17 Weeks Pregnant

17 weeks pregnant: baby size, early movement and second trimester symptoms

At 17 weeks pregnant, your baby is growing quickly and your body is making more room. You may have a clearer bump now, or you may still look mostly bloated. Both can be normal.

This is also the stage when some people start wondering whether they are feeling baby move. Early movement, often called quickening, can feel like bubbles, taps, flutters or gas. It may happen soon, but it is also normal not to feel anything yet.

Week 17 follows 16 weeks pregnant and belongs to the second trimester. Next, read about 18 weeks pregnant, when movement and anatomy scan planning often become more relevant.

Your baby at 17 weeks pregnant

The fetus is often compared with a pear or pomegranate and may measure around 12-13 cm from head to bottom, though estimates vary. The placenta and umbilical cord are also growing and supporting the baby with oxygen and nutrients.

Fat begins to form under the skin, which will help with temperature regulation later. Vernix, a protective creamy coating, begins to develop on the skin, and fine hair called lanugo helps hold it in place. The umbilical cord becomes thicker and stronger.

Your baby is moving, swallowing and practising reflexes, but movements may still be too light or irregular for you to notice consistently. Clear, regular movement patterns usually come later in pregnancy.

Your body and symptoms

Your uterus is rising above the pubic bone, so your pregnancy may be more visible. How much you show depends on your body shape, abdominal muscles, uterus position, bloating, previous pregnancies and whether you are carrying more than one baby.

Common symptoms at 17 weeks include round ligament pain, backache, dizziness, heartburn, constipation, increased appetite, sweating, breast changes, stretch marks and darker skin patches or a linea nigra. A supportive bra, fluids and gentle movement may help.

Round ligament pain can feel sharp or pulling on one or both sides, especially when you change position. Severe pain, bleeding, fever, fainting or symptoms that feel wrong should be checked by a healthcare professional.

Ideas

• Ask when your anatomy scan will be scheduled; in many places it happens around 18-22 weeks.
• Do not worry if movement is not regular yet. At 17 weeks, early flutters can be random and easy to confuse with digestion.
• Use moisturizer if your skin feels tight or itchy, but know that creams cannot fully prevent stretch marks.
• Focus on calcium-rich foods and hydration as your baby's bones and your blood volume continue to change.
• Use the pregnancy calculator if you want to compare week counts such as 17w5d with your due date.

Frequently asked questions about 17 weeks pregnant