Tuesday, August 24, 2010

17 Weeks Pregnant - What You Can Expect


Congratulations, you're now 17 weeks pregnant. You're getting closer to being halfway through your pregnancy. So, let's take a look at what is happening with you and your baby, and what you can expect in the future.

Baby

Currently, at 17 weeks pregnant, your baby is approximately 4.5" - 5.5" long, and weighs in at 4-5 ounces. Doesn't seem like much right now does it? Well, your baby is big enough to let you know its there on occasion. Of course, it will be a couple of more weeks before you feel a lot of movement, but right now you may notice a small movement here and there. With a stethoscope you will sure know they're there. You can actively hear that heartbeat pumping back and forth.

At 17 weeks pregnant your baby is about the size of the palm of your hand. They are now also beginning to hear sounds as their ears are starting to stand out. This is a time when many women will begin talking to their baby and singing songs even more than they have done before because your baby is recognizing your voice.

What To Expect When You're 36 Weeks Pregnant

36 weeks pregnant and you're in the final stages of pregnancy. Your emotions are most likely going in many different directions. In addition, you're probably finding it next to impossible to sleep in any type of comfort. Let's take a closer look at what is going on and what the next couple of weeks have in store.

At 36 weeks pregnant your baby weighs in at approximately 5 pounds and is right around 17 inches long. Baby is most likely very active and everyone around you can tell it just by looking. There is no way to describe the beauty of seeing that small baby moving inside of you. It's moments like this that are treasured forever, and it makes everything worth going through.

By 36 weeks pregnant your uterus is nearly 6 inches from your navel. Even though it may feel like you simply can't grow any further, some women may still have more growth since there is a couple of weeks left before giving birth. A normal delivery time is anywhere from 37-41 weeks. For women who have previously given birth, having the baby early is quite common. If this is your first child, going to 40 weeks is not beyond the norm whatsoever.

Speaking of trying to sleep comfortably earlier, a good tip is to try and sleep with a pillow between your legs and one at your back. Many women who are pregnant find this to help tremendously.

5 Weeks Pregnant - What Happens at This Stage

Women begin to experience some pregnancy symptoms when they are 5 weeks pregnant. Though the expecting mother will not look pregnant, her body will be undergoing lots of changes. More importantly, the baby's body will be undergoing drastic changes as it grows in the womb.15 weeks pregnant

Embryo's Growth
The baby of a 5 weeks pregnant woman is called am embryo. And even though it has not developed much, it has a heart beat. During the early period of pregnancy, the kidneys and heart begin to grow. The neural tube that connects the brain and the spinal cord closes. An ultrasound of the embryo will show that its upper and lower limb buds begin to grow. These will be your baby's arms and legs. Facial features can also be noted at this stage of the embryo's development. Nostrils can be distinctly made out and so can the eye's retina.15 weeks pregnant

Changes In The Woman
Most pregnant women experience early symptoms of pregnancy. Some pregnant women experience their first bouts of morning sickness. Strong smells can bring about this nauseating feeling in pregnant women.15 weeks pregnant

2 Weeks Pregnant - Understanding the Symptoms

15 weeks pregnant.Most women realize they are expecting when they are about 2 weeks pregnant and this is the time when they should learn as much they can about pregnancy. Understanding the symptoms associated with each trimester will help these women take better care of themselves and their unborn child. It is best to break down pregnancy into weeks and understand the symptoms associated with each week.15 weeks pregnant

Understanding of pregnancy should actually begin by first understanding when it actually begins. Most doctors count pregnancy from the first day of the last menstrual period of an expecting woman. This mean that by the most women realize they are pregnant, they are actually into four weeks into pregnancy.15 weeks pregnant

However, technically they are only 2 weeks pregnant. Conception actually begins when the egg is fertilized by a sperm. And this usually happens 10-14 days into the menstrual cycle. Therefore, technically the pregnancy is only two weeks old.15 weeks pregnant

Pregnancy usually lasts for 40 weeks. During that time, the body undergoes numerous physical and emotional changes. Understanding these changes and learning how to cope with them will help a would-be-mom better prepare for pregnancy.

How To Tell That You Are 2 Weeks Pregnant And Symptoms

You have just found out you are expecting, congratulations! How do you find out how lone have you been pregnant? Is there any way to measure it? 15 weeks pregnantI.t actually depends on how you kept track of your menstruation cycle. Usually obstetrician-gynecologist count pregnancy from the first day of your last menstrual period. Technically, that would make you about 4 to 5 weeks pregnant by the time your next period is late, around the time you took your home pregnancy test.

15 weeks pregnant!But, you may not have been pregnant that long! You're most likely 2 weeks pregnant, if measured by the actual date of ovulation and conception. The pregnancy began when your egg was fertilized about 10-14 days ago.

When a woman conceives, it is within a 24-48 hour window either before or after ovulation occurs. This is usually around day 14-18 of a woman's cycle. But let's go back to the beginning of this cycle. You're 2 weeks pregnant, so when did your cycle start?15 weeks pregnant.

The first cycle day is the first day of the menstrual period. It may last 5-7 days. Then, in another week, the ovaries prepare to release an egg. Ovulation typically occurs between day 14 and 18 of that cycle. If there is sperm at the top of the fallopian tube waiting for the release of the egg, (sperm can survive for up to 5 days), the egg could be fertilized. It takes another 6-8 days for a fertilized egg to implant in the uterus. Then, the hormones are released that will cause the body's temperature to be higher than usual and create a warm, protective environment for the fertilized egg. These hormones can be detected about 10-14 days after ovulation and fertilization. So, do the math, you are 2 weeks pregnant counting from the date of conception.15 weeks pregnant