," these first movements are often subtle and easy to miss. Many threads are titled "is this the baby or gas?" because the sensations are remarkably similar. First-time moms describe it as "popcorn popping," "butterflies," "tiny bubbles," or "a flutter like a fish swimming by." If you have an anterior placenta, meaning the placenta is positioned at the front of your uterus, you might not feel anything yet. The placenta acts like a cushion that muffles early movements. Your bump continues to grow, and your weight gain should be steady at around one pound per week. You might notice increased appetite as your metabolism rises to support your growing baby.
Tips & Advice for Week 17
Practical guidance from real moms
If you think you felt something, you probably did. Trust your instincts about those first flutters. Try lying quietly on your back after a meal or drinking something cold, as babies often become more active after you eat. Do not worry if you are not feeling movement yet, especially if this is your first pregnancy or you have an anterior placenta. Keep a mental note of when you feel movements, but formal kick counting does not typically begin until the third trimester. This is a good week to start talking and singing to your bump. Research shows babies begin responding to sounds around this time. Stay active with pregnancy-safe exercises like walking, swimming, or prenatal yoga. Consider starting a pregnancy journal to record these milestone moments.
Medical Guidance for Week 17
What to discuss with your healthcare provider
Your provider will likely schedule your anatomy scan for the coming weeks if you have not already booked it. If you had an abnormal quad screen result, you may be offered amniocentesis, which can be performed after 15 weeks. This diagnostic test provides definitive answers about chromosomal conditions. Contact your healthcare provider for any bright red bleeding, severe cramping, or fluid leaking from your vagina. Report persistent headaches or vision changes.
Disclaimer: For educational purposes only. Consult your healthcare provider for personalized medical advice.