Pregnancy Week 19 Symptoms – Week By Week Pregnancy

Contents

Share the Article

Pregnancy Week 19

Are you ready to know the gender of the baby? You are about halfway through in your pregnancy as it is the time to know for sure the gender of the baby. All those guesses are going to come to an end. An ultrasound during pregnancy week 19 will not only tell you the gender of the baby, but it also shows the adult form of your baby. You can actually see the resemblance of your family in his or her facial features.

Pregnancy week 19: the size of the baby

Your-19 week old baby has shown amazing growth. Currently, he or she is about the size of a mango measuring 7 inches in length and weighs about 7 to 8 ounces.

How long is pregnancy week 19?

You deserve a huge appreciation as you are about to complete the halfway mark of your pregnancy. You are in the 4th month of the pregnancy and your baby has completely acquired the physical features.

19 weeks pregnant: changes in your body

Besides the growing belly and weight gain a striking feature, this week brings to your body is linea nigra. It is a dark line starting below the navel in the middle of the abdomen and runs down. However, it is temporary and will fade within a few weeks.

The fatigue persists during the week and you will have a lot of mood swings as well.

Also Read: Pain In Ribs During Pregnancy – Causes and Cures

Development of the baby during 19th week of pregnancy

You will be surprised to see how advanced your baby has developed. From literally a cell he has come all the way to depict the facial features of your baby. Let’s see what new he has developed since the last week:

Reproductive system

If you are carrying a baby girl, her external reproductive system is well developed by the end of this week. However, the eggs are still primitive and they mature after the delivery.

On the other hand, if you are carrying a baby boy, his external organs are growing still. The testicles are formed already and secreting testosterone but these aren’t still descended in the scrotal sac.

Also Read: Breast Soreness and Menstrual Cycle – Are These Interlinked?

Vernix caseosa or the second skin

The layer of tiny hair around the skin of the baby starts forming a coat around the body called second skin or vernix caseosa. It contains oil secreted by the baby’s skin and dead cells. The purpose of the second layer is to protect the skin from the harmful effects of the amniotic fluid.

Sleep cycle

The sleep cycle becomes a bit more regular. He responds to the environment and wakes up with the noise.

Nails

Nails begin to grow around this time. These are little and cute!

Also Read: How Do Babies Get Hiccups In The Womb?

Pregnancy week 19: symptoms

Pregnancy week 19 marks almost the middle of the pregnancy. It is the time where neither the belly is too big nor the symptoms are too annoying. Although you feel exhausted all the time and there are aches throughout your body. But these are mild in intensity and with proper care and comfort, you can avoid most of the symptoms.

Abdominal pain

The baby is growing exponentially and it is stretching the uterus beyond its capacity. This stretching produces a dull lower abdominal pain. However, with a comfortable sitting position, you can reduce the pain.

However, severe lower abdominal pain along with contractions can be a sign of miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy and you shouldn’t wait in such a case.

Leg cramps

The weight baring parts of your lower limb including sole, calf, and thighs are aching with the pain especially towards the end of the day. Try to stretch these muscles and taking a massage from your partner adds the cherry on the top.

Hip pains

It is all about capacity. Your growing baby needs more space and your body stretches to provide that space. This stretching of the hip produces pain. You can avoid it by sleeping on the side and put a pillow in between your legs.

Dizziness and lightheadedness

Remember we just talked about space? It is the reason behind the episodes of dizziness and lightheadedness you are having for the past few weeks. The growing uterus is pressing on the larger blood vessels and reducing the blood supply as well as a lot of blood is directed towards uterus to nourish the baby. This combined causes these episodes.

Try sleeping sideways so that the weight isn’t on the vessels and circulation is ample.

Trouble sleeping

If you sleep supine the things are going to be a lot troublesome for you as the baby’s weight will be pressing on your organs and blood vessels. This will become even tougher as time passes. However, sleeping on your side can save you from this trouble. You can also support your belly with a pillow and a pillow between your legs for comfort.

Also Read: How To Choose The Best Mattress For Pregnancy?

Spotting and discharge

Spotting or discharge during this period is worrisome for pregnant mothers. To be honest, these are worrisome symptoms suggesting miscarriage or severe infection and shouldn’t be taken lightly.

Also Read: Health Risks In First Pregnancy

Things to do during pregnancy week 19

Here are a few things you should consider during week 19 of pregnancy to keep you occupied:

  • Plan an ultrasound with your doctor. Not only can it help you if the gender confusion it also gives a pretty solid picture of facial features.
  • Look out for local delivery classes and get yourself enrolled. (Learn more about when to go for Antenatal checkups)
  • Get the flu shots for the safety of you and your baby.
  • You can also look for a good pediatrician for your newborn.
  • You can ask your doctor for nutrition as well as an exercise plan for you. (Read about Healthy Snacks During Pregnancy)
  • For excessive pains, you can also utilize health care services.
  • Add a lot of fiber in your diet to avoid the usual constipation of the pregnancy.
  • You can start decorating a room for your baby as it will take a long time to get everything planned.
  • Avoid sun exposure as it can increase the pigmentation of the skin.

More Useful Articles:

Share the Article